Let me begin by stating that Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors. His performances in Ed Wood, Pirates of the Caribbean, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and countless other films made my heart sing. I’m also a fan of Amber Heard. As I was an extra…

“You need longer hair to balance out that huge nose.” “I’m worried you can’t bear children ’cause your hips are so narrow.” “Your boobs are so small, do men really like them?” All real quotes from men and women I’ve encountered, sadly. I have never fit into the mold of…

Reflections on the art of blossoming and the potential of growth — We sure do love to characterize our human lives as botanical events. If someone doesn’t hit puberty at the socially acceptable time, they’re a “late bloomer.” Losing one’s virginity is called “deflowering.” And we talk about people “blossoming” as they achieve their goals. Everyone else, I guess, is a weed…

and why you deserve better — Being an entrepreneur is anything but easy. As most of us were raised to cultivate our overbearing urge to appease capitalists, it’s logistically and mentally challenging to carve our own path. We’re sold big ideas about “pursuing our dream” yet socialized to meet an external employer’s demands. Rigid schedules. Uncompensated…

In yet another half-hearted effort to be hip and relevant, this year’s Academy Awards declared the winner to a fan-nominated category: Top “Cheer-Worthy” Moments. The results, which ranged from the Flash’s speed-force scene to “I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” in Dreamgirls, were alarmingly underwhelming. …

Gender disparities in hiring and the perception of aptitude — My best friend growing up was a tomboy. She desperately wanted to cut her hair short, but her mother wouldn’t let her. In compromise, she wore it in a tight braid that swung wildly as she executed her favorite skills on the monkey bars. She despised wearing dresses, listening to…

A world in which everyone can live their desired lives… a world in which gender and profession matter little, while anyone can explore their best talents and enjoy an obligation-free existence. That’s the promise for the people in Free City, an ultra-modern and glamorous city where everyone seems to live…

Western society is full of inconsistencies, but few are more baffling than those surrounding our perception of wealth. On the one hand, we praise money with all our hearts. Books, courses, and even reality TV shows invite us to “be a millionaire.” We consider the number of digits in our…