Blog Posts

Millennial Monday: Burke Le Valley

11/19/2017

Making the Soul Bright

We all experience the same highs and lows, no matter what we call ourselves.

Burke Le Valley (Kansas City, KS)

Burke and I met in college. We both studied English Lit at Emporia State University (ESU). He's an intellectual, a deep guy, and I'm proud to know him. Here's some of his story- the first Millennial Monday Vlog!

Think you have a story to tell about being a millennial? Comment below or message me today at eden.tullis@gmail.com!

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Thaw the Revelation

11/8/2017

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Thaw the Revelation
an original poem by eden.celeste

Joan Didion, '76, New York Times

There in her prime, Joan Didion would wake,
drink a Coke, maybe smoke a bit, and look
out upon the California waves. That was breakfast.

It may have not been nutritious, but it was brain
food for the cutting-edge journalist she'd made
herself out to be. She'd ponder and write,
ponder and write. Just so her head could make
sense of what her heart already knew. By picking
up the pieces that the world and its mess scattered
before her feet, she'd usually have something to
send out by noon.

But what about days when cobwebs filled Joan's brain?
What then? When patience was more than a venture,
oh how it took everything in her power not to throw
her journal across the room!

Writers know the drill. Artists, they get it. Sometimes
we wield the pen. Sometimes the pen wields us.
But Joan knew the difference, knew when to let up.
"Full stop!" I imagine her saying out loud,
not as if to forfeit, but to gently surrender
to the realities of being human. After all,
humbleness has to got to be the key to her long
life, right? And to confront "the block," Joan would shove
whatever she was working on in the freezer. Literally.
As if to suspend (but not crush) the creative
process in its tracks. Out of sight, out of strain.
Then she'd come back to it in a day or two,
only to find a thawed revelation.

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When Dreams Change

10/8/2017

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Summer 2016.

These pictures represent what THIS small town girl's dreams are made of (any other 90's kids hear Lizzie McGuire in their heads when those words pop up?? Yeah...cough, cough, me either). My sister and I finally took off and conquered NYC liked we had planned years before. It had its highs. It had its lows.

Seeing Broadway was one thing. Seeing Sara Bareilles' hit Broadway show had me spinnin'. And The Met was massively overwhelming but in a lovely, fascinating way. That fashion gallery had me wanting to max out my credit card.

The lows though, they snapped me back to reality. I got sick in the middle of our trip, it was very hot, and we encountered a bad bus scene one evening. I had to say it out loud to believe it, but New York is far too much for me. Although I had high hopes of living there one day, that was never going to happen because I didn't want it to. I blame Times Square, really. It's a cool place to say you've been just once, but that was my 2nd visit, and since I'm a true, blue introvert, it made my skin crawl. The local and artistic places are more my cup of tea, and just to be clear, I'm not swearing off New York all together! Since fall is my season, I plan to go back when the trees are turning. Yes, that briskness will be my jam!

Now don't misread this. My tone here isn't sad. I'm really thankful I had that moment of clarity before I actually did move to the Big Apple. Wouldn't it have been awful had I gotten settled there and then realized this? I truly believe this was part of God's plan. My 2016 trip was a test run if you will. NYC is a city, a place, just like everything else created, and in that way, it's far from perfect. I had put it on a pedestal for so long (i.e. my whole life), and saw it as a dream reality, not a real creation.

The point I'm trying to make? Nothing bad happened here. My dreams (and plans) just shifted. I'm not failing if I don't end up in NYC. I'm actually winning because I identified that it's NOT what I want.

Summer 2017.

PC: PMJ Photography

On Memorial Day weekend, I made up my mind. I'd move back to the Midwest- with the hopes of landing in Kansas. I felt nervous, giddy, and sad, but since I was applying for jobs there anyways and getting my hopes up in the process, I took that as a pretty significant sign that this was the right move.

