The Rightest Way
Part of me hopes you have no clue what you did to me, and the other hopes you do. Because if you didn’t know, that means I’m not defending a villain. But if you did, then at least I know my pain is justified.
Personal
Express your experiences, reflections, and life stories.
I Was Thinking About Space And Not The One Between Us
My own thoughts. Based on the song, “In Another World,” by EJAE.
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What is a writers job as the world bows and cracks?
Our job is to help, provide honest spaces – to give people something to compartmentalize their own thoughts on the world.
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Afternoon Thoughts from a YouTube Lurker
The Algorithm Won’t Save Us: How YouTube Fails Black Creators I’ve been watching a lot of ToonrificTariq lately. Al-Tariq Harris has been making video essays about cartoons and animated series since 2012, and his stuff is genuinely insightful in a way that makes me rethink shows I watched as a kid. But the more I
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The Friends I Was Too Busy to Miss
I’ve been home since May, which means I’ve been out of college for almost six months now. That’s wild to say out loud. What’s wilder is that I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve actually seen my college friends since graduation. Not because we had some falling out. Not because anyone
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I Don’t Read, I Write
Even though reading had been such a chore, I discovered an enjoyment of writing my own stories. I found myself easily filling several pages in a notebook with my wondrous ideas. At least as wondrous as they could be for a 12-year-old.[…]
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I don’t love a staircase
Humans are messy creatures. If we know anything, we know that. Can we just embrace the human existence and leave perfection to Pizza? Because honestly that is the only thing I find needing no work.
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Notes on … Nostaliga
When you enter a realm with no one as your safety blanket, you become a version of yourself that holds these people.
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Seeing Yourself: A Brief Essay on Media Representation
I was seven years old when I first realized I didn’t look like the heroes in my favorite stories. It wasn’t a dramatic revelation – just a quiet moment during Saturday morning cartoons when I noticed that none of the characters on screen shared my features, my skin tone, my family’s way of speaking. I
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Don’t lose the good.
I am so broken hearted for the good people in the world. Not the nice or the seemingly well-mannered or the everyday individual, for the good. The people who do nothing but try and help. The people who are kind for no reason. The givers. The wont stop fighters. The educators. The truth-tellers. The people who live their lives aloud and bring joy others along the way. The ones who beam light into the world.
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Fascist Governments Ban Websites
Fascist governments ban websites. Fascist governments limit, restrict, and control the flow of information. We are less than a week away from precedented times and a staggering amount of people in my life are content committing themselves to a near-silent indignation. I empathize being a part of some greater fight is not feasible to many
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Leandro Colon Reflects On His Mistakes
They say the new year is a time for fresh starts, but I’ve never been one to put much stock in arbitrary calendar dates. Still, as I sit here in my apartment on the first couple days of 2025, watching the January light cast long shadows across my bedroom floor, I can’t help but feel
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Home Fried Discomfort
“Hey Darlin’” sends warmth down my spine. I am home and feel loved by the stranger who did not make eye contact with me as they greeted me. Grease thickens the air. *** The air outside is stiff, muggy, and angry. This environment should welcome no one. Yet, the cicada’s song, sticky southern summer heat,
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Reflections on a Coffee Cup
The coffee spilled down the car’s jet black exterior. The small girl had left the coffee cup resting on top of the car’s trunk. I waited inside the coffee shop for the wrath from hell.
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Oh Sunny Days
(Drawn to the path) I walked through the fields of sunflowers. I am within myself-enamored- By the warmth which the golden petals empower.
Leandro Colon Talks About His Mistakes
I’ve never claimed to be lucky in matters of the heart. As for smart? That’s a judgment others have been eager to withhold from me. Some might call this piece a confession, others a cautionary tale. However, I’m not seeking absolution, and you can choose to digest and interpret my story as you will. Regardless,
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The Last of My Letters
“I have written so many letters that you’ll never get. They might be some of my best works and it kills me to know that I won’t send them to you. I want to, but I know better. It seems I’m always the writer of masterpieces you’ll never read. I’m tired of writing these letters. So this will be the last of them.”
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Reflections On Perfectionism
I remind myself often that it is good to receive criticism, because it means I am making someone uncomfortable, and that is how we grow.
