sustainable systems & storytelling
“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. It is up to you to give [life] a meaning.” --Jean-Paul Sartre What if we could wrestle down life’s big questions using the scientific method? What if we could systematically improve human thoughts, actions, and environments... Continue Reading →
When I started this blog, it was meant as an exploration of the field of human factors engineering, the optimization of thoughts and habits, realization through the art of storytelling, and the space of overlap. In essence, existential ergonomic is the study of how we can design and refine our environment, habits, thoughts, and tools... Continue Reading →
How are you doing, really? 2020 has been a rough year, almost universally. What have you been up to lately? How much has your life changed over the last few months and, perhaps more importantly, has the change in lifestyle revealed a new set of priorities that you hope to carry into post-quarantine life? What... Continue Reading →
After six months of donning a P100 respirator, chemistry googles and nitrile gloves in public, my boyfriend recently mused as to why--of all the verbal assault we had heard about--none had been directed at the most cautious person around. Yesterday afternoon, I received a text stating "It finally happened" and I knew exactly what it... Continue Reading →
It's been quite awhile. How have you been? I hope you're doing well, or at least as well as can be expected with the current state of the world. Five years ago, I left Easter brunch early. After seeing my ghastly complexion and hearing my wet, hacking cough, my family suggested I go to the... Continue Reading →
Hey there! How has the week been to you? Mine has been rough. I need to keep reminding myself that the symptoms are part of the body's healing process. After five years of mostly-normal labs, my body is finally pulling out of low-energy mode thanks to an overload of once-deficient minerals and my labs are... Continue Reading →
I recently listened to an episode of The Art of Manliness podcast in which the host interviewed Ramit Sethi, author of I Will Teach You to be Rich. I first picked up this book nearly a decade ago, as an almost-broke college student trying to figure out how to cut a few more corners. My... Continue Reading →
Hello! How is your week going? I've had a long. uneventful week at work, so I'm excited to step back and enjoy a bit of me-time. Bonus: three-day holiday weekend! What are you up to this weekend? I'm hoping to catch up with my parents and maybe a friend, but mostly I'm craving a few... Continue Reading →
Hey there! How is your week going? It's hard to believe that September is just around the corner. My recent (and ungodly expensive!) brain MRI revealed that the pituitary adenoma has grown over the last year. Fortunately, this type of tumor is nearly always benign. Since I've generally been feeling better, I'm not going to... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, I didn't experience any soreness in my legs all. I ascended a flight of stairs at work, as usual. I enjoyed a two mile evening walk, as usual. But one thing was notably different. I didn't stop once to rest my legs. For the first time in over 20 months, I walked further than... Continue Reading →
Hello! How is your week going? What the weather like where you live? My week has seemingly dragged on and the excessive heat paired with a small shard of glass lodged in my heel haven't helped. The news has been a wild ride, as well. What are you up to this weekend?I think my boyfriend... Continue Reading →
After over two decades of perfect health, I've spent the last five years navigating a devastatingly broken system. From outlandish insurance premiums and confusing deductible requirements, to lackluster care and unfair loopholes, I am not happy. I've been frustrated but patient as I make strides towards a clear diagnosis and a resolution of symptoms. In... Continue Reading →
Last week, the while-haired woman behind us at Costco noticed a bag of macadamia nuts in our cart and gasped, asking where I'd found them. My boyfriend immediately offered to go grab her a bag and I smiled to myself, still proud of my catch six years in. Once I'd checked out, I explained to... Continue Reading →
Hi there! How is your week going? This week flew by in a flash and, quite frankly, I couldn't tell you what I've been up to. Last week, my phone got stuck in a reboot loop, so I lost everything. While it sucks, I am vehemently against storing all of my personal contacts and photos... Continue Reading →
It's the final moments that define a journey and the first ones that make it possible. Both, we have total control over. Just over a month ago, I took my doctor's advice and made some drastic changes to my diet, in hopes of shifting my trajectory. I chose to embark on a new leg of my... Continue Reading →
Lately, I've been feeling less-than-inspired to sit down and write. Though I start each day scribbling into a journal, the ideas haven't been effortlessly evolving into ideas worthy of being shared. An old acquaintance made a series of poor choices and somehow qualified for state-funded assistance; I am infuriated. My work contract promised a raise... Continue Reading →