The night before I made the decision, I sat down and prayed to God to give me a sign. I can't make this stuff up, friends. I rarely remember my dreams, and that night I had a very vivid dream of home- even woke up with it on my lips. There was a tinge of sadness, but when people asked if I was sure, I replied with a smile and a yes. The sadness got heavier as my move date approached, but the way I see it, that's only a natural response to moving on from anything you love. I've said on here before, and I'll say it again, I didn't leave Seattle because I hated it. Quite the contrary. I just wasn't IN love with the city anymore, and it's hard to stay somewhere that's so far away from home when you don't have a person or family keeping you invested when all the life stuff happens. And that life-happening-stuff had a bigger impact on me than I had ever imagined. I missed funerals, birthdays, celebrations, and other milestones. My grandparents getting older made me feel the pull of it, but my mom getting sick was the kicker. How naive I was to assume that evil waits to encroach on our lives. I used to say, "I'll move back when they get older!" Ha. Age doesn't care, but my heart and mind sure did. Being independent wasn't so glamours anymore and neither was the stubbornness behind the phrase 'everything's okay'.

The point (again): nothing bad happened here!! My dreams (and plans) just shifted. I'm not failing because I left Seattle and moved back to Kansas. In fact, a friend surprised me by telling me that "it's actually courageous". I don't know if I would go that far, but I was feeling a tinge of failure as the evil voices in my head nagged at me, and this helped me squash that negative talk. Indeed, I'm winning because I identified what I DID want and went after THAT. Because I'm back and more content than I've been over the past 2 years. Because I jumped and landed among loved ones.

It's been awhile since I wrote up a blog post this vulnerable so I'll leave you with a chuckle. For fun and entertainment, here's Lizzie McGuire in her element, singing "What Dreams Are Made Of". ENJOY!

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Millennial Monday: Alice Boutz

9/18/2017

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Have I Lost My Millennial Card Yet?

I have so many sub-passions that all tie back to my passion for people, the core of my profession. Social justice, the importance of the human connection, dignity and worth of a person…these are core values of social workers, and are really my passions.

Alice Boutz, LMSW (Wichita, KS)

Alice is a 27 year-old Licensed Social Worker and a Mental Health Specialist. As a Caucasian female and a member of the middle class, she achieved a master’s degree. She was born in 1990, and because of that, she does consider herself a millennial.

Alice and I have known each other since 2008. We met at a pre-college camp, and the rest (as they say) is history. She's my person- my very best friend. Alice holds me accountable to being a compassionate and socially just fighter. Catch us 5 minutes later, and we can be giggling about New Girl or some inside joke. I was thrilled when she agreed to be featured. She doesn't think she's cool enough, but I think she's the coolest. Read her thoughts below to see for yourself!

What identity has been key in your development as a millennial?

This was a tough question. After phoning a friend, and talking it out, I realize that I tend to reject the idea of being tied to an identity/label. I tend to focus on experiences rather than tying any development to a specific identity. I come from a fairly non-traditional family situation which turned out great for me, but wasn’t always (and still isn’t) the easiest to explain. I was old enough to remember, but not really understand 9/11/01, and the hatred that came with it while I still struggle to understand hatred. My experiences with growing up in a working middle class community and having a diverse set of friends, then going away to college to experience economic inequality were key to where I am now. Then I went off to graduate school while also growing stronger in my faith. Social work is a fairly liberal field but religious institutions are not always the most liberal minded, so both of those environments have also contributed to who I am.

All of this to say, experiences have made me, not identities…have I lost my millennial card yet?

Is your job the sole purpose or “calling” of your life? Put another way: what ignites and fuels you? Is it work or is it something bigger? Something deeper? Who do you serve at work, and why do you serve them?

Since graduating with my master’s in social work, I have had three different jobs. They have all ignited a passion within me, all separate sub-passions from each other. My job isn’t my sole purpose, and I don’t think that I have one sole purpose in life.

For a year and a half I was a case manager for children and families involved in the foster care system, it was humbling and hard work. Then I had to opportunity to work as a therapist for minor survivors of human trafficking who were also involved in the child welfare/foster care system. Both of those jobs were super rewarding. Doing therapy fueled my soul and passion for injustice like no other. But at the end of the day, it couldn’t be the only thing to fill me up, because some days it was the most draining thing I have ever experienced. (Shout out to all those still doing this work and other work in human services including teaching.)

The job I have now also ignites my soul, but in a much different way, but I don’t think a job will ever be my sole purpose. I am also a wife, a family member to many, and a friend. These people fill me up.

