BLOOD MONEY

Where most see money, I see blood. Someone with whom I share a toast, a celebration, a heart-warming reunion.

But a whole year locked away, with only that blood to keep me company, I start to miss the money, the parties, the not-so-subtle avoidance of questions about insecurities, deep thoughts, and my whereabouts.

Blood means well, but I liked it better when they didn’t care.

STYLISTS: KATEY KEMP, MEG KARNER PHOTOGRAPHER: JOSEPH NOLL WRITER: HEIDI BOOT MODELS: ADEN WRIGHT, CHARLIE KOEHN MAKEUP: NYIA SAWYER HAIR: MADDIE MCCALLA

As covid lingers, our love for one another grows stronger—or does it? Locked up in the house for more than a year and with the same people at that? Dreadful. Boring. Eye-opening.

People have been forced to actually get to know each other again. Talk, listen, understand. The question ”how did we get this detached from each other?” rears its head.

Those people who are driving you absolutely wild are family members or best friends. So, how can we bridge that gap? It’s simple: talk, listen, understand.* Okay, maybe it’s not that simple, but let’s start off with the basics.

Talk. Set aside time to talk to your people every day, whether it’s over a meal or on your daily commute.

Listen. It doesn’t make any difference whether you talk or not if you don’t listen to what they’re saying.

Understand. This isn’t the easiest thing. Especially with estranged family members or friends who aren’t really friends anymore. But try to keep an open mind, and be supportive—trust me, it’ll get you closer than you think.

Don’t let this time go to waste.

“TALK. LISTEN. UNDERSTAND.”