Things I learned along the way

I've met people who went to school for 20 years and still don't know what to do with their lives. And I've met others who barely finished high school but seem to navigate life with a kind of quiet brilliance that can't be taught in any classroom. more...

In my previous article, I compared life in America to the Matrix and my place of birth, Haiti, to the real world. That comparison rests on a single moment from the film that many people quote but few fully understand. more...

The United States is finally getting rid of the penny! Can you believe that? After more than 230 years in our pockets, the little one-cent coin will stop being made starting sometime in 2026. more...

Back in 2012, when I first moved back to Haiti, I brought with me what I thought was a symbol of comfort and success: a large 47-inch flat-screen TV. At the time, it felt important. It was modern, expensive, and impressive. more...

I just bought a new Android phone and ran into a problem that was driving me crazy. Every time I was driving, the screen kept turning on and off every few seconds, even though I wasn't touching it. On top of that, notifications were showing up on my lock screen and lighting it up. more...

When was the last time you found yourself needing AA batteries while stuck at an airport because, oops, your wireless mouse batteries are dead, only to discover that no store in the airport sells AA batteries anymore? more...

I once found myself deep in conversation with an African-American brother who told me he was married to a Nigerian woman. As we talked, I explained to him how I see America, and something in my perspective caught his attention. He leaned in, not because I was criticizing, but because what I was saying sounded familiar to him. more...

Everywhere you look on the Internet, there seems to be some "free" tool you can try. It looks simple: click, sign up, start creating. But here's the truth most people don't tell you--very few of these tools are truly free. more...

Are you the kind of person who brushes off a breakup like it's no big deal, or are you the kind who feels like you need therapy just to breathe again after losing someone? Breakups don't land the same way for everyone, and the difference can be night and day. more...

Funny thing--I recently wrote an article about Liam Neeson, the Naked Gun movie star. Not long after, I was chatting with a new retiree I had just met, and he casually mentioned that Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson are now a couple. more...