What are your passions, hobbies, and/or aspirations?

I like listening to music and hanging out with my husband. I love catching up with my friends, whether it is in person or by text. I'm a sucker for a good coloring book or a good adventure.

I have so many sub-passions that all tie back to my passion for people, the core of my profession. Social justice, the importance of the human connection, dignity and worth of a person…these are core values of social workers, and are really my passions. I am also very passionate about loving my family and friends. I aspire to always learn and always try my best.

What communities or groups have helped you feel like you belong?

I would say my family and my friends have been instrumental in helping me feel like I belong. I have a few very close friends and family members that can always slap me back to reality when I start feeling lost. I think my faith also helps provide a since of belonging.

The millennial generation has been labeled as entitled, tech-savvy, non-religious, and non-direct communicators who are financially irresponsible.
What do you think about these labels?

I think labeling is silly. But we all do it.

I’ve been positively labeled as a millennial and negatively labeled as a millennial. Individuals in every generation are entitled. I have been around some extremely entitled millennials; on the other hand, some of the most gracious people I know are millennials.

Millennials have no choice but to be tech savvy, most of us had forced technology classes starting in elementary school.

A lot of my millennial friends have a religious belief in a higher power and many of them identify as Christians, but have not fully bought into organized religion (i.e. going to church every Sunday).

Communication is a learned behavior, so let’s just start blaming our parents for this one.

I have a problem with the label of financially irresponsible. I’m not saying that there aren’t some very irresponsible millennials, but almost all millennials I know work hard for their money, and then use their money to pay off the ridiculous amounts of student loans they have, which were acquired because “to get ahead in life” you need a higher education degree.

Think you have a story to tell about being a millennial? Comment below or message me today at eden.tullis@gmail.com!

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Millennial Monday: Erin Bigler

7/17/2017

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We Are The Optimistic Innovators

So I find millennials to be the most promising and creative generation. We were taught that we could do anything, be anything, try anything, and this has helped us think outside the box. Baby boomer parents are one of the reasons we do so. I hope that as we move up in the world, that we will continue to think this way.

Erin Bigler
(Austin, TX)

Erin is a 27 year-old Enterprise Account Manger for Information Security Solution. She identifies as a White, Heterosexual Female. As a member of the Middle Class, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Anthropology.

Do you consider yourself a millennial-
why or why not?

What has been key in your development as a millennial?

Yes, because of my age and fascination with efficiency and technology (minus the social media part).

Being a tech-savvy person. Also being born from the baby boomer generation.

I feel like you can get a job, just to pay for your hobbies, or your job can be your hobby/calling. For me, it is a little of both. I've always thought I would be a teacher, and I love a challenge. So, with sales, I get to teach my clients about the changes in security or about our product. The sales part keeps me challenged (always striving to be #1).

What are your passions, hobbies, and/or aspirations?

Music...I love singing and dancing (always).

What communities or groups have helped you feel like you belong?

Honestly, my work. I absolutely love the community that comes with my position. The company culture is great. Also, Take Lessons has been a fun way to continue to challenge myself musically.

The millennial generation has been labeled as entitled, tech-savvy, non-religious, and non-direct communicators who are financially irresponsible.
What do you think about these labels?

I believe these labels have some truth, otherwise why would they even exist?

Many of us are spiritual, but not religious...and why? We've seen the hypocrisy in many churches.

Many of us might not be direct....but why? Directness might get you in trouble, so smooth your way around it.

Many of us might be financially irresponsible....but why? Because to get ahead, we needed to go to school, yet there's a discrepancy in the price of college versus what a person may get paid after finishing school.

We should really be looking at the "why" behind WHY millennials are the way they are. And with that, I think we need to look back at the baby boomers. Why else would millennials be dying their hair grey? But I digress.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself and how you interpret the millennial generation?

Most millennials I know are not discouraged DESPITE the fact that they have either paid their school off or have worked their butts off to try to pay their school off and still are thousands of dollars in debt. So I find millennials to be the most promising and creative generation. The optimistic generation. We were taught that we could do anything, be anything, try anything, and this has helped us think outside the box. Baby boomer parents are one of the reasons we do so. I hope that as we move up in the world, that we will continue to think this way. To be innovators.

