humanparts.medium.com

A kidney doctor treats a college student on the brink of death and is reminded that survival is never guaranteed.

On surviving a suicide attempt, and what comes next.

When something is not right for us, we know because we get stopped up. We feel dread and anger, which are both signs that we aren't honoring our internal signals that are telling us something isn't right.

I'm a former smoker who misses the idleness and so-called social benefits of smoking.

A non-comprehensive list of the year's best personal essays — on everything from mental health to relationships, identity, creativity, family and all that makes us human.

Getting sober was deeply taxing for one stand-up comedian. But managing obsession with food was even more complicated — that is, until they unburdened themselves of shame.

We were the same age. We grew up together. We thought we would grow old together, and have kids who could be cousins just like us.

A professor and novelist turns to online dating algorithms for romantic reassurance and finds the peculiar beauty of uncertainty instead.

Ayahuasca, magic mushrooms and other psychedelics carry messages that can shape the way we live. A plant medicine facilitator explains how to get the most out of a trip.

I didn't expect to have a miscarriage, so I had told family and friends we were expecting. Having to tell everyone the pregnancy was gone changed my perspective on loss.

"I never thought I wanted kids, but I'm 34 now and realizing I do. I just wish it wasn't so taboo to talk about."

Nothing was wrong, but it wasn't worth saving, either.

My mom wanted me to wear a blonde wig on my first day of high school so I would look "more American." I can understand why.

The principle-agent theory of workplace motivation doesn't apply as jobs become increasingly pointless.

In the early '80s, Vivian McInerny got a fake job working for a fake person — and exposed his house of lies.

After hours, he'd join his 23-year-old cardiomyopathy patient to play video games in his hospital room. He'll always regret the moment he forgot they weren't just gaming buddies.

Welcome to Vidor, a town most famous for its racism.

As a practice patient for doctor's assistants, I humiliate myself for the chance to see you again.