Life and Adulting – The Unplug Initiative

2022 (Anti) Retrospective: A Reality Check Letter to Myself

Are you tired yet of learning what people learned in 2022?

Thoughts and Things: On Changes, Grieving Your Past Self, and Uncomfortable Familiarity

Tiled mosaic with words "change" repeated over and over in some places.

Do people ever really change? Am I capable of adapting once more?

Have I Self-Improved My Way Into An Existential Crisis?

Unplug Initiative: have I self-improved myself into an existential crisis? By Jessica Mathis.

An unhinged rant turned into a slightly more coherent exploration of self-improvement, productivity, and something close to happiness.

What Grief Taught Me About Peace and Happiness

photo of trees turning yellow, with fallen leaves on the ground.

Things are happening exactly as they should. Happiness may not always be there, but neither will sadness and pain. Emotions are cyclical. So are we.

The Heaviness of Impermanence

I’m caught indefinitely waiting. An “in-between” state, kinda. It sucks.

Life Lessons I Learned When I Worked in Retail

life lessons from working in retail the unplug initiative Jessica Mathis

I used to be pretty promiscuous when it came to keeping a job. I’d jump from job to job, fed-up with the toxic environment, the terrible managers, or crappy pay/hours. Sometimes all three. I’ve been fired from a few, too, but that’s another story. As a result, I’ve worked over 30 jobs in almost 15Continue reading “Life Lessons I Learned When I Worked in Retail”

What Video Games Taught Me about Real Life

Pain is an excellent teacher.

The Guide to Recalibrating Your Priorities

woman standing on the beach, dressed in black, with hands covering her face. black and white photo.

I’m already looking forward to 2019. By that, I don’t mean I’m eagerly anticipating it. I have my sights set on the future. In 2019, I will be in a new apartment with new goals. A sudden change in my life forced me to shift my perspective. It shattered me at first, but I bouncedContinue reading “The Guide to Recalibrating Your Priorities”

Can I Learn Anything from Nostalgia?

I drove through my hometown recently. I had just gotten done running an errand in the neighboring town, one I have rarely visited since leaving the area. I had the Black Crowes’ new album playing. I was still in my work clothes, ready to be done and back home, which was over an hour away.Continue reading “Can I Learn Anything from Nostalgia?”

Is This The End? Or The Beginning?

Tomorrow, I mark off a milestone that’s been a long time coming: a bachelor’s degree in video and film production. Ten years after I first started at a community college, I’m finally getting my degree! It’s a moment I sometimes thought would never come. I took several semesters off, here and there for various reason.Continue reading “Is This The End? Or The Beginning?”