Think you have a story to tell about being a millennial? Comment below or message me today at eden.tullis@gmail.com!

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It Buys You Ease

6/28/2017

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There are a lot of contributing factors to why I'm leaving Seattle. One of the biggest reasons is money. This was a sad reality since I use to be so brutally enamored with my work that the money didn't matter. The job gave me happiness and the money was just a bonus. But after 5 years in the field, I have moments of burn-out and fatigue, and although there a are shining moments of enamored bliss, my relationship with my job is just that. A relationship. Like my mother or father or sister, I can love them, but I don't have to always like them. It all depends on the context. My relationship with student affairs is now more tried and true. I don't go to work every day thrilled to be having hard conversations about a student employee's behavior or how we spend our money, but I come out the other side usually satisfied with how the conversation went. I'm a learner and if something tough helped me be a better professional, I'm all for that. Quite frankly, I think it's healthier this way. I've begun to create boundaries. I actually go home by 5 or 5:30, and I don't fool myself into going in on Saturdays just because "it's quieter."

What this has also made me realize is money doesn't buy me happiness, but it does buy me ease (i.e. I'm not there for the money, I'm there for the students, but yes, the money pays the bills). In actuality, this entire post is about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Didn't realize I was going to get theory specific in this, but here we are!

In addition to working a very taxing job, my salary for the past 2 years has been approximately $35,000. Now with that comes dental and medical insurance plus a retirement fund so I am eternally grateful for those benefits. Without them, I would've been royally screwed since I have several chronic health issues. BUT that also means that the money that goes towards my bills is less than $30,000. In a city that has skyrocketing rent and where minimum wage is $15, I pay $800 for a place. It's definitely on the way cheaper end, but total, me and my roommate are paying $1600. It's a steal (in Seattle) and a place that I've loved living in, but that's my biggest expense and the one that sometimes gives me major anxiety. My other bills and expenses add up to a little over $1,100. So I'll repeat it again: money doesn't buy me happiness, but it does buy me ease.

I've been crunching the numbers and using the app, Every Dollar. It's been super helpful and getting me back on track to better spending habits, and while it sets my mind at ease for a hot second, it gets my mind a'reelin' about my mental stability. Wouldn't my depression and anxiety be better managed if I wasn't distraught about living pay check to pay check with the credentials and a Masters degree to show for it?

That's something that I actually hear all the time, "You have a Masters degree. Shouldn't you be making more?" You would think, but folks, our system is broken. There's been some milestones for me certainly. As a first-generation college student who came from a working class family, the loans from my Bachelors degree were minimal- approximately $10,000. It was also a big deal that I moved out here on my own and bought a car. Granted, I had to take another loan out for the car, but at 25, I drove it off the lot new. I've also been extremely money conscious since the age of 16. Just this year, I realized what a privilege it was to be taught how to balance my check book that young. My parents were great that way. They really instilled in me the importance of never going in the red but knowing when you're close. And I've been fortunate to never be in that situation. I didn't even get a credit card until I was 24. All this to say, the spending and debt racks up over time, and the anxiety I have about work shouldn't be compounded with the anxiety I have about financially supporting myself.

Of course, moving back to Kansas isn't going to erase my debt, and I'll still be making roughly the same amount of money, but the cost of living will be significantly less. Here are my financial goals for the next 3 years:

rent my own apartment (which I've never been able to do in Seattle)
make a major dent in my loans
travel more
start saving up for either IVF or adoption
get promoted and hit the salary range of $40,000-$45,000

Money doesn't buy me happiness, but it does buy me ease. For myself in the present and for the family I hope to have in the future.

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Millennial Mondays: Emma Anne DePriest

6/18/2017

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Let Them Eat Avocado Toast

We are here, teeth bared and ready to fight for things we consider unjust. We create and destroy and we believe a luminous multitude of things. We are your children and your children's children. Stop acting like we're out to destroy your lives.

Introducing Emma Anne!
(Hot Sulphur Springs, CO)

I am newly 24. I have two jobs: I work in the produce section at my local City Market, and I am an assistant wedding coordinator at the Grand Lake Lodge. I am a white, cisgender, bisexual woman. Not homeless or anything, but not rich by any means. While I am a minority in a few ways, the only one I think makes a huge difference is my sexuality. Everything else is just details. I know I am privileged by being white, and I will be the first to admit that since my identities don't hinder me often.

