I feel uneasy writing or posting things that aren't centered around this basic fact: black Americans are being disproportionately broken by the way things are. I am not going to pretend like I know anything about the real impact the events of recent history have made on my fellow countrymen. I am uncomfortably but undoubtedly … Continue reading Daunte Wright and my thesis on American race relations
Author: ethelann
come take this poll

As always, I need some guidance moving forward with this blog. I am immensely proud of the work I've published so far and the strides I've made thanks to this most therapeutic of practices, but I want to continue to excite and engage my readership. Feel free to suggest anything!
please seek professional help if you are hurting (or maybe if you’re not)

I've somehow found myself in the very fortunate position of being someone to whom people reach out for advice every once in a while, and I want to take on that role as humbly and responsibly as possible. I've received a great deal of anonymous comments from readers, ranging from the kindest thanks to the … Continue reading please seek professional help if you are hurting (or maybe if you’re not)
some very random skincare tips from an adult acne pro

So I know this may seem awkward to publicly write about or to willingly draw attention to , but it’s another topic that I think could do some people a lot of good if it were destigmatized. Is that a word? I hope so. Anyway, I suddenly and unexpectedly had to learn at 22 that … Continue reading some very random skincare tips from an adult acne pro
feeling lost

I want to be honest -- right now I feel lost. I know that being in recovery isn't a straight line upward, that there are dips and curves along the way. I know that life isn't always easy. I just didn't expect to feel this sense of sadness and confusion again this year, a year … Continue reading feeling lost
…i started a podcast

I did a thing. These first two episodes are short and a bit all over the place, but hey I’m learning! I’ll get better. I would love to have friends guest host with me from time to time and to talk about some really interesting stuff. The link will be below if you’d like to … Continue reading …i started a podcast
easy ways that i self-soothe

As I round out my second victory lap of undergrad, I have become very acclimatized to generalized, constant anxiety. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in 2018 after battling it for a few years without any type of outside aid, and it had reached the point of being crippling. I was unable to leave … Continue reading easy ways that i self-soothe
nature talk

Historically, I haven't been one to pursue outdoor activities. I'm much more of a be-stationary-in-one-place-for-hours-on-end type gal. I love reading a good book and drinking good coffee. I'm a student, so I'm required to be indoors doing work for the majority of my life. It wasn't until fall of 2020 that I realized how restorative … Continue reading nature talk
black owned businesses I obsess over

I'm just going to say it -- I'm an Etsy fiend. FIEND. I love supporting small artists/business, and I especially love getting custom stuff ordered. Today, however, I'm just going to focus on black owned Etsy shops I absolutely drool over. This one I almost don't even want to divulge it's so good. I kinda … Continue reading black owned businesses I obsess over
finding home, again

I've written about this before. I'm taking a creative nonfiction class, and this was a writing assignment for that. I recycled some bits and pieces from past posts, as you may notice. I figured I'd post anyway. Art by Cristen Craven Barnard Having been born in Mississippi, one might assume that my sense of belonging … Continue reading finding home, again
grammar mistakes i hear all the time

Hey, I'm not here to be a pretentious jerk. I am just going to keep a running list of common mistakes I hear almost every day. I appreciate when people tell me how to speak correctly, so I figured I'd do the same. All of these I'll double check on Google, so this is for … Continue reading grammar mistakes i hear all the time
my Sephora sale picks, February 2021

Since my neighborhood literally ran out of running water (our lines froze), my school workload has lessened somewhat. I've taken that time this Friday to do some things I enjoy for a change, and one of those things is browsing makeup sales. I am somewhat of a connoisseur, having to take myself from a rough … Continue reading my Sephora sale picks, February 2021