I love being alone in my apartment. I love it so much that after two years of living with three roommates, I decided to move into a one bedroom with ZERO roommates (except two cats). Since moving in, I’ve had a lot of time to myself. At first, I didn’t know what to do with that time, and sometimes I would just pace around thinking, “What am I supposed to be doing?” The answer to that question is, “WHATEVER I WANT TO DO!” I live alone! I don’t have to worry about looking foolish or annoying any roomies. I can relax however I want or be as obnoxious as I want to.

I’m sure many of you have roommates, but I bet there are times when you are the only one in your apartment. Take advantage of that time! You don’t need to sit around feeling bored and wondering when your roomie is coming home. You need to do these things instead… Read More »

I don’t smoke, but I have a lot of friends who do. When I’ve asked some of them how long they’ve been craving nicotine, many—to my disappointment—admitted getting into it only a few years prior.

It was the social thing to do in college, one of my friends said, lighting up while we were driving one afternoon. It was hard for me to meet people. But at parties, these huge groups of people would be outside smoking. I’d go out there, bum a smoke, and talk to everyone. She exhaled, trying to blow it out the window, but only succeeding in covering me with poison. I tried not to breathe, and nodded.

Another time, a different friend and I were backpacking through Europe. Our hostel had a small back porch, and a lot of people sat outside at night and smoked. Whenever we would go out there, she’d light up, and start talking to everyone. I knew she wasn’t a big smoker, and it felt strange to watch her light cigarette after cigarette, laughing and joking and going through a half a pack in only a few hours.

You know, I said as we were going to sleep that night (in a room that consisted of us, and 7 Argentinean boys…so I guess when I say sleep, I mean, “as we were attempting to try to sleep, something that never happened the whole time we were there”) you could just go out and talk to people and not smoke. Just because other people are smoking, you don’t have to. Read More »