The Only Two People You Should Try to Impress A mother and her daughter at Carnaval de Valencia - March 2024 As a teenager, I was always trying to impress someone. Whether it was the crowd at a sporting event or a girl at the mall, I sought validation in the words and reactions of others. I couldn't conjure self-acceptance, so I continued seeking. Hey, look at me! Yeah, no thanks. If we must impress anyone in this life, let it be two people: The child self and the older self. First is the...

Conquer the Fear of Flying When I was six, my family went to San Diego to visit relatives. I had the aisle seat on the outbound flight, and my brother had the window. Seated between us was a fella who snored like a beached walrus. Naturally, we decided to mess with him. First, we removed his watch and put it on the opposite wrist. Then, we emptied the contents of a ketchup packet on his upper back. Somehow, he didn't wake up. Had the guy been conscious, his in-flight experience would have...

The Childhood Feeling I Miss Most It was Friday. The bell sang to us. We were lined up single file: A dozen or so 8-year-old girls and boys awaiting the nod that meant 30 minutes of freedom. It was as if we had been spring-loaded into the barrels of cannons. Our teacher held the igniter. We collectively wiggled in anticipation. The nod came, and the heavy door was flung open with ferocious force, prey to a hoard of tiny hands. We burst through the door like skydivers, reaching a sprint pace...