Ok, we can talk, right? Like real talk? I’ve had good relationships and I’ve had bad ones. Believe it or not, the ones I enjoyed the most were often the ones with the most drama. I was never one to take relationships seriously. There was always a reason I got […]
Letters From Vintessa
The Myth of Self-Isolation: How I Learned Growth Requires Connection
In today’s culture, we idolize independence. We love to see people pick themselves up, dust off their boots, and get to work. The self-made hustler mentality is celebrated, and it has seeped into the self-help world. It’s almost expected to isolate ourselves to work on our personal growth. I did […]
From Sulking to Savoring: My Rituals for Bad Mental Health Days
Lying in bed, I stare at the canopy above me. I can’t even be bothered to move. My mind replays my worst hits, complete with commentary. Regret, shame, and guilt weigh heavy on my chest. I turn onto my side, watching the sunlight struggle to brighten my room through the […]
I Tried Float Therapy- Here’s What It Taught Me
This year is my year of embracing me—trying all the things on my bucket list and doing everything my anxiety tells me I can’t or shouldn’t. I’m not living in the shadows anymore; I’m embracing myself and my journey. That’s why, for my birthday, I decided to try float therapy. […]
When Friendships Shift: Does A Baby Have To Change Things?
It had been a few months since Nikita and I last caught up, and I was excited to see her again. We typically have these long, two-to-three-hour gab fests, filling each other in on work, dating, and major life events. This time, I had a story to tell—she hadn’t yet […]
Dating As A Woman: Is It Really All Up To Us?
Scrolling through my feed, I came across a post discussing how society often places the burden on women to secure a relationship and ensure its success. It paints an idealized version of marriage and soulmates that we’re all expected to pursue, and if we don’t, somehow it’s our fault. I […]
A Year of Surrender: My Birthday Ritual and Letting Go
My 20s were the most toxic era of my life—everything except death and jail happened, and I’m just grateful I made it out alive and without kids. At 28, I decided I wasn’t cool and that I was going to be as odd and unusual as I wanted to be. […]
So Many Red Flags In One Conversation
Dating can be stressful, but every now and then, it gets so bad that it’s almost good—especially when you get a story out of it. One of my biggest character flaws? I date for the plot. If you seem like a good time, I’ll almost always swipe right. It’s something […]
Finding Myself: My Journey to Bohemianism
I remember when I was younger, I would watch the older high schoolers all dressed up so fashionably at school, thinking, When I get older, I’ll find my look and be so fabulous! That’s a typical freshman mindset. And when I got to their age, I dressed up, headed to school […]
Unplugging from My Phone for 2.5 Days: What I Learned
Like most people, my phone is practically glued to my hand. I scroll constantly—unless I’m walking my dog, my phone is always within reach. This wasn’t always the case. A few months ago, I barely touched it, often misplacing it around my apartment. But lately, it’s felt like a lifeline. […]