Submission guidelines for the Language Lens — Contents (Click to jump) Why I started this publication Some concepts I’d love to see explored here All languages are welcome! Content that is not welcome Other considerations If you want to learn another language How to submit your writing 💡 Why I started this publication I am fascinated by language. This started as an interest in the letters of…

Proof that both adventure and kindness can be found on the street — As soon as I set foot in New York City, I sensed how different it is from any other metropolis. On the surface, it’s just like all other major cities— skyscrapers crowd the horizon; taxis whiz by; trains rumble below; horns honk; locals rush, tourists dawdle; pedestrians chat, shout, laugh… …

The stories of why I instantly connected with certain songs — I grew up with three best friends: my sketchbook, my journal, and music. I’ve felt like an outsider my entire life; consistently misunderstood. Those outlets are where I’ve continually found solace and validation. They’re the only entities that have always been eager to listen to what I have to say…

A ballad about the time I drove a Chevy to a levee — In homage to the recent anniversary of “The Day the Music Died,” this is my lyrical account of the time I asked my friend, Jake, to join me on an all-day road trip for no reason other than to sing the song “American Pie” by Don McLean. A long, long…

A seasonal exercise in gratitude for the top 10 things in my life — This is the second post in a series directly inspired by writer Laura Tremaine. She runs this feature on her podcast, 10 Things to Tell You. This is a way for me to mark my current season of life and to reflect upon some of its highlights. None of these…

A melancholy moment of bonding —

A sense of peace from the place and the person — We sat side-by-side at the bar in Burbank—chatting, laughing, and sipping as my layover got progressively shorter. I was happy I’d found another chance to visit my date, but dismayed it was another short stint. “So, what’s May look like for you? Pull up your schedule,” he said in his…

A seasonal exercise in gratitude for the top 10 things in my life — I’m launching this new quarterly self-reflection to track what means a lot to me during various chapters of life. It’s directly inspired by writer Laura Tremaine, who runs this feature on her podcast, 10 Things to Tell You. The whole premise of her podcast is to make you think more…

Be authentic, even if you don’t make sense to anyone else — This is part of a series called “Love at First Listen,” the stories of why I instantly connected with certain songs. The first time I heard a song by this artist, I didn’t get it. It was “Little Sister,” which the local Rock station played frequently upon its release in…