Mariah Cressy

Read these tips for cooking vegan holiday recipes.

How to Make Vegan-Friendly Meals for the Holidays

Article / Health & Wellness

Read these 6 book recs for tips on how to adult.

6 Books to Help with Next-Level Adulting

Article / Career & Finance

These 5 adulting activities have been great ‘excuses’ for bringing new friends together.

5 Adult-ish Activities to Gather New Friends Together

Article / Relationships

Read how to use intrinsic motivation and why it works better than if-then rewards.

Why Internal Beats External Motivation Every Time

Article / Health & Wellness

Life lessons I learned while potty training a cat.

Lessons I Learned from Potty-Training My Cat

Article / Relationships

We should never stop learning — and if we're living intentionally, we'll become forever learners. Read why that's important.

How Changing My Mindset Made Me a Forever Learner

Article / Career & Finance

Here's how to overcome fear — and it's not the way you think.

How to Use Your Fear in a Way that Helps You

Article / Health & Wellness

Here's how to get better at something — harness flow to expand your mental limits.

The Art of Flow and How to Harness It

Article / Health & Wellness

Use these 4 essential job application tips to make your application really stand out.

4 Essentials for a Stand-Out Job Application

Article / Career & Finance

Can people really change? While trying to realize her own potential, this author learned it's all about a person's mindset.

Why I Changed the Way I Say Hello

Article / Transform

Is multitasking possible? No, but here's how you can get more done in any given day AND sleep better.

Why I Ditched Multitasking For Brain Dumping

Article / Health & Wellness

What is a Catholic feminist? This author sat down with the creator of The Catholic Feminist Podcast. Read the interview here.

What It Means to be a Catholic Feminist

Article / Transform

Read how this author discovered the importance of being vulnerable.

How I Realized the Value of Vulnerability

Like this woman smelling wildflowers, God winks help me know I'm headed in the right direction, so I can be mindful and joyful in the moment.

Why I Believe in “God Winks”

Article / Belief

Here's how this newlywed couple has learned to compromise in marriage, especially between maximizer and satisficer decision-making tendencies.

What Our First Year of Marriage Taught Us About Compromise

Article / Relationships

Man and woman holding hands and praying around a dinner table full of merged families during the holidays.

What My In-Laws Taught Me About Merging Holiday Traditions

Article / Relationships

A woman checking in with her online community while tying her sneaker on the side of the bed early in the morning.

What an Instagram Fitness Crew Taught Me About Community

Article / Health & Wellness

Notes on how to be a better friend. Handwritten notes about life events taped to a wall include the following: John's birthday August 21st; Maggie hears back about job interview on Wednesday; Elizabeth's sister's baby is due in June; Sarah is moving to a new house on Saturday; Chris's dog's name is Penny, favorite food is Chipotle; Gina is running the Chicago marathon.

This Simple Life Hack Makes Me a Better Friend

Article / Relationships

One way to stay in touch with friends: two women tying their running shoes, getting ready for a run together.

4 Creative Ways to Stay in Touch with Friends Post-College

Article / Relationships

Dirt road winding through pine trees, getting back to nature.

Why “Getting Back to Nature” is Overrated

Article / Health & Wellness

Black and white wedding photo of the author Mariah and her husband.

Why I Changed My Last Name — And Don’t Care That You Didn’t

Article / Transform

A man and woman who were set up by family, sitting next to each other at a dinner table, talking over two glasses of red wine.

6 Reasons You Should Let Your Family Set You Up

Article / Relationships

Why go on a Catholic pilgrimage? My reason was these four rocks glasses, with different shades of bourbon, lined up horizontally on top of a wooden bourbon flight board.

I Went on a Catholic Pilgrimage for the Bourbon

Article / Community

Explore more Grotto

If you're thinking 'I lost the weight. Now what?' read what this author has to say about finding true joy after hitting your goal weight.

Where I Found Happiness After Hitting My Goal Weight

Who was Saint Mark? Learn more about him through our Spotify playlist inspired by his life and legacy.

St. Mark Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Here's how to destress and restore your energy reserves: pick up a 'restorative niche.'

What a ‘Restorative Niche’ Is & Why You Need One

How to celebrate Easter: feast on these 3 (non-food) joyful things!

3 Joyful Things to Feast on During Easter Week

Read about how a play brought out the true joy of family time on this family's vacations.

How a Play Brought Joy to Our Family Vacations

Read the science behind how to find joy.

Where to Find Joy According to Science

These inmates are starting a new life, and this volunteer is helping them externally represent that by removing tattoos.

Jail Tattoo Removal Ministry Gives Inmates a Fresh Start

Read this reflective narrative about a Gang of Youths concert and the joy the band radiates.

“‘Gang of Youths’ and Random Disclosure of Grace”

Download these 6 shareable notecards to spread joy.

Free Download: 6 Shareable Notecards to Spark Joy

Happy Easter (funny) from Grotto Network! Treat yourself!

Easter Celebrations by Grotto Network