meholstein

What Does It Mean To Be Productive?

Productivity is a word we all use a lot, but don’t have clear definition around. We know we all want to be more ‘productive.’ There are productivity apps and pr...

Wearing Revealing Clothing Isn’t ‘Asserting Your Freedom.' You’re Just Playing Into Misogynist’s Hands.

I’m a feminist who is against crop-tops and revealing clothing (and I’m writing this as someone who loves crop tops). Far from being some kind of cranky old wom...

Are Humans ‘Naturally’ Monogamous? And Does It Matter?

The last four books I’ve read have been about evolutionary biology and evolutionary sociobiology. 1. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari ...

Teenagers Are Not Too Young for Big Decisions

People tell children their experiences aren’t legitimate all the time. - “You’ll understand when you’re older.” - "Puppy love is real to the puppy.” - “Just wai...

How To Get Closure In 3 Steps

Closure is always something I’ve struggled with. After a series of very abrupt abandonments by friends in my formative years, closure is something I’ve always d...

Don’t Be A Big Baby: The Story of How I Became a Coward, and How I Recovered

When we’re children, around the age of middle school, we start to learn the kinds of people we are in comparison to other people. Jake is tough, Kevin is nerdy,...

Learning The Wrong Lesson: Life Teaches Us Lessons, But Sometimes We Learn The Wrong One

> For many years, my mother had a fluffy white cat that might reasonably have been called obstinate. It’s not that she was incapable of learning. Far from it. S...

My Rule Of Thumb for Determining Social Positions

I have a rule of thumb I use to determine the enlightened side of many different debates. This rule of thumb is simple. I just ask myself: Which side is making ...

I Hate When People Read My Writing

When people tell me in real life, “I need to read your article,” I get a sick feeling in my stomach. ---- It’s one thing for strangers to read my writing. Inter...

America is Monogamous By Default. But Should We Be?

Lately I've been very suspicious of our cultural expectation of monogamy. Monogamy itself I have no problem with. I think monogamous commitments are beautiful. ...

Are Humans the Only Animals That Feel Suicidal?

Mental health is a hot topic right now in our culture. Medium in particular has been featuring a lot of articles having to do with mental health. (Shameless plu...

Why Women Make False Rape Accusations

I’ve been spending a lot of time talking to men about gender relations lately. I’ve talked to older working men, who are afraid to interact with their female co...

The Stages of Life According to Furniture

Stage 1: Childhood Furniture: Your Parents Own the Furniture The earliest stage of life is pretty explanatory. While we are children, we don’t own our furniture...

The Two Ways Men Express Lust: One is Good and Healthy; the Other is a Toxic Nightmare

Feminism has focused our attention on female sexuality. Feminism is working even today to show everyone that female sexuality is good and has intrinsic value ap...

I’m Too Afraid To Write Something Genuine

Every time I listen to Eminem’s more controversial work (Kim, Same Song and Dance, Medicine Ball), I’m reminded of a significant weakness in my writing. My writ...

Getting Married Is Not The Point

Everyone wants to find love. In western society, that love usually takes the form of monogamous love marriages. In other words, finding one person you are more ...

How To Talk To Someone With Abandonment Issues

No matter how many times you tell them you’ll be there for them, they don’t believe you. No matter how many times you tell them you love them, it’s never enough...

We Are All Making Mistakes, All The Time. Even Right Now.

One of the toughest things about life is accepting you’re not right all the time. We have an easy time looking back on the past and admitting we’re wrong. We’re...

The Truth About Testosterone and Estrogen: A Guide To Our Most Misunderstood Hormones

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re worried about your hormone levels. You’re probably a man who wants to make sure he’s got all the testosterone he can...

How To Tell Sadness and Depression Apart

Depression is not extreme sadness. It is something else entirely. When you are going through a period of sadness or grief in your life, you feel sadness or grie...