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Plug and Chug
So I got this internship, right? I’m not really sure how (frankly, I’m not really sure why) but everybody in my family is so proud of me. Nobody expected me to be working this summer and if I did, it definitely wouldn’t be at a job sitting down. But here’s the thing, everyone at this
I’m Not Sure This World is Built for Me Anymore
I’ve had my time in the sun – more than enough, if we’re being honest. People have liked me, too. I’m not in the twilight of my years by any means. Sure, parts of me might not work the way they used to, and other parts have needed some enhancements, but I still have plenty
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Fragile
Life is so fragile. For the past few years it’s occurred to me how quickly it really goes. Maybe it’s watching children grow. Maybe it’s just what happens when you get older, but time doesn’t stretch on like an open road anymore, the destination is no longer a horizon line, the far off mountains are
I Dreamed I Saw Charlie Parker Last Night
And just like that, the switch was flipped, and my body shut down. It wouldn’t be until the next day that I realized how incredibly uncomfortable that floor in the living room was. Meanwhile, for one very strange evening, my dreamland was Birdland. My dreams tend to be vibrant, to put it mildly, but rarely do famous personnages wander my dreamscape. There are no naked Indians sharing the secrets of the universe with me, or bestowing upon me the gift of prophecy. But that night, Charlie “The Yardbird” Parker was sitting on my rent-a-couch offering his wise counsel.
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Broken Down in my Late Twenties
Arianna Mitchell explores the challenges of growing older and the unexpected changes that come with navigating adulthood. With a perfect blend of wit and self-reflection, Mitchell shares her experiences of creaky joints, shifting priorities, and the ever-present exhaustion that plagues many young adults. This engaging piece is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever questioned their body’s sudden betrayal and the realities of growing up.
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Louis Armstrong Over Damascus
But then something odd happened. One morning as I was pulling myself together for the day, I ran across a file for Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five on my laptop, hit play, and felt the world stop. I’d listened to those recordings a thousand times. But there in Damascus, a city that somehow manages to give off both Biblical and East-Germany-in-the-70s vibes, it sounded different. It sounded like it fit. There amidst the minarets, I’d stumbled upon my own call to prayer.
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Finding a Community in Habitual Isolation
TV isn’t just a hobby for me; it’s a passion, a love affair, an obsession. From the moment I wake up to the second my head hits the pillow, the warm glow of the screen is my constant companion. But as much as I adore the flickering images, the clever dialogue, and the artful storytelling,
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A Prayer for Action
I was born a writer. Born a thinker. Born an asker of questions. But somewhere along the way, I was overcome by fear. Fear of failure. Fear of being weak. Fear of acknowledging my own weakness. Fear of success. Fear of my own greatness and the responsibility that it comes with. The responsibility I have
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My Love Letter to 2000s Network Television
Arianna explores the comfort and escapism found in rewatching early 2000s TV shows during times of personal struggle and societal upheaval. Through a mix of self-deprecating humor, pop culture references, and heartfelt reflection, the author delves into the challenges of navigating adulthood, relationships, and financial instability, all while finding solace in the familiar characters and storylines of beloved shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, and Friends. Ultimately, the piece serves as a tribute to the power of nostalgia and the importance of holding onto the things that bring us joy and connection in an increasingly uncertain world.
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Where Did All of the Third Places Go?
Arianna Mitchell explores the impact of vanishing “third spaces” on community connections, sharing personal experiences from community gardens to neighborhood book swaps. She reflects on how these spaces foster a sense of belonging and challenges readers to create and embrace new communal hubs. Through her journey, Mitchell highlights the importance of nurturing shared experiences and redefining community in our rapidly changing world.
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Leandro’s Break from The Wire to talk about some Really Real Stuff
Sitting here in the small, somewhat cozy space of my college dorm room, the only light comes from my laptop screen, casting shadows around me. It’s quiet, too quiet sometimes, and it gives me a lot of time to think, maybe too much time. I’m 19, right at the start of what’s supposed to be
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Quick Thoughts on my Long Ass Year
Arianna Mitchell reflects on a year of turmoil, finding balance between challenges and growth, embracing community, and discovering personal resilience and joy amidst global and personal upheavals.
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Overcoming the Blank Page: Advice on Entering the World of Creative Writing
Do you often find yourself staring at a blank page, struggling to unleash your inner creative genius? Fear not, for you are not alone. Creative writing can be a daunting endeavor, but with the right mindset and approach, you can overcome the challenges and produce captivating stories, poems, or essays. Whether you’re in the classroom
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In Memoriam: The Original Olive Branch Review
First and foremost, I hope you’re enjoying The Olive Branch Review. If you’re one of our writers – thank you for all of the work you’ve been doing, if you’re one of our readers – thank you for reading, and if you’re a reader who’s on the fence about joining our team – well I
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My Life as a Bot
Being a bot account may seem like a simple and straightforward job, but it comes with its own set of unique struggles. As a bot, your only purpose is to test the formatting and functionality of a website, which means you are constantly running the same tests over and over again. While it may seem
My Journey in Creating a Website
Creating a website can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t have prior experience or technical expertise. From designing the layout to writing content and optimizing it for search engines, there are many aspects to consider. As someone who has struggled with creating websites in the past, I understand the frustration and the feeling
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