Get Out
When I felt trapped in my apartment at the start of the pandemic, I started going outdoors more. I had never been much of a runner, but with all the time I had, I figured this was a good time to pick it up. The summer heat and humidity made running later in the day harder, so I decided to do something I never thought I would be able to do: I was going to attempt to become a “morning person.”
How to Prioritize Fitness In Life After Graduation
Navigating the transition from college to adult life is a process, and prioritizing your health requires flexibility, patience, and intentionality about how you are spending your time. No matter what stage you are at, investing in your fitness can help you feel grounded during a time of instability.
How to Be a Hospitable Steward of the Earth
Teaching Strangers Double Dutch on Brooklyn Streets
How to Start Consuming Seafood Sustainably
How to Avoid Comparison on Your Fitness Journey
My Body Knew My Limits — Even When I Didn’t
Coexisting with Colobus Monkeys
A Sustainable Snack: Roasted Crickets
Chasing New Fitness Goals? Unlock the Power of Accountability
What’s More Important for Fitness: Motivation or Discipline?
How to Prioritize Fitness In Life After Graduation
Meet the Man Fighting the System with Stubborn Hope: Wendell Berry
Get Started Cross-Country Skiing with these Pro-Tips
The Ultimate Guide to Self-Care While Traveling
“Travel in itself is a form of self-care — a way to break out of our daily mold and remind ourselves of the beauty and variety surrounding us in the world.” Here are some self-care tips to take with you while you travel to your next destination.
‘We Needed an Influx of Love and Joy’
When you’re dealing with a long-term stressor like mental health, grief, or chronic pain, the daily struggle to care for yourself can be exhausting. It’s a challenge to step out beyond whatever walls have you boxed in. Sarah and her husband had reached a low point in their journey through infertility when they found a new source of love and joy: a puppy that got them back into the sunshine.
An 8-Mile Swim In Lake Michigan
Br. Matt Wooters, SJ, is a marathon swimmer and religious brother. He swam eight miles in Lake Michigan to raise money for Cristo Rey High School in Chicago. His fundraiser netted over $25k for the cause.
Your Parents Just Divorced – Now What?
The divorce of your parents can be destabilizing, regardless of your age or life circumstance — here are some approaches to help you navigate this difficult time:
Summer Party Beats | #GrottoMusic
Hosting a summer party doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep the energy going with some speakers and a playlist. We’ve curated one for you with old and new songs reminiscent of summer, good people, and good times.
Breaking Up Isn’t Easy — Here’s How to Do It Gently
Breaking up can be a difficult situation. But if you want to end the relationship, here’s how to do it gently.
Reconnecting Through Colors
Rachel Yumi Chung is an artist & illustrator who uses vibrant colors to express her imagination. Her art helps her reconnect with her Korean heritage.
The Powerful Invitation to “Just Stop In”
What would you do if a friend stopped by, unplanned and unannounced? Chances are, you may feel a little flustered. And if you were in the middle of something, probably even a bit annoyed. This author shares what we gain from accepting (and extending) the invitation to “just stop in.”
These 12 Apps Can Actually Help You Break Away and Get Outside
Even though the whole point of getting outside is to get your nose away from the screen, your phone can actually help you — if you use it the right way.
Ease into Summer with a Minor League Baseball Game
Hot dogs, cold beer, some good company, and summer fun. You already know the good vibes we’re feeling — take us out to the ball game!
How Pickup Basketball Opens the Door for Community
Making new friends as a young adult can be difficult. That post-college, early-career phase of life doesn’t always seem conducive to finding community. It’s hard to break from our sleep-work-eat mode and get out to find people. And even if we wanted to, where do we start? One writer shares his secret: pickup basketball.
Good and Decent S2|E8: Backstrokes and Headspins
In this episode, breakdancer Nimoy Vaidya and marathon swimmer Br. Matt Wooters, SJ, meet for the first time. We walk with them from a Chicago coffee shop, and then down to the lake front, as they discuss their passions — and dive into how they started getting out of their comfort zones.
