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Stories

Menderist shares stories about how people turned difficult moments, days, and situations around. See the menu to choose stories in the categories of Relationships; Health; Work; At Home; and Outside and Around. 

Special Issues: Family Mental Health, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorable Gift, Teacher/Educator, Year in Review

  • Resources for family support when a youth has mental health issues
    Health · Relationships

    Helping Children with Mental Health Issues Related to the Pandemic

    ByMenderist Editors April 20, 2023July 7, 2025 Updated onJuly 7, 2025

    Resources to help our children work through the challenges of the past three-plus years

    “Mental health organizations report that, linked to the pandemic, children are showing higher levels of anxiety, depression and loneliness….”

    Read More Helping Children with Mental Health Issues Related to the PandemicContinue

  • A parent watches a show about zombies to help turn the day around
    At Home · Relationships

    What Leaked Out

    ByAnne Elliott March 31, 2023January 15, 2026 Updated onJanuary 15, 2026

    Dealing with both insomnia and the three-year anniversary of the pandemic, how can this parent turn the day around?

    “I can usually deal with insomnia, but not today. After three nights of poor sleep my body feels like a heavy, water-filled container. When I walk upstairs my legs feel weighted….”

    Read More What Leaked OutContinue

  • Balancing both the dark and lighter parts of a relative’s life helped me cope with his sudden death.
    Health · Relationships

    Balancing Darkness and Light

    ByAnne Elliott February 8, 2023January 15, 2026 Updated onJanuary 15, 2026

    Lessons from a relative who lived with significant physical challenges

    “In early January, I went to my cousin’s funeral. Steve died relatively young: he was only in his 60s but experienced lifelong …”

    Read More Balancing Darkness and LightContinue

  • A surprising discovery in a local shopping area helps turn a boring day around.
    Outside & Around

    Minor Alterations

    ByAnne Elliott February 8, 2023January 15, 2026 Updated onJanuary 15, 2026

    An ordinary drive using Google Maps leads to a surprising discovery.

    “Now the holidays are done, it’s time to resume the chores and errands that were put aside. Such as updating financial records for the coming tax season…”

    Read More Minor AlterationsContinue

  • A parent’s embarrassing discovery about her technology use makes her feel oddly better.
    Relationships

    Unfair Tests

    ByAnne Elliott February 7, 2023January 15, 2026 Updated onJanuary 15, 2026

    Why do children expect parents to keep up with technology trends? A parent reflects on these daunting expectations, and gets to the root of a recent challenge.

    My 20-something children test me in ways I never did my parents. They expect me to keep up with major cultural and technology shifts – to know some trending songs – to recognize popular celebrities. And to have a sense of who’s in, and …

    Read More Unfair TestsContinue

  • A kitchen accident causes a parent to re-evaluate high school science classes
    At Home · Health

    My Scientifically Useful Family

    ByAnne Elliott February 6, 2023January 15, 2026 Updated onJanuary 15, 2026

    A family’s kitchen work leads to surprising results — which evoke a parent’s memory of long-ago high school science classes.

    “Within moments of entering the kitchen, I knew something was wrong. Fumes hit the back of my throat and I started coughing – then needed to get out of the room. Whereas my husband…”

    Read More My Scientifically Useful FamilyContinue

  • Remembering her daughter’s childhood helps an empty nest parent turn a lonely day around
    At Home · Relationships

    Then And Now

    ByGwen Lannaman February 6, 2023March 31, 2023 Updated onMarch 31, 2023

    A mother struggles with the ‘empty nest’ phase after a child leaves for university, and evaluates her parenting job so far.

    “It’s been months since my 19-year-old daughter, Katie, left for university and it’s not like I wasn’t prepared for it – the launching of my first born into the world. I gave her regular ‘lessons’…”

    Read More Then And NowContinue

  • Passing Blue
    Health · Work

    Passing Blue

    ByAnne Elliott January 27, 2023January 15, 2026 Updated onJanuary 15, 2026

    It’s just another dull winter afternoon of working at home – until a careful look out the window helps turn things around.

    “I sign back into the laptop and verify I’m who I say I am – that I have the right to see my data. It’s almost dusk and…”

    Read More Passing BlueContinue

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Every few weeks, people share encouraging essays, anecdotes, and stories about moments that turned their day around.

 

Menderist is a place where people share short essays, anecdotes, and stories about moments when a difficult day or situation begins turning around. We’re building a community to help each other feel less alone and more hopeful when dealing with daily challenges.

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