For the last couple of years, I’ve begun intentionally clearing up the sexist ads on my Instagram feed.

Because I’m a woman, a lot of these ads are related to weight loss or products that help women appear slimmer. The biggest ones I see, on repeat, are ads about shapewear.

For some women, shapewear makes them feel more comfortable and confident in their clothing. And, by all means, go for it. Whatever makes you feel sincerely happy and comfortable in your own skin is something I 100% support!

I personally don’t like to use shapewear — not anymore, at least…

The pandemic brought along with it a myriad of challenges for everyone around the world. From job losses, to sickness, to the worst-cases imaginable, it’s been a year of struggle and great trial.

One of the areas of life that many also found greatly affected by the pandemic was the dating scene — it virtually disappeared overnight.

We could barely get our hands on toilet paper, let alone get a number from that cute guy at the coffee shop we’ve been crushing on for months (hard to do when you can no longer step foot in said coffee shop…)

While…

It’s alright, I can already feel your eyes rolling to the back of your head as you read the title of this piece.

Because, let’s be honest, the last thing we need is for individuals who do not experience menstruation to create products meant to ‘help’ those of us who do.

I'm having horrific flashbacks of rooms full of old white men deciding what women can and cannot do with their bodies, all while having absolutely zero idea about how female biology works, and where all our reproductive parts are.

Well, that’s exactly what happened on the German equivalent TV…

It’s been several weeks since Brian Laundrie arrived home in Florida from a road trip he was taking with his fiancee Gabby Petito, without her with him.

Gabby Petito is a travel influencer with a following of 400,00 on Instagram, who embarked on a road trip with her fiance, Brian, several months ago.

It was reported by Gabby’s family that there were tensions between Brian and Gabby during their road trip, but nothing to raise too many red flags.

However, many red flags were raised the moment Brian arrived home without Gabby in the travel van they shared. He refused…

Anyone who has been in an abusive relationship before knows that it really screws you up.

My abuser was my first boyfriend, and his impact on my life still haunts me to this day. Though I’m married now, abuse is not something that is so easily overcome. Eight years later, and I am still recovering from his influence.

The hope of any abuse survivor like me is that the more we talk about the warning signs, the more people can be saved from entering abusive relationships. Or, at the very least, they can get out as soon as possible.

Please…

While scrolling through Twitter the other day, a post caught my eye. It was from a woman who had experienced yet another instance of workplace sexual harassment, and was asking advice as to what to do next.

When I consider who I’d block immediately on social media if I noticed them following me, two people come to mind:

1. My attempted rapist, and,
2. My junior high bully

Worth noting, though, that my junior high bully has already blocked me on social media. She blocked me the moment she learned that I was dating her first love/boyfriend, whom I then went on to marry (awkward, for her at least).

If she’d followed me on social media first, I might have considered blocking her — but more so because she’s my husband’s ex, and the idea of her seeing all…

The last year and a half have been a whirlwind for all of us.

Literally everyone.

For me, it meant a big career change. After a year of writing on Medium practically every day, I was finally able to make the jump of my dreams — becoming a full-time writer.

It has been such a gift to be able to write for a living, and it’s all because of you, my precious readers, that I was able to do this.

Since then, around late 2020, Medium has changed a lot. Stats have been plummetting in the last 9 months, and…