by Stephanie Benedetto | Apr 13, 2025 | Personal Development
I’m pet sitting for a charmingly stubborn Bichon Frisé called Ragnar (Rags for short) just a few miles from my home in Portugal. Why would I take a pet sit so close to home, you may ask? Well, for a chance to hang out with this guy. Obviously. I crave adventures in...
by Stephanie Benedetto | Apr 7, 2025 | Personal Development
I grew up knowing I was strong. My mother, her sisters, my grandmother, all of them were strong women both physically and mentally. Known for their broad shoulders and muscular legs, they are the pillars of our family. When I’d run to my mother with a complaint, her...
by Stephanie Benedetto | Apr 6, 2025 | Personal Development
Habits. Pop psychology loves to label them “good” or “bad.” You’re told to replace the bad habits with better ones, and use rewards to make them stick. Atomic Habits, Tiny Habits, The Power of Habit… These books preach different methodologies, but they all seem to...
by Stephanie Benedetto | Feb 20, 2025 | Personal Development
A three minute walk from our apartment, just before Praia da Gaivota, is our favorite Indian restaurant, Tandoori Flames. It’s run by a group of people who come from the same town in India, and Sarab is always our server. Sarab, whose name means mirage, greets us with...
by Stephanie Benedetto | Jan 28, 2025 | Personal Development
I came across an article in The Guardian today announcing the release of four Israeli hostages in a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. I don’t follow the news, especially war news, because thinking about the horrible things humans do to each other hurts my...