Do you consider yourself a millennial- why or why not?

I would say yes. I think this mainly stems from my birth year. When I think of a Millennial, I think of the 90s kids. There are a lot of different sources that say that the Millennial generation extends into the 80s babies, and sometimes I agree with that. It comes and goes. For example, if I see someone who is what I consider a "real adult", even if they are around my age, they are no longer a Millennial. If someone has kids or wears suits to work, they aren't a Millennial anymore. But then I even think of kids who are in upper high school as Millennials sometimes too. I think of my sister, who is three years younger than me, as a Millennial too. If there was an age cutoff for the Millennial Generation, it may be 20-32.

What identity has been key in your development as a millennial?

My age has definitely helped me in my development as a Millennial. But mindset has a lot to do with it. If a person is a more open minded twenty-something, they are the definition of a Millennial. The fact that I want to help others and create this unity amongst all people is a huge factor in my generation label. I don't think my sexuality or my gender have a whole lot to do with it. Maybe my financial status has something to do with it, but then again I know a lot of Millennials who are doing well for themselves financially. This is an interesting question.

Is your job the sole purpose or “calling” of your life? Put another way: what ignites and fuels you? Is it work or is it something bigger? Something deeper? Who do you serve at work, and why do you serve them?

Simply put, no. My jobs are great - they pay the bills and help me feed myself and my kids (cats), but they are not where I pictured myself. When I started college, I wanted to be an artist. But I'm not great at art. Then I wanted to be a teacher. And something happened, and I thought maybe, "What was the point?" of being a teacher. So I graduated with a degree in English Literature. And I don't do anything with that degree yet. Maybe I could, but what? I look at the list of jobs I could get with this degree and I feel stuck. They are great jobs I'm sure, but not for me. Maybe I'm just being that whiny-entitled-Millennial we're always hearing about. But we all deserve to do something that makes us happy. If I could write full-time and sustain a happy, comfortable life, I totally would. But I can't. I know I would never be the next J.K. Rowling or Stephen King. So I will find something to patch the holes but write as a side gig. And that makes me kind of sad. But what else can I do really? Honestly...I have this total pipe dream of opening a huge no-kill shelter and saving every death-row animal there is. But alas, I am poor.

Outside of work, I do little to nothing, but one thing I have recently gotten into is hiking. And when I hike, I only serve two things: nature and myself. The hiking is a precursor to something bigger, perhaps bigger than me. I serve nature by just taking care while I'm out and about and taking in the sights. I serve myself because every time I go to the mountains I get stronger. And if you can't be strong for yourself, who the hell else are you gonna be strong for??

What are your passions, hobbies, and/or aspirations?

My passions are animals, reading, writing, hiking, and my family. It is my plan to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2020. It wasn't a huge coming-of-age thing; I kind of decided it on a whim. Now I'm in too deep!

I also say animals because I can't stand the injustice that befalls cats and dogs who can't speak for themselves.

I haven't been reading as much as I'd like lately, but I do have an Audible account which I count as reading! Writing is something I've also fallen out of, but I have been blogging a bit, so maybe that helps. I consider my friends to be family because at the end of the day, I'd do anything for them. I'll fight tooth and nail for my family. They will always be the most important part of my life.

What communities or groups are you a part of that have been instrumental in helping you feel like you belong?

When I was in high school, there weren't a whole lot of groups around for inclusion unless you played sports, which I didn't. But once I got to college, there were tons of student organizations. I joined PRIDE and Zoiks!, a comedy group. I'd also say the Tumblr community does a really good job of making me feel like I belong. I can bounce ideas and questions off of them, and they either validate or correct me. Even though I have not met a majority of the people on there, I have actually made some pretty great friends that I even talk to in real life.

The millennial generation has been labeled as entitled, tech-savvy, non-religious, non-direct communicators, and financially irresponsible.
What do you think about these labels?

