Here’s why change is a long time coming. — An ocean breeze in Bali. The monstrous cliffs on Ireland’s west coast. The sparkling lights of Paris. The mystical, endless stretch of the Atacama desert. These days, the idea of hopping on a flight to a far-off destination brings up a blend of feelings, the most potent of which is…

It’s a common cliche in teen romcoms: a girl walks into the lunchroom alone, looking around for a place to sit. Nobody welcomes her. Some even sneer, laugh, or give her the side-eye. The cool kids spread out their backpacks, taking up all the free space. …

I was staring at a basket of bread. It was perfect. Technical and visual perfection. All the cracks and crumbs and crevices. Toasted but soft. The bread came out of the page, the shadows and painted shading daring everyone who saw to touch it. To try to take a bite. …

It’s time for me to be honest with you all. For about two months now, I’ve been suffering from a serious affliction. It’s a controversial one, as many creative individuals suffer from it quite seriously, while others deny it’s existence outright. Writer’s block. At first, I wasn’t sure what it…

Here’s how you might be able to travel, too — Two years ago, I left behind my friends, family, and home country (the U.S.) and moved across the sea to Spain. The move was spurred by many reasons. The main reason was to travel. Europe is a condensed area packed with countries and cultures, making travel easy, fast, and cheap…

It was raining again. Before, it had just been sporadic drizzles, but now it was pouring. We watched from our table at the restaurant, not minding the rain one bit. It turned each cobblestone into a reflective surface on which the colors of lit windows and motorbikes danced. It was…

And how not to lose your mind in the process — These days, everyone has an opinion about what it takes to succeed. You must be enjoying the journey but see ten steps ahead. Tell everyone or tell no one. Be happy where you are but aim for the sky. It is as though the world is telling us: You must…

Any people-pleasers in the crowd? Get those hands up. Don’t be ashamed. There are more of us than we know. Some of us may not even realize how much we care about what others think, or that we do at all. Some of us might think back to when we…

You can’t run from where you come from — I’d heard the song a thousand times. Those optimistic first notes, the nostalgic harmonies, the bright acoustic twang. It was a classic — at least, it was a classic where I’m from. I figured people only really knew John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” if they were from the…