25-year-old Dutchie — Spoiler: I’m not often perched on a boat with sunlight dappling my skin, I’m usually hunched behind my desk in the rainy Netherlands, but we can always pretend… Bio Hello! After a year and a half on Medium, I’ve finally worked up the courage to make my ‘About Me’ page. …

I’ve had to increase my reading goal! — I managed to chase one final week of summer as I visited one of my sisters in France. She lives near Bordeaux, so I spent a lot of the time lying on the beach with a good book. …

To be read in the comfort of your own home — Reading tends to be a quiet hobby, unless you’re listening to an audiobook, of course. But there are certain books that come along and shock you completely, making reading a louder hobby than you ever expected it to be. I’m talking about those gasp-worthy books, the ones that keep you…

“No worries!” — My life has always revolved around keeping people around me. I’m terrified of abandonment, always petrified by it, and so every action has been about avoiding that seemingly inevitable thing. …

Which fantasy books should you recommend to new readers? — This past year, I have dived deep into the world of fantasy reading. Whether it was on a beach in Greece, on train rides to London, or in my cosy Rotterdam apartment, I have been reading countless fantasy series. …

Sick days for my depression — Like many others, I spent the last week battling a terrible bout of the flu. My housemate got sick a few days earlier, and I immediately launched myself into a Florence Nightingale role, complete with endless cups of tea, company on the couch, and an endless supply of painkillers. She…

Including plenty of mistakes — I can’t believe it’s been six months since I left the only real job I’ve ever known and dived into freelancing with barely any safety net. …

And I’m so grateful that I did — *Disclaimer: always discuss medication with a trained professional!* I shared my concerns about starting antidepressants and I was overwhelmed by the number I received. It helped me so much to feel less alone in this leap, and to know that I’m going to be okay. One of the comments that…

Happy, sad, confused, and lonely at the same time — I think one of the biggest issues we have in our discussions about mental health and mental illness is that we force them to exist in paradoxes. You’re either depressed or you’re happy. You’re anxious or you’re calm. You hate yourself or you love yourself. But the truth is that…