Author: Emily Nguyen Le
It’s a situation we’ve all been in; your eyes are growing heavy, you’re absolutely exhausted, yet you’re glued to your phone. And despite knowing you need that all-important sleep, you just can’t seem to let yourself settle down. We already know that lack of sleep can have detrimental impacts on our health, both in the short and long-term. But still, we put off sleeping anyway. Well, it’s a habit more than half of Americans have admitted to – known as ‘revenge bedtime procrastination’. For illustrative purposes only A new survey by Amerisleep.com reveals that 56 percent of people in the…
Mary Smith had always been the pride of her parents. Raised in a modest two-room home on the edge of town, she was their only child, the hope of a better future. Her parents weren’t wealthy, but they gave her something more valuable: love, discipline, and education. They believed she would one day break the cycle of poverty that had followed their family for generations. And it seemed like she would. Mary graduated college with honors. It was the happiest day of her parents’ lives. But the world outside of graduation was harsh. For illustrative purposes only Despite her degree,…
It was a rainy Thursday evening in Denver. The kind where puddles formed rivers along curbs and the sky hung low, a heavy gray sheet sagging under its own weight. Most people hurried indoors, clutching umbrellas and coats, eager to escape the cold. But Clara moved in the opposite direction—toward the alleys, toward the back of The Silver Elm. For illustrative purposes only Her coat, once burgundy wool, had long since faded to a patchy brown. Several careful hand-stitches held the seams together. Her jeans were wet from the knees down, and the soles of her sneakers had given up…
Throughout history, cultures around the world have cautioned against picking up certain objects found lying in the street, at crossroads, near cemeteries, temples, or doorways. To some, these warnings are pure superstition; to others, they are lived experience backed by stories of strange coincidences, souring fortunes, or sudden illness after ignoring the old ways. Whether you believe in energy, spiritual attachment, ancestral warnings—or simply prefer to err on the side of respect—there’s wisdom in pausing before you pocket something that isn’t yours. Objects carry stories. Sometimes they also carry emotional residue, symbolic intent, or even the focused energy of a…
It was one of those gray California mornings—the kind that feels like the universe hit snooze and forgot to wake up. The sky hung low like wet cotton, and even the birds seemed to be sleeping in. I was running on half a cup of cold coffee and pure determination. My one-year-old son, Jamie, was strapped in his stroller, his tiny breaths fogging up the clear plastic rain cover. He’d been burning up with a fever all night, and every whimper he made felt like glass dragging across my heart. I checked his forehead again—still warm, too warm. For illustrative…
Princess Anne has been honoured by the Royal Mint to celebrate her upcoming 75th birthday On Friday (18 July) the Royal Mint announced that The sister of King Charles III was going to be honoured with an official UK coin for the first time ever – and royal fans are all in agreement about one thing. The commemorative coin has been released in order to coincide with the year she’s celebrating her 75th birthday and features a portrait of her face on the front. It also includes a depiction of The Princess Royal’s official Coat of Arms and the design…
A homeless man was told by a store worker his life had changed in the blink of an eye after winning a huge sum of money. Armando Vidal had been living on the streets for almost two decades since an injury put him out of work in Santa Maria, California, in 2008. Since then, he relocated to San Luis Obispo where he became a regular face in the area – and the store where he picked up California Lottery’s Triple Red 777 Scratchers tickets. Initially, Armando thought he had won $200, but has probably never been happier to have been…
A one-handed boy’s heart goes out to his late friend’s sick grandma, and he makes broth for her despite the difficulty of doing so with one hand. The sick older lady returns his charity in the most heartwarming way. “Do you promise me you’ll look after Gran Molly? She is tired, but she doesn’t say it, Edward,” George told his best friend in tears. He lived with his grandma after his parents abandoned him due to his leukemia diagnosis. Because Edward was his best friend, he asked Edward to watch after his grandma if his illness took him away from…
At first, I thought it was just an innocent, sweet moment. My six-year-old son, Milo, had been obsessed with drawing lately—dinosaurs with giant claws, robot battles, dragons with googly eyes. His little hands were always smudged with crayon wax or marker streaks, and there were papers scattered all over the house. But that day, something was different. He came running out of his room holding a drawing. “Mom! I made this for the policeman!” he announced, eyes bright with excitement. For illustrative purposes only I glanced over. “That’s nice, honey. Which policeman?” “You know,” he said with a shrug, “the…
When Kristen is shut out of her daughter’s new life, she’s forced to reckon with the sacrifices no one ever saw. But as one door closes, another opens, leading her to unexpected grace, quiet kinship, and a chance to show what unconditional love really looks like. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I was the whole damn village. My name is Kristen. I’m 60 now, though some days I feel older. Especially in my knees. Especially when I wake up from dreams of my daughter as a little girl and remember she’s someone’s mother now.…