A Letter to Say ‘Thanks’ to the Workers Building Skyscrapers
At 4:30 in the morning — as Shemaiah makes her way downtown to early morning workouts at the gym — the only people moving in the world are construction workers. This is some of what she’d like to say to each of them.
What’s More Important for Fitness: Motivation or Discipline?
When it comes to fitness, what’s the difference between motivation and discipline? This author goes in depth about how the two differentiate.
The Ultimate Road Trip Playlist | #GrottoMusic
“So you’re on a road trip. Maybe you have carefully planned out your route in advance. Maybe you’re just winging it. Maybe you’re craving some music you can sing and dance with.”
The Surprising Way Self-Care and Service are Linked
“Studies repeatedly show that living lives of giving has enormous, measurable benefits for our health.” The best part? You can start small — even just 16 minutes a day can make a difference.
Chasing New Fitness Goals? Unlock the Power of Accountability
When she was in college, this author led a club dedicated to helping people get to the gym, so she knows a thing or two about how to find accountability in your workout goals. She offers four pieces of advice on how to follow through with your fitness plans.
A Sustainable Snack: Roasted Crickets
Would you eat a pickle-flavored cricket? You might after hearing what insect-eating advocate Robert has to say about them. Turns out crickets are a nutritional and sustainable snack — one that our food system, and future generations, could benefit from.
The Antidote to Shallow Consumerism: Intentional Habits
Tired of the hollow feeling you have after shopping too much or wandering aimlessly through the mall? Living more simply is easier said than done, but if you want to invest more in your relationships than clothes, it’s time to shape some new routines in your life.
Meet This Chicago South Sider on the Road to Sainthood
Venerable Father Augustus Tolton is one of six Black Catholics whose causes are moving toward sainthood. This author introduces the man who founded St. Monica Parish, the first Black parish west of Baltimore.
An Injury Put Me on Crutches — And Taught Me 4 Important Lessons
Neil spent mornings playing basketball with students from the Newman Center at his university — until one day he felt something crunch in his calf. He immediately knew he had torn the largest tendon in the body: his Achilles.
Recovery, he knew, would take months. Now he looks back and realizes that as disruptive as it was, this significant injury also came with some important lessons that he wants to remember.
The Song that Made Me Rethink Classical Music
While she was out for a run alongside Chicago’s lakefront on a gloomy day, Grace happened upon Vision String Quartet. And though this Berlin-based quartet records purely instrumental music, one of their songs changed her life — no joke. Here’s how she describes it.
How to Become a More Patient Person
“There’s a common misconception that patience is something that you are either born with or are naturally lacking. But like any virtue, patience can be developed through hard work and reflection.”
Coexisting with Colobus Monkeys
Mwitu Khalfani and Angela Gathoni are wildlife conservationists in Diani, Kenya. They manage conservation space and build bridges for monkeys to cross busy highways safely. Coexisting peacefully with the colobus monkeys in their local area can be difficult work — but it’s necessary and worth it.
How the 4 Temperaments Can Help You Understand Others
If you’re on a journey of self-awareness, the four temperaments can be of great use. This author goes in depth about what a temperament is, and how you can use every one of them to understand others.
Navigating Friendships with Coworkers? Keep These 4 Things in Mind
“Relationships with coworkers can be benign or life saving. Here are some tips to keep in mind when navigating friendships at work.”
Are You In An Abusive Relationship? Here’s How to Tell
“Every relationship is complicated — even healthy ones. Think about it: bringing together two people with different backgrounds, personality traits, and goals (just to name a few dynamics) to form a healthy, mutually enriching connection is no easy feat. So how can you tell if the conflict in your relationship is unhealthy?”
What is Gaslighting, Exactly?
Many people throw the term “gaslighting” around, so this licensed clinical counselor explains the term clearly and teaches us how to spot and respond to it.
I Just Moved to Chicago — Now What?
Chicago is a city full of friendly people, delicious food, and possibly your next place to call home.
