Still twins. Slightly better communicators. Mello: Let’s be honest—just because we’ve known each other our entire lives doesn’t mean we’ve always known how to hear each other. Or anyone else, really.  Marsh: Listening is a whole skill set. It’s not the “sit silently while you zone out” thing teachers talk about. It’s way messier. It took us a long time (and...

Marsh: Before we get into it, let’s be clear: I love my twin. Would literally fight a bear for him. But also? He leaves half-drunk tea cups on every surface and breathes like a dramatic movie monk when he’s thinking. So yeah. He’d be the first one I vote off the island.  Mello: Correction: I place my tea cups with artistic...

Marsh: Everyone’s always like, “Omg you’re twins?? You must be exactly the same!” 🙄 Hard no. I’m full send, max volume. Mello’s more…silent ninja mode.  Mello: I prefer “stealth genius,” thanks.  Marsh: Sure. But real talk — people see quiet kids and think they’re AFK or something. Like, hello?? He’s just charging.  Mello: Facts. I’m not passive. I’m processing. Also, I clock everything. Even when I’m...

There’s this idea that listening is simple — you hear someone speak, and you respond. Done.  But lately, I’ve realized that real listening has less to do with ears and more to do with awareness.  Because most of the time, the people around me are speaking languages I don’t actually know.  No, I don’t mean...

There’s this thing that happens when you’re “the talented one.” You get really good at knowing what people want from you. You learn how to hit all the right notes — in music, in school, in life — so everyone claps.  And you start performing. All the time. Even when no one’s watching.  I started playing violin when I...