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All I want for Christmas is Botox: the problem with cosmetic surgery shame
We live in a society where looks matter. We fawn over beauty because we like looking at pretty things. Some people can fight against that, and God love them. But others can’t. -
A tail of self-discovery: what I learned living with a rat
Have you ever faced a situation that turned you from a staunch idealist into someone willing to do whatever it takes to survive? I have. -
Gender-based violence and what you need to know in Shanghai
Together we can make Shanghai a city that doesn't accept violence against women and girls. -
Double Eleven and shopping under the influence? Cheers to that!
Double Eleven is upon us. Studies show that people spend more money online when they’re drunk. Is it all a bit of fun, or is there a dark side to shopping under the influence? -
Stories, relationships and experiences: How possessions shape us
We all have things we can't let go of: an ex-lover’s T-shirt or your dead cat’s collar. These items have no monetary value, yet we cannot bring ourselves to part ways. Why? -
Stronger together: the unbreakable bonds of community
If you've been to a festival, game or gig and felt electricity in your veins or a lump in your throat, then you've experienced what I'd put at the heart of community: connection. -
Turning 50: connection, community and the conversations that matter
Society is increasingly polarized and there’s a lot of misunderstanding, mistrust and even hatred between people. How can we shift the conversation from volume to value? -
Home sweet home? Expat life and the fear of going back
As expatriates, we walk a tightrope between the foreign and the familiar. We exist between places wherever we are, meaning we are never fully home and never wholly ourselves. -
Airing out: the beauty and significance of Shanghai's colorful laundry lines
The fluttering lines above our streets create connection. They remind us that we are not alone but rather part of the shared cloth of everyday life. -
Mirror mirror on the billboard: an identity crisis and the powerful ties that bind us
What happens when a billboard reflects back a suspiciously accurate version of ourselves? I found myself face-to-face with an Apple advertisement featuring a model resembling me. -
An eerie figure appears on Yandang Road in Shanghai
We can (and should) celebrate local entrepreneurs who infuse our lives with creativity and passion while acknowledging convenience's role in a fast-paced existence. -
Peaks and pages: conquering mountains and connecting people through words
Storytelling is how we find purpose in a world that’s often dark and confusing. And what could be darker or more confusing than going blind?