millennial blog project

millennial blog project

I won’t sit idly by and watch my life pass before my eyes

A millennial’s coming-of-age story

My name is Emily and I’m 30 years old. I’ve been writing on this blog in fits and spurts since I was 14, originally as “Blackbyrd” on blackbyrd.wordpress.com. I’ve long been enamored by the written word and have scribbled poems and sonnets in countless notebooks since I was 7.

Today I’m a classically trained journalist who has built a successful career in corporate marketing. On this blog I write about my musings while traveling all over the world and riding my bike.

Welcome to my never-ending coming-of-age story.

Thanks for visiting!

  • Only a Bonnie would understand

    There’s definitely something weird about St. Bonaventure University. My family told me I’d love it. Dad said I’d meet the best friends of my life there and both Mom and Jordan knew I’d love my professors. I didn’t believe them. Instead, I dreaded the running I knew I’d be doing for its Division I cross Read more

  • The Seed and the Nonexistent Tree

    After a bike ride with a friend, I settled down with a bowl of white cheddar popcorn and a potpourri of channels to flip to. Feet up, Food Network/HGTV/Nickelodeon on; living the dream. (I eventually settled on Full House – the episode where 13-year-old D.J. gets “caught” drinking…  now I’m convinced drinking is bad.) And I Read more

  • Recreating the high

    “One more lap, Em!” “Gotta speed up on this one if you want that time!” “100 meters left!” “Kick it in!” …I can still hear them in my head. Yelling at me. Screaming. Coaches losing their voices and freaking me out in the process. Faster, faster.  Legs and arms numb. Clock ticking. Each second costing Read more

  • City lights and stars

    Ben lay on his back with his arms behind his head, staring at the sky. “I’ve never seen so many stars in the sky before,” my cousin said. I’ll never forget it. I might have been 7 or 8, but I’ll never forget it. It’s when my perception of the world around me began to Read more

  • A chip, a bitch and a trip down memory lane

    He told me I had a chip on my shoulder. “We don’t want to get rid of it, we just want to shrink it,” he said, motioning with his hands. I had not realized that that’s how my behavior illustrated me. I saw myself as a strong, independent, opinionated woman, much like –– hell, identical Read more

  • For those significant ripples…

    Every person who crosses your path ends up making a difference in your life, no matter what. It could be something minuscule, but there are no meaningless encounters, acquaintances or relationships. You could model your behavior after someone else’s, or you could decide you want to be nothing like someone in particular. But, despite what you may Read more