Before Race Had a Name—Early Innocence When I look back on my childhood, I realize race wasn’t something I understood. At least not in the way adults mean it. I was surrounded by people from every background because my father was in the military. Our first babysitter was a Hispanic woman we will call Ms. Diana for the sake of privacy. Anyways, I never saw her or her kids as anything but people I loved being around. Even when domestic issues unfolded upstairs, I didn’t connect

When Survival Becomes a Mindset I read an article about people living paycheck to paycheck, and the discussions that followed stuck with me. Many talked about living below their means, avoiding the American Dream, and cutting back on subscriptions, downsizing cars, and choosing cheaper entertainment. At first glance, it sounded sensible. But beneath the surface, there was a “lack” mentality, as if some were shrinking themselves just to survive, instead of trusting that the un

Throughout history, humanity has moved in waves shaped by what’s popular, accepted, or socially rewarded. And this isn’t to say that following trends or participating in collective culture is wrong; it’s part of being human. But there is  a dilemma hidden inside it, one most people never realize they’re trapped in. From childhood, we all recognized “the cool kid.” Every school had one. The kid everyone wanted to be around. The “alpha,” the leader without a title. And it’s wil