"I just thought if I followed through rules, things would work out, ya know?" It's 2005 and I'm walking down an alley in Nei Li, Taiwan, drinking coffee out of a plastic bag and commiserating with my co-worker. I've been working as an ESL teacher...
Figure out what makes you happy!
Tips & Recommendations to help you figure out what makes YOU happy (not your parents, friends, or partner)
Money-saving ideas because buying ish that doesn't actually make you happy is expensive!
Expert Advice to avoid the $18,000 thought-it-would-make-me-happy mistake I made
You Can Pull People Up The Ladder Behind You
I’m sitting in the sunny corner of a coffee shop in Minneapolis, tucking into a late afternoon latte when my friend slides into the seat across from me. She slaps the table with both hands, leans forward and whisper shouts “You will NOT believe...
How to turn a bad day around (even if it’s 8 pm)
Have you ever played that super fun game called “Well I Already Screwed Up So I Might As Well Really Lean Into This Mess”? I bet you have. I spent most of my twenties and my early thirties playing this game several times a month! Here are the...
Two words that will make you happier, calmer, and more certain
"Well, I'm certainly happy to take this to the tenant advocacy group if need be," I say tartly. I tap my finger meaningfully on a highlighted section of my lease and raise my eyebrows. It's 2011 and I'm tangling with my landlord. He's trying to...
Are you Paying the Authenticity tax?
It’s 2011 and I’m at a bonfire with friends. I’m about to leave for a 10-month trip and we’re all drinking and eating in honor of my impending travel. Talk turns to dating-while-traveling. A married friend takes a long swig of his beer and levels...
How To Be More Self-Aware Of Your Knee-Jerk Bad Habits (Or: Poker + Depression Pasta)
I'm at a bar in Alaska, nursing an eight-dollar screwdriver, when the bartender asks if she can change the tv channel. I’ve been absorbed in picking apart my cardboard coaster so, no, I don’t mind. She surfs through the channels, skipping...
Welcome to Yes & Yes!
Want to spend your time, money, and energy on purpose? I'll show you how.