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Climbing Towers In Berlin Helped Me Overcome My Quarter-Life Crisis
In October 2014, I decided that it was time to stop making excuses and go somewhere new.
I was covered in cobwebs woven from unhappiness, stress, and anxiety about the future, and I concluded that discovering an unfamiliar place was exactly what I needed. I hadn't been anywhere far since I spent a semester abroad in France in 2010. So for the rest of 2014 and much of 2015, I scrimped and made payments to a travel group for a trip to Europe.
In September, I reaped my investment and traveled Germany and the Czech Republic. For eleven glorious days, I did not think too much, fall into a funk, obsess about the future, or feel stuck. I was not tired or exhausted, and I did not feel like I was putting in more than I was getting in return.
And it was perfect.
Victory Column in Berlin, Germany
Courtesy of Alta Joseph
I ate breakfast every single day, unheard of in my nine-to-five life. To my surprise I even got a lot of exercise since being in Europe means endless walking! I huffed and puffed my way up 285 steps to the top of the Victory Column in Berlin and saw an amazing 360-degree view of the city. The climb stretched my thighs, and I was disappointed by how often I needed to take a break. Did that stop me from taking on the increasingly steep steps of the Old Town Hall Tower when I got to Prague? No! My “screw these steps" mantra did help a great deal as my ankles screamed during the long climb. Although I felt like I was the only one struggling so hard on the journey to the top, I told myself that can't possibly have been true and put my mind at ease.
In Munich, I looked up at the St. Peter's Church Tower, dreading the exertion it was going to take and already disappointed that it wasn't going to be a breeze. But I could picture what was waiting for me at the summit: a breathtaking panoramic view of the city and the pride that came from pushing through and completing what I had set out to do. That was enough for me to pay and go. 306 steps later, I had no feeling in my legs, but I was proud to look out over Munich and see the Alps in the far distance.
After my tower-climbing crusade, when I was back in the States and jotting down what I'd taken away from the trip, it dawned on me that I had made it to the top.
During the climbs, I focused on my abysmal endurance and weak ankles, and I made silent promises to strengthen them, but hindsight helped me realize that even though I had climbed at a slower pace than those around me, I had made it to the top just the same.
In fact, I made it to the top three times. I also realized that even though some people passed me, I was in front of many.
So, what I tell myself now, when my brain wants to sprint into panic mode because it's focused on the fact that a double major in French and International Studies does not provide a linear career path like a major in Political Science or Information Technology, is that, yes, there will be people who are farther along than me, but there will also be those who are behind me--people who either started after or who need to take more breaks than I do. Yes, there will be those who surpass me along the way, those who will get ahead while I take the time to regroup. That is reality, and it has always been. It doesn't mean I won't get where I want to go. I don't need to be first, and there is no last.
View from Old Town Hall Tower in Prague, Czech Republic
Courtesy of Alta Joseph
I've decided to shift my focus to answering my needs when they arise so that I don't stress about the climb. If I obsess about getting there at the same time as the people that I started off with, then I will eventually wear myself out and be forced to stop.
The most important thing that I learned is to take care of myself and to not worry about the pace of those around me. And that applies to all aspects of my life.
After all, looking left and right will only slow me down from reaching what lies ahead of me.
Alta Joseph lives in Florida and works in the non-profit sector as a Grant Writer, among other responsibilities. She's an avid Fanfiction writer, is currently working on a manuscript to enter grad school, and can be reached at ajosep11@gmail.com.
Featured image by Shutterstock
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
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Mariee Revere On Her History-Making Million-Dollar Sales And The Future Of MoonXCosmetics
If the name Mariee Revere sounds familiar, it's probably because you heard of her beauty and skincare brand, MoonXCosmetics, or you may have heard about her history-making achievement of making $1.8 million in less than eight minutes. But before starting her million-dollar brand, Mariee was just a teenager trying to cure her acne.
While she grew up in the skincare capital of the world, South Korea, Mariee didn't really experience breakouts until her senior year of high school. Like many people who get their first breakout, she didn't know what to do, and there weren't many products out there at that time. So she decided to experiment. What she didn't know was that what she came up with would ultimately be her ticket to success.
"When I graduated high school, I moved back to America, Georgia, and I ended up making, like, the oil, the Rose Galore oil, which is like the staple product of my brand. I don't know what made me make it, but I did, and it literally cleared my face up," she tells xoNecole in an exclusive interview.
"I end up selling it as a body oil first because, obviously, I'm 17, [and] don't have any background as an esthetician or anything like that. I just made a product that worked for me, but people bought it and was using it, and I reformulated it, and then it just stuck like with me."
While MoonXCosmetics is known for its facial products, it wants to expand to body care and home. It just released its new product, Moon-Gel body wash, and it's only up from there. As Mariee continues to grow the brand, it's more than likely that she will see more history-making moments. And so far she has.
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When asked if she feels pressure to obtain more of those milestones, she says yes and no. "I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more," she says.
"I want to say more reach than more like fast-paced sales. I do want that. Obviously, every girl wants that, but I do want to have a better overall reach for my brand because I did take two years off so I was able to learn, [and] study a lot of different things. See how things have changed from 2020 to now."
"I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more."
Another part of expanding for any company is hiring people. Finding the right person to help you can be a hassle, especially for business owners who are used to doing all the work themselves. Mariee can relate to this, and she touched on this topic in her documentaryThe Million Dollar Story. She recommends having someone be your "right-hand man" who you trust to handle the ins and outs of the company.
"I could say, definitely get, like a right-hand man to help you within the process because that really was what helped me. I never had a job. I literally was 18 now, being like, you know, the boss of over 30+ employees at one point in time, and I didn't know anything. I didn't know anything about no W-2s, no taxes, no clock in, clock out because all I [have] ever known was my brand," she explains.
"So I definitely partner with people who are very skewed and versed in those areas, and they helped me get through it. Even to this day, I still have my same person helping me with hiring, firing, [and] doing everything that I can right now because I'm still learning. But obviously people get jobs young, so they have way more experience than me, but still learning."
And though she is still learning, one thing she makes sure to stay on top of is being consistent. Consistency is what trips many people up when it comes to achieving goals, but Mariee says it's all about scheduling. Whether it's when to post on social media or email marketing, scheduling it out can make a world of difference. That same practice also works when planning out her future goals for the company.
"Right now, future goals would be to drop at least five more products before the end of the year. We always do outreach, where we do drives and all that, but definitely do way more this year, she says. "Then really dive into body [care], and then hopefully open up MoonXBody underneath MoonXCosmetics to let that branch out and be open and definitely get back consistent."
For more information, visit moonxco.com.
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