Morning routines, time and values, and the American Dental Association.

A year in review, favorite things, and incredible list-making skills.

Openness, the art of slowing down, and grungy little cities.

Complaining, positivity, and cold tortellini.

Baseball, the mundane, and mandatory song breaks.

Education, privilege, and my parents.

Hardship, tears, and gophers.

Ethics, the state of humanity, and one fine mechanical pencil.

First Amendment rights, unity, and the Presidential Inauguration.

Face-to-face interaction, public transportation, and prophetic Pixar films.

New Year’s Eve, making resolutions, and the god of gateways and doors.

Finishing the semester, lessons I have learned, and wild turkeys jumping on my house.