#personal-experience

#personal-experience

Upon receiving a flurry of messages, I realized I had become an unintended part of an internet misunderstanding linked to another Andy Byron who attended a Coldplay concert.

"I hate words," she tells me. "I'm so bad at expressing myself through words, and I want to get a lot better at it because I'm making TikToks right now, and I've realised I'm not good at figuring out what to say on the fly consistently. So I think a lot about communicating things in pictures or storyboards."

On the second night, I went big on the ice very big. I found the biggest, deepest oven tray I could fit in the freezer, filled it with water, and left it there all day.

"After I published my article on how to get unstuck by changing your creative environment, my husband wrote me a mildly perplexing email about how I introduced the article's main point."

Sarah Gleeson, from Cork, was shocked when she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her first pregnancy seven years ago. 'I've always been health conscious, and we'd been trying to get pregnant for about 10 months, so I was very conscious of my diet,' she says.

Katie Asturizaga discovered a lump in her breast at 44, leading to a breast cancer diagnosis and the need for chemotherapy, while balancing family responsibilities.

Sarah Newman revealed that DJ Carey had been lying about having an incurable brain tumour while they were in a relationship, causing her immense distress.

"I wouldn't want my kids to go through something I went through. ... I learned from it. At the end of the day, I'm a big person, but this happened to me. It could happen to anybody. So put it out there. What's to be embarrassed about? There's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's just you live and learn from it."

Oscar Ramirez graduated a decade ago with a business degree, but he's applying lessons learned in his family restaurant rather than in traditional business roles.

Transit has been an essential part of my life, connecting me to school, work, and opportunities. Without it, I wouldn’t have graduated debt-free.

Isabelle's dream about her friends at an amusement park reflects her emotional journey—from enjoyment to distress—mirroring her recent life experiences with sudden changes.

Without my phone, I begin to feel a bit bored—something I haven't felt since first getting a smartphone to fill every quiet moment with scrolling.

"My first attempt at hot yoga left me feeling utterly lost, struggling with the intensity while others around me seemed perfectly at ease with the experience."

To combat the heat, I used to bring frozen water bottles and gel ice packs into bed to keep me cool through the night. While they did work, I'd wake up each morning with wet water rings and condensation marks on my sheets that would seep into my mattress - meaning more hassle, more laundry, and less sleep.

Generations of writers have tried to capture the essence of the perfect martini, but it's arguably a drink that transcends language altogether.

"On the one hand, I feel like a weight that was on my chest has been lifted and I can breathe again... But at the same time, it's bittersweet, because I'm constantly thinking about the people there and also feel guilty about not being there."

When I listen to horror podcasts, my brain floods with adrenaline. It's hitting that sweet spot of fear, triggering our ancient survival instincts without actual danger.

Sunscreen on my face so I don't age quickly.

Vego Garden raised beds are customizable, efficient and visually appealing, made from eco-friendly metal, offering a longer lifespan compared to traditional wooden beds.

"Every single thing unfolded just exactly as I just dreamt it. Not even just slightly, it was the same thing, and I just re-lived it twice."

Luke O'Reilly Kane expressed that the current understanding of the Gender Recognition Act lacks clarity, leading to ongoing inequalities for transgender individuals in society.

When you look beyond the Instagram filter, Paris remains a lovely city, but also a lonely one.

Preparing for the Leaving Cert felt like a culmination of years of hard work; I went to bed with a clear mind, anticipating each exam.

There was a craft to pulling a sickie; laying groundwork with faint symptoms, morning theatrics, and even threatening to be sick if it meant staying home.

The unpredictable nature of commuting has taught me to embrace the chaos of NYC subway life, turning small annoyances into cherished experiences.

Despite my lack of affinity for the Star Wars franchise, I find joy in my LudoSport lessons where lightsaber techniques bring a new perspective to this beloved universe.

It takes time to go through all your excess belongings, but it makes moving easier.

In the world of art where a bit of knowledge can sometimes be stretched a bit too far, I'm glad to say that my experience seems to bring me more rewards than my knowledge.

Eating the spiciest foods possible introduced me to a guilty pleasure that blends addiction and toxic masculinity, complicated by my desire to seem tough.

I found out I was never going to be a professional sportsperson after I entered a boxing ring for the first time.

After years of shaving my pubic hair, I was shocked when I discovered one day that it just disappeared entirely. Nothing could prepare me for that.

Chess never held much allure for me. It always conjured up images of miserable rainy summers in my family's holiday home in West Cork.

As I looked up at the ceiling of the Lake Express ferry, lying on the floor while cradling a barf bag, I realized I'd made a mistake.

Every new surprise from not being able to use tampons, to an almost constant cycle of UTIs felt all the worse for my lack of mental and practical preparation.

The Stranger's Bar is popular among tour guides and reporters, while the Dáil Bar, exclusive to Oireachtas members, mirrors it closely in design.

"These are the best products for smoky eyes because you never, ever get fallout," explains Razzano as he blends the Danessa Myricks Colorfix product in varying shades of light and dark across my lids.

"Every encounter forces you to confront your fear while also appreciating the majesty and raw power of these incredible animals. They are both terrifying and awe-inspiring."

"Despite my decent intellect, I [thought I] was physically repulsive to women... and that no sane girl could possibly find me attractive."

"It’s easy to squander and hard to get your priorities right. Freedom is wasted on the free."

"Assume the role of a master coffee brewer. Not every idea or passion needs to become a business," Dixon wrote, reflecting on his perspective of coffee brewing and AI.