Shells from a Beach

Stories of life, love, and learning

Welcome!

This blog was sparked in text conversations with a friend who told me I write “beautifully” amidst discussions that helped me reclaim myself. Then, it was like dominoes: multiple friends stopped me to say that my writing was beautiful. I thought “I’m not a writer, I’m a mathematician…” but, in truth, I write a lot. I type my notes for classes to ensure that the conceptual understanding is clear, I journal things, I take forever writing emails because my words mean something to me.

Their words grabbed me. I feel vulnerable sharing my writing, but I want to share the work I’ve done in the hope that others can benefit from it. I hope you enjoy my words. I hope you find ways to reclaim yourself, love yourself, and spark the light inside you.

Love, -S.

Start from the beginning: Hello Internet

Or, read the latest posts:

  • Fixing the Sink

    This post is available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Fixing-the-Sink-e2eg50r This post is about the different levels of stress in our lives. I was talking with a friend and exclaimed “they finally fixed my sink!” The friend had not heard the story about the sink, because the sink was far from my biggest problem. It took

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  • Teaching

    This post is available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Teaching-e2eg497 I mentioned that I find the greatest meaning in my connections with people – I think this is a large contributing factor to my love of teaching. Teaching is one of the most fulfilling things I do. I don’t just get to share knowledge with people,

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  • She Used to be Mine

    This is the start of year 2 of my blog, and I feel the need to to tell you all that year 2 is way more rough and raw than year 1. I write about some things that could be triggering. I write about things that will make you uncomfortable. I’m unabashedly frank about things

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  • Endings

    This post is also available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Endings-e2djt4d Endings aren’t always bad. I had to learn this truth. It has taken most of my life to realize this is true. Endings don’t have to be bad. Some things truly run their course. Every theatre show I’ve ever been a part of ran its

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  • Gifts

    This post is also available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Gifts-e2djsns This is a season of gift-giving for a lot of us, but that’s not what this post is about. I find more value in people, even though I have a lot of things. The gifts I want to talk about are personal gifts. The kind

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  • Winter Snow

    This post is available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Winter-Snow-e2djsme Seasons are new to me. There’s a quiet to a cold, snowy night. My body and mind do not like this “winter.” The quiet upsets my mind, and the cold upsets my body. Winter makes me uneasy, and sometimes it makes me a bit cranky. I

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  • Kindness

    This post is also available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Kindness-e2djs59 People tell me I’m kind, but this post is about the other side of that coin. My biggest weakness is kindness in others. When I meet people who are kind, I fall in love with them. Not necessarily Eros’ romantic love, but universal love and/or

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  • December

    This post is also available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/December-e2djs3g Welcome to the last month of 2023. This is a time of reflection as the end of the year draws near, but for me: Sara Bareilles’ song “December” just plays over and over again in my head. December has always been a “problem child” for

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  • Peace

    This post is also available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Peace-e2djrl8 As a follow up to my last post, I will dive into a small deconstruction of my beliefs in relation to peace. I do not subscribe to a specific religion, but that does not mean that I am not seeking the same things as others

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  • Spirituality and Religion

    This post is also available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Spirituality-and-Religion-e2b6ni3 I referred to dance class as my church in my last post, so it seems like a good time to wander into some talk about spirituality and religion. I mentioned that I was raised secular in earlier posts. For me, this gave me a rather

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