The thing with labels is that they work sometimes, but they are unfair to pin on everybody. For me, I would say that I am not super tech-savvy, but I know how to Google stuff. I am not super religious (in fact I would say I am an atheist), but there are things I do believe in that give me comfort and whatnot- something I won't really get into! I myself am financially irresponsible, at least I used to be. I'm much better with money now. My sister on the other hand, who I also consider a Millennial, is really freakin' good with money. And of course I think it's good to talk about stuff. But damn if there aren't a ton of people who don't know how to talk about their feelings!

Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself and how you interpret the millennial generation?

Being a Millennial is not my main identity. It is a part of me, but I don't think it affects every aspect of my life. There are so many things that are bigger than us, bigger than the generation we were born into. That being said...the thing with the Millennial Gen is that there are billions of us, ok? So I cannot and will not speak for all of us. But I can say that we are here, and we are constantly changing. Every day there is something that takes a piece of us and molds us, smashes us down and twists us, creating something new and fantastic. We are here, teeth bared and ready to fight for things we consider unjust. We create and destroy and we believe a luminous multitude of things. We are your children and your children's children. Stop acting like we're out to destroy your lives. We want that high-pedestaled American Dream just as much as anyone. Happiness. Let them eat avocado toast.

Think you have a story to tell about being a millennial? Comment below or message me today at eden.tullis@gmail.com!

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There's Stuff...and Then There's Intimate Mementos

6/6/2017

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THE BARE MINIMUM. I left my car in Kansas 5 years ago and flew out to Seattle with a one-way ticket, a heart full of hope, and 2 suitcases of clothes and shoes. I was really eating up the whole, it'll work mindset when I bought furniture from the girl who lived in the room before me. She literally left it behind for me. It couldn't have been easier. A few days later and the 3 or 4 boxes my parents had shipped to me arrived at my apartment in Capitol Hill. So little. I had so very little, but that was all part of the charm. I vividly remember my first night in Seattle. I could hear the planes zooming over me (something that's not common in Emporia or Oswego), and I jittered with excitement and fright. The it'll work mindset was murky. Would it work? This was great, but could I really do it?

Day by day, it got just a little bit easier and brighter. Every time I stepped outside, it was an adventure. A culture-shocking joy-ride. Grad school got going and everything shifted into turbo gear. It was a frenzy, and before I could stop to keep track of it all, I started accumulating more books, notebooks, clothes, knick knacks, and house necessities. But first, before all the other inanimate objects invaded the space, there came this clear box that I placed right by my bed on my nightstand. To the ordinary eye, it's boring. Ordinary. In it, I've stuffed 5 years of intimate mementos:

My very first bus ticket (cause it smelled to me like freedom, and cause I had to ask someone how to ride!)
Lots of letters from back home with a similar, heartwarming sign-off: sending love from Kansas!
The last love letter from my high school sweetheart and the first love letter from the boy who I feel for after
A nametag from my very first higher ed conference in Hawai'i
Goodbye notes from my grad school framily
A volunteer stub from Bumbershoot
Business cards from all the schools I've worked at
Cards, invites, and notes from students
Invites to weddings I couldn't fly back for
...and so much more

"But, no matter how you get there or where you end up, human beings have this miraculous gift to make that place home."- Creed, The Office

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Millennial Mondays: Jacob Rosales-Perez

5/14/2017

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To Leave a Story Worth Telling, With Morals or Questions of Morals

Many of us are 1st or 2nd generation citizens or residents and did not have parents with time to sit us down to teach us about taxes or the importance of saving. Many people in my circle did not have college funds. So we've had to learn about money the hard way.

Meet Jacob! (Seattle, WA)

He's a 27 year-old Club Center Coordinator and Barista who is gridin' and hustlin' in the lower class broke status. Truly, he's one of the hardest working people I know. Jacob also got a Bachelor or Arts in Philosophy from Seattle University (where we met), and he identifies as a Hetero-cis-male who is Latino, white, and Mexican.

Do you consider yourself a millennial- why or why not?

Yes to an extent. I don't boast about it. But as a general generational identifier, I fit into the category well enough.

Is your job the sole purpose or “calling” of your life? Put another way: what ignites and fuels you? Is it work or is it something bigger? Something deeper? Who do you serve at work, and why do you serve them?

