If you spend enough time in Seattle, you will undoubtedly hear natives talk longingly of the Ballard of old. Few of them were here when the last mill closed, or immigrants landed on these teeming shores from the east and the west, but all they know is that the neighborhood has changed. In their eyes, it is ground zero for gentrification, housing inequality, rapid change, expansion skyward, and a city that continues to tie itself in knots attempting to keep young tech employees happy. Of course, they aren’t completely wrong, but neighborhoods have always changed, evolved, and pushed themselves forward…
An escape to a hiking trail within a few hours of Seattle during the summer often means cooler temperatures and relief from concrete reflections of heat in our otherwise temperate home. Most of the time this is a safe bet, but not during the final weekend of June when we experienced a once-in-a-thousand-year heat dome sitting over the Pacific Northwest pushing temperatures about 100 degrees. As we began our hike at 8:30 am, I thought relief might hold with 75 degrees greeting us at the trailhead. Within a few hours of hiking, oppressive heat found us on every exposed ridge.
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Shortly after moving to Seattle, I began seeing a therapist who specialized in work with the LGBTQ+ community. I moved across the country with the intention of coming out to my friends and family but needed some help to cross the finish line. Up to this point, I had been sneaking around, living through apps, and sharing coded social media posts. The secrecy of it all was exhausting. I needed to free myself from the shackles of a burden created both internally and by outside forces.
Sitting in the office of my therapist, we talked through my fears. We worked…
Relationships require quiet spaces where each member can retire to find themselves. For me, these spaces can be found in our spare bedroom, out with friends, reading alone in a coffee shop, or hiking a trail. In these spaces, I am allowed the freedom to process my thoughts. I can gather new experiences in these spaces and use those moments to bring spice to my relationship.
Relationships also require trust and consistent communication. This trust and willingness to share must come naturally, or the relationship will falter. I can freely admit trust is not something that comes naturally to me…
A part of me secretly wishes for the end of social media. As you shake your head, I am aware of the dissonance that exists in writing such a statement as I share this in a desperate attempt to be read. Believe me, I wrestle with this truth every time I hit the share button. So, maybe a rephrase is in order.
I proudly wish for an end to social media as we know it. These tools have become revenue generators. In exchange for access to a free platform, we sell ourselves to the highest bidder. This bidder then sells…
I have been a professional, nonprofit fundraiser for 10 years now. I have fundraised for a youth development organization. I have worked to meet the financial goals of a permanent supportive housing provider on Skid Row. I have helped build a fundraising program for a nonprofit working to end isolation for homeless neighbors in Hollywood. Now, I am working to amplify the reach of a senior center in West Seattle.
Throughout each of these experiences, a certain personal truth has remained constant. For 10 years, I have been nervous about the work. I have raised millions of dollars, built entire…
We spent much of 2020 tucked away in our home in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. As we approach the light at the end of this tunnel, Brandon and I are committing ourselves to the goal of traveling more this year. We already have a few trips booked for later this year, but we also want to spend some time exploring closer to home. Earlier this year, we spent a weekend on the Washington coast. For our second trip, we headed to Vashon Island which is just a stone’s throw from West Seattle.
I have lived in…
