"And one of you put the toilet paper roll on backwards like some kind of animal."

It was a playful jab. For me, it was also an uncomfortable reminder of the many small details that most people seemed to have learned during their younger years, and I had missed. I was in my mid 20s and sharing a hotel room with some fellow volunteers for an event. As I learned, the toilet paper roll goes on the dispenser so that the loose paper rolls out over the top. This keeps any free-hanging paper from brushing up against the wall, which may be dirty. It makes sense if you stop to think about it, and my roommate was opinionated about proper toilet paper positioning for good reason: they'd worked at a hotel. I still remember this incident not only because I learned something, but because I felt ashamed that I hadn't been 'raised right.' It was not the first time my lack of knowledge would be the butt of a joke or source of shame, and it would not be the last.

I intend to write more of these on a variety of topics ranging from food storage to filing taxes to getting a pet. You might learn something useful, or maybe it will just provide a different perspective. My intention with these is not to provide a comprehensive guide, but to share my knowledge and experience, increase compassion, and maybe alleviate some shame or anxiety.