Emily Hecht- McGowan

2 weeks ago | thegoodtrade.com | Emily Hecht- McGowan

The written word is a place of refuge for me. It’s a space where I cannot be interrupted, corrected, or needlessly criticized, a place where I can feel my feelings without judgment. But lately, my words liquefy and fail me when I need them most, especially in the face of war, human rights rollbacks, and the continued climate crisis. There’s so much to say but few words left to use, not to mention that some of my feelings don’t even seem to have appropriate words to describe them.

3 weeks ago | thegoodtrade.com | Emily Hecht- McGowan

“She’s a delight to have in class,” teachers would tell my parents when I was growing up. I was quiet, respectful, punctual, and thoughtful in my work. As an adult, I’ve gotten the same feedback from managers and new friends. A delight. “I put so much invisible stress on myself that I often find myself in bed at night completely and utterly defeated.”But behind the delight, I don’t always feel delightful.

3 weeks ago | thegoodtrade.com | Emily Hecht- McGowan

Summary: If you’re looking for a nontoxic, zero-VOC (and I mean truly zero-VOC) paint that doesn’t compromise on color or quality, I highly recommend ECOS Paints. I loved their ingredient transparency and the peace of mind knowing my bedroom is coated in gorgeous, safe color. While painting did take a bit more time — especially with bold colors needing primer and two coats — the beautiful, odorless finish made it all worthwhile.

1 month ago | thegoodtrade.com | Emily Hecht- McGowan

When I found myself once again living alone in my 30s, I re-imagined myself as the quintessential independent woman — meticulously organizing my home and my schedule, mending my clothing, and assembling new furniture without so much as a glance at the instruction manual. I imagined making all my meals from scratch (dry beans and all), and even growing a large portion of my leafy greens on my patio. Basically, I envisioned my life as a montage of productivity and self-sufficiency.

2 months ago | thegoodtrade.com | Emily Hecht- McGowan

Under a distant arch, a single violin played I Have A Dream by ABBA, one of my long-favorie songs. The melody resonated out over the Plaza De España as I stood quietly by the water. It was a sign, I was sure — but of what? “Dreams and music,”an angel card reader had told me the previous year. “Those will be important in your life, pay attention to them.” I was on my first-ever international trip, alone, and nursing an illness on day 9 of my travels.