I was at Tempe Marketplace the other day when a man stopped me and asked, “Can I buy you a smoothie?” And who am I to say no to a free smoothie, especially considering I was already on my way to get an acai bowl. He paid for my acai bowl and we engaged in … More Believe In Something!

There are so many issues in the world that is near impossible to find a set calculation to determine the validity and severity of each individual issue. For example, tripping over a rock on the sidewalk and getting a bruise on your knee hinders your day, and therefore, is an issue. It causes pain, irritation, … More Measurements of Grief in Miles, Minutes, Inches, Yards, or Depth

My name is Sahara, pronounced Suh-Hair-Uh, or Sah-Raw, if you are speaking in Farsi. However, people often get my name wrong, saying “Suh-Haar-Uh,” despite my correcting them. After awhile, I stopped correcting people, because what difference does it make if someone says my name properly or improperly, especially if they are a minor character in … More “Phonetically?”

It’s really challenging for me to be dishonest. It does not make me feel good to utter a lie, I get a strange feeling in my chest knowing that I am withholding someone’s right to the truth. I cannot do it. I am a very bad liar because it is not aligned with my morals … More The Urgency of Truth

Is it liberation? Or is it disguised oppression? I wonder this constantly. Am I really feminist for posting half nude photos of myself and pretending to feel empowered? Realistically, when I post those photos, I am looking for some type of attention. I want someone to call me pretty, be in awe of my body, … More I hate Hooters!

Don’t get my fucking hair wet! I was at the pool this morning when a couple came to swim. They entered the water but the girl had her hair pinned up and instructed her boyfriend not to get her hair wet as she had work that evening and did not want to re-wash her hair … More “A Dramatic Mother Of Three”

“Talentless, good for nothing, stupid, vapid, slut, shameful example of a woman, a shame children have to see her,” and a million derogatory remarks in between. Kim Kardashian is society’s misogyny outlet, regularly piling on her, minimizing her to a sex object, as a testament to how society views women. If you are relatively in … More When Your Biggest Crime is Sex

Choices; I rush home to quell my growling stomach, feed myself a nice meal while relaxing in the kitchen. The whole bike ride home, I ponder what I should eat. I grow frustrated because I have so many options, but such little direction. I could have this food….this food….or this food…which will it be? I … More Choices;

It’s a beautiful, bright, sunny day at the pool. The water is perfect—not too cold, not too warm. As I put my legs into the water, ready to immerse my body into the rich blue water, I notice somebody close to me, invading my personal space. “Sorry!” she shouts before being able to get back … More A Bugs Life

When I see a tree, I see parts of a whole. I see the greenery that elegantly flows from the branches, I see sturdy brown branches that define the shape of the tree, I see weak branches that will soon die off, I see a strong trunk that gives the tree its home. Sometimes I … More $omewhere $hallow