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:

  • Dance

    This post is also available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Dance-e2b6n3g This is about my kind of dance. There are so many styles and approaches, but this is about my experience, perspective, and motivation. Dance is like my church. I feel more grounded through dance; it provides me a space for tuning into my mind and

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  • Math

    This post is available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Math-e2b6mks You can do it. Yes, you can. This post is a summary of conversations that I have with students, strangers, and friends about math. See, there are really only two responses when I tell someone that I teach math. 1) “Oh, I loved math, there’s always

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  • Closure

    This post is available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Closure-e2ap01o We seek closure after a loss. Many people seek closure from those we lost, but I’ve said it before: we cannot force anything that involves another person. We don’t get closure from other people; we always get it from ourselves. There’s nothing that can give you

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  • Conflict

    This post is available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Conflict-e2aovj1 This post builds on the last two, but takes conflict in a more general light. I’ve seen memes that say all conflict is built on unmet needs. Couples therapy taught me a lot about conflict. I was conflict-avoidant. Conflict caused me intense stress. Couples therapy gave

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  • Toots or Poops?

    This post is available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Toots-or-Poops-e29o1tv Something I asked my child a lot in the potty training period… It made me think of my days doing improvisational theatre. Parenting is a lot like improvisational theatre: constant new scenarios to play “Yes, and…” with in order to keep the sense of play and

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  • Get off my back

    This post is also available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Get-off-my-back-e29o0jo Sometimes, getting someone off your back isn’t about pushing them off; it’s about turning towards them and embracing them. I was talking with someone recently and they were telling me about how their parent keeps doing things for them instead of teaching them; how they

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  • Control

    This post is also available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Control-e29o03d I’m a bit of a control freak… always have been, as far back as I can remember. I’ve known a lot of people who I related to that had issues with being controlled, whether it was their families, partners, or other influences in their life.

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  • Therapy

    This post is available as a podcast at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Therapy-e290rl8 We, as a society, are realizing that we all need therapy. It’s a path to ourselves. It helps us manage and grow. If we seek to be the best version of ourselves, it helps us get there. I started therapy when I was a kid, when

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  • Grief

    This post is also available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Grief-e28nvuc This one was inevitable. We all experience grief in our lives. It comes in waves. It’s never the same. Our greatest griefs surprise us and bury us. At least, that’s my experience. My greatest grief (thus far) was not the one I would have expected.

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  • Overstimulated

    This post is available as a podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/s-p01/episodes/Overstimulated-e28nv7l I’m consistently frustrated by my dependence on my phone and the internet. Aren’t we all? Everyone I talk to seems to feel this. We want to look at our phones less, but we just keep doing it. Technology moves much faster than evolution. These dopamine-driven impulses

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