My name was called. I hadn’t prepared for this moment.I hadn’t prepared for any of it. I just stood there, in front of a room full of lawyers and judges and people who made their living with words, and tried to remember that I had a name. Fernando. My name is Fernando. That’s it. That […]
I Joined Toastmasters and Forgot My Own Name Read Post »
Most people going through their World Cup search right now are not looking for a sports bar. They are looking for a room where it is acceptable to grab a stranger’s arm when the ball hits the post. That room exists in Atlanta. Many of them, actually. The city is hosting eight matches at Mercedes-Benz
Someone nearby is carrying a paper crane the size of a child.It glows from the inside.They made it themselves.You can tell. What It Is One mile.Thousands of handmade lanterns.Live drumming that you feel before you hear it.And no ticket. No registration. No barrier between you and the light. Just show up with something glowing. What
Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade: Bring Your Light Read Post »
I’m watching a film play on a large screen in a dark room filled with nearly fifty people. My heart is pounding. My chest feels tight. My heels sound louder than they should when I shift my weight on stage. I’m not even fully watching the film. I’m watching the audience. This is the first
Finding Belonging Through Service and Storytelling Read Post »
I didn’t move to Atlanta because I was running from something. I moved because something in me wanted more room. More room to play. More room to explore. More room to be someone beyond the roles I already knew how to do well. I could be a nurse anywhere. That part of my life was
A Woman’s Story of Starting Over: Nursing by Day, Acting by Heart Read Post »
Sometimes, I am not sad.Sometimes, I am not happy.Sometimes, I just exist. No crisis.No breakthrough.No emotion asking to be resolved. Just breath moving in and out.Time passing.Me, here. For a long time, I thought this meant something was wrong. That if I wasn’t aching or glowing, I must be numb.That neutrality was a failure of
Sometimes, I Just Exist Read Post »
Running in Atlanta doesn’t begin with speed. It begins with showing up — sometimes nervous, sometimes unsure — and trusting that your body will meet you where you are. Atlanta has one of the most diverse running scenes in the country. Not because everyone runs fast — but because there is room here for every
Ultimate Guide to Running in Atlanta Read Post »
I’m already farther than I planned to go. My breath is loud now. My shirt clings to my back. My legs feel heavy — not injured, just tired in that honest, unavoidable way. The music in my ears is doing its best, but my body is starting to negotiate. You can stop soon.You’ve done enough.No
Running Past the Point I Planned to Stop Read Post »
I’m sitting at my desk in an open office, trying to focus. People walk up without hesitation. “Hey! Quick question.” “Got a sec?” “Oh, I was just around.” Nothing rude. And yet, something inside me tightens. I’m not irritated — I’m disoriented. I catch myself wondering, Why does this feel so exhausting? And then immediately
When Coming Home Feels Harder Than Leaving Read Post »
Rock climbing has quietly become one of the most welcoming ways for adults to find movement, focus, and community in Atlanta. Some people come for the workout. Some come to face their fear of heights. Many stay because climbing offers something rare: presence. If you’re new to the city — or simply looking for a
Ultimate Guide to Rock Climbing in Atlanta Read Post »