MY TURN
I Lost My Voice for a Year—I Learned the Truth About People
Our first responses aren't always right.
I'm Jewish—I'm Nervous About Going Back to College
I am afraid that round two of the rhetoric around the Israel-Hamas war will be more tense.
My Nurse Was Terrified. I Knew Why I Was Dying—but I Couldn't Speak
I whisper and squeak, begging again for the thing that will save me, that will let me raise my children.
I Was Taking Iron Pills—After Severe Pain, My Diagnosis Stunned Me
I felt perfectly fine—how could I be dying?
I'm a Former Professional Organizer. There Are Benefits to Not Tidying Up
Clients with unbridled imaginations would have felt stifled working at a clean desk in their home office.
I Was Called for Jury Service—I Sided With the Defendant
When I don't raise my hand, it feels like the whole room heaves a sigh.
I'm an African American—Democrats Are Guilt Tripping Us Into Voting
We have seen the worst of what this country is and can be.
I Painted the Viral King Charles Portrait. The Red Thing Frustrated Me
When an eight-foot picture is shrunk down to the size of a phone screen, the portrait is oversimplified.
I Work With Refugees. They All Need the Same Vital Information
Whether from Gaza, Sudan, or elsewhere, refugees are exploited by traffickers who prey on a lack of education. We can solve that.
I Had My Dead Husband's Dead Wife's Wedding Ring—I Was Jealous
Did she greet him when he slipped from this life to another?
I Saw the Presidential Debates—America Is Becoming Ageist
We're on the verge of sacrificing democracy to it.
My Boyfriend of 7 Years Vanished From My Life—Taylor Swift Helped Me
If you don't get Taylor Swift, you probably haven't experienced disenfranchised grief.
My Symptoms Kept Me Awake at Night for Years. I Should Have Been Diagnosed Sooner
I see eight-year-old me, and I'm sad. Why didn't anyone help her?
We Fled the Vietnam War and Settled in the US—For a While, I Didn't Want to Be Asian
There weren't many Asian kids in school. I was picked on mercilessly, teased, bullied, called names.
I Finally Told My Son About Mom's Suicide. I Didn't Expect His Reaction
Our son inquired about my mother, prompting a heartfelt conversation where I explained her illness and showed him a picture.
I'm a Proud Black Man—My Contract Was Terminated Because of My Hair
I got my dreadlocks when my father died several years ago and have not cut them since.
I'm a Teen Wrestler—I Thought I Would Die, but My Two Friends Saved Me
In that split second, everything went black.
Vacation in Vietnam? Dad Is a War Veteran. It Felt Like an Oxymoron
When I told my dad we were heading to Vietnam, I was surprised by his reaction. I thought he'd say: What are you thinking?
I Admire Biden—It's Not His Fault He Fell Short in the Presidential Debate
He has earned the deep admiration of many people over 70.
My Unexpected Illness Was Like a Monster—My Little Brother Saved Me
This pint-sized warrior's determination to protect me has largely kept the monster at bay.
I Was a Roadie on Pretty Things' US Tour. It Was Their Last Shot
During this long overdue tour, the Pretties added to rock history, and I witnessed it all: The good, the bad, and the ugly.