I don't believe I have a single sole purpose. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I have a purpose [at all]. And if I even realized what it was, I'd have to decide whether or not to actually pursue such purpose. If I did have a purpose or calling, I imagine it'd be in politics. So in a way, the costumer service aspect of my jobs is preparation for politics. But in the spirit of this question, I could work anywhere for money in the meantime. But I have chosen to do these jobs for specific reasons.

I serve community college students who wish to create and manage student clubs because I was once in their shoes and know that unless you are already organized and confident, it is very discouraging to join a club, least of all step up to lead one. But when one does, one finds real world simulations, experiences, networks, and personal growth. I serve in this position to help the wallflowers bloom and to remind the social butterflies of humility.

On the other hand, I really wanted to work at Starbucks because I wanted to learn the craft of coffee-ing. While I mainly serve people 12 oz's at a time, I really admire how far the company goes in the name of costumer service.

Outside of work, I am an aspiring Actor. I grew up on movies and love quality film and television. It can shed light through social or political commentaries, evoke emotions you don't typically have, or help you imagine something extraordinary.

In the big picture, I'd be serving my family and friends, ridding them all of debt. But even without that, I serve my sanity. Without that, I can't really serve others.

What are your passions, hobbies, and/or aspirations?

Although I pursue it more, Acting is really equal to my passion for music. I love just learning an instrument or a song. I aspire to be proficient in music theory and composition. I aspire to act with those great cast members and filmmakers I witnessed growing up- to leave a story worth telling, with morals or questions of morals.

What communities or groups are you a part of that have been instrumental in helping you feel like you belong?

More than anything, my family's approval of my academic and vocational choices is important. My many friends who joke with me as well as listen to me and trust in me to be listened to are also very important. It's a great feeling when you have a work crew who cares about the collective goal of your job too. I had such work crews in my time working for a Work Release, and I've experienced it at both my current jobs.

The millennial generation has been labeled as entitled, tech-savvy, non-religious, non-direct communicators, and financially irresponsible. What do you think about these labels?

I always wonder the demographics of these "millennials" that they see. I'd say a third of my friends are entitled, a quarter tech-savvy, half non-religious, and well yes, the last two are pretty accurate. But understand that even experts have trouble navigating student loans, the source of our financial struggle. Here is another thing. Many of us are 1st or 2nd generation citizens or residents and did not have parents with time to sit us down to teach us about taxes or the importance of saving. Many people in my circle did not have college funds. So we've had to learn about money the hard way.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself and how you interpret the millennial generation?

Categories work with generalizations, but it is important to go all the way to the specifics if one cares to respect the humanity of an individual.

Think you have a story to tell about being a millennial? Comment below or message me today at eden.tullis@gmail.com!

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Honeymoon

5/9/2017

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I'm not blissfully happy here anymore.

I clutched my pillow and let the tears roll down my face. It was the first time I actually said it out loud. Whispered it into the night.

Heartbreak and relief fell over me.

We had a good run, Seattle and I. Our honeymoon phase lasted longer than most- 4.5 years for the win! But now I'm left asking if it's me or my life that has changed more. Just why is it that I'm not blissed out anymore?

These bigger life lessons, they don't take it easy on our hearts. Instead, they dramatically burst through our consciousness, wanting to be remembered. They need us to stir and make a move. Check mate.

I could continue to embrace the life I have here in Seattle despite the growing pains because maybe, just maybe, I'm on the brink of a breakthrough. Or I could put one foot in front of the other and head towards another blissful place. The root of this choice lies in the theory of fight to flight. If I moved away, I'd certainly be running towards something that makes me happy (i.e. family & friends), but I've also gotta check myself and make sure I'm not fleeing from this place that may be a little tougher and little less prettier than it used to be in my eyes. Of course I still LOVE Seattle. I always will. I'm just trying to sort out if this place is worth sticking around for. It was a dream to come here. It was a dream to be thriving here. But now the highs and lows of being here are reality and they're taking a toll. Is that just life or is it my heart telling me to move on?

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Millennial Monday: Burke Le Valley

Making the Soul Bright

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Millennial Mondays: Jacob Rosales-Perez

To Leave a Story Worth Telling, With Morals or Questions of Morals

Honeymoon

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