Category: Life Advice

You can be right, or you can be close. But rarely both at the same time. That’s a tough truth a lot of us, especially those of us who pride ourselves on being sharp or quick-witted, need to sit with.

Let’s just call it out: it’s exhausting trying to keep up with the imaginary finish lines that everyone seems to be crossing but you. There’s always someone online getting engaged, buying a house, switching careers, backpacking through South America, or announcing “big news!” that sends your self-worth into a tailspin. Social media is basically a highlight reel of all the moments that make you question whether you’re falling behind in the race of life. And it’s easy to buy into the lie that you’re losing.

Let’s just call it what it is: most of us are terrible at listening—especially when our spouse or partner sits us down and says those words nobody wants to hear: “Can we talk?” Suddenly your chest tightens, your mind races, and you start constructing a wall of defenses before you even know what’s coming. You want to explain yourself. You want to fix it. Or, honestly, you just want the conversation to end so you can go back to pretending everything’s fine.

You reach for your phone. Maybe you’re standing in line. Maybe you’re supposed to be working. Maybe you’re just bored. Next thing you know, it’s 20 minutes later, and you’re still scrolling. The “dopamine detox” crowd would have you believe you’re just hooked on cheap hits of pleasure. But here’s the real truth:

We all want life to feel good. That’s why we’re glued to our screens, endlessly scrolling or gaming, soaking up those tiny hits of pleasure like a dry sponge dropped in a bucket. It’s not because you’re weak. It’s because your brain is built to chase rewards—and modern tech companies have figured out how to deliver those rewards faster, easier, and in more concentrated doses than anything you’ll ever get from the real world.

Living with your parents isn’t the worst thing in the world. I get it—rent’s through the roof, groceries are absurd, and there’s something magical about opening the fridge and seeing it full without spending a dime. But let’s drop the act for a minute.

Let’s talk about the Dreamer.

You’ve met this person. Hell, at some point, you’ve probably been this person (I sure have). The Dreamer is everywhere: at your office, in your family, on your group chat, in that Reddit thread full of “someday millionaires.” The Dreamer is the person with big plans, big ideas, and a huge imagination about what their life could look like.

Let’s get honest for a second: There are few things more exhausting than wishing the people in your life would just…change. You know what I mean. If only your partner were more affectionate. If only your parent apologized. If only your friend could just listen, for once, without turning it back to themselves. If only, if only, if only.