I Give Up
Dear Academia, I Quit
Wait, everyone always implied. Wait till tenure, wait till menopause, then you will be free. I didn’t want to wait to be happy.
I’m No Longer Chasing “Literary Success”
Who doesn’t yearn to be read and recognized?
Why I Gave Up On England
Leaving began to feel like a comfort; if the country couldn’t get out of its rut, then at least I could get out of mine.
I Gave Up Free Shipping, Fast Fashion, and Being Pelit
I had so many clothes, none of them special. More than just a closet refresh, I needed to change my attitude toward clothing, money, and being pelit.
Quitting Beef
Yes, burgers rule. They’re one of America’s truly great exports. They’re also a symbol of ecological tone deafness.
Giving Up Meat Made Me Love Cooking Nigerian Food Again
Cooking without meat has forced me to be creative in the kitchen and expanded the confines of my world.
Getting Sober Again
My two years of sobriety were gone in less than the length of a song.
Learning to Delete the Old Versions of My Digital Self
For a long time, I believed you had to keep these records. I knew so little about who I was and what I wanted.
My Dream Career Was Just Beginning When I Let It Go
Just as I was reaching the peak of my abilities—and as the pandemic began—I left professional ballet behind, before ever giving my dreams a proper try.
When Quitting Your Job Is the Answer to Everything
The email some anonymous stranger had sent to my boss was an agonizing reminder of how I lived, the choices I made, and the priorities I held close.