The Honest Optimist by Syd Dixon

Praying Badly

Every single night when I get into bed, waiting for my magnesium and ashwagandha to kick in, my hyperactive brain is typically spinning.

Aug 20 • Syd Dixon

1

A Retired Reactive

Freshman year of high school volleyball, second set, 17-17.

Aug 14 • Syd Dixon

3

2

The Best Days I Have No Pictures Of

There was a line of evergreens between our house and the neighbors’.

Aug 6 • Syd Dixon

2

July 2026

The People You Rearrange Your Life For

I’m flying to Denver for only 36 hours.

Jul 30 • Syd Dixon

2

3

What Faith Looks Like When It's Not Pretty

I prayed for the same thing for a year, then quit right before it worked.

Jul 23 • Syd Dixon

14

3

Building a Village When You're Far From Home

There's not enough warning that making friends in your late 20s is basically a second job.

Jul 16 • Syd Dixon

1

2

How to Love Someone Through Every Change

Think about the friend you’ve known the longest.

Jul 9 • Syd Dixon

1

3

30 Isn't Coming to Get You

The most alarming thing about turning 30 is how alarmed everyone else is about it.

Jul 2 • Syd Dixon

9

2

June 2026

The People Who Save You a Seat

There are people who will let you stand idly.

Jun 25 • Syd Dixon

2

1

1

The One Where I Start Again

On the specific cowardice of quitting something you love, and what finally brought me back.

Jun 18 • Syd Dixon

3

1

March 2026

The One Where I Lived Forward

I couldn’t slow time down, but I could stop missing it.

Mar 30 • Syd Dixon

3

1

November 2025

Comfort Food in 20 minutes

Half the cost and half the time of takeout

Nov 20, 2025 • Syd Dixon

1

1

1