Catalino (Lino) Rosales | Grad Student, Ed Tech Enthusiast, Art Dabbler, and Adventure Seeker

I recently made a tough decision: I have decided to move back to the NYC metro area--my real home. For the past 5 years, I have done quite a bit of moving, job-hopping, and traveling. I am grateful for what the experiences have done for me in terms of new skills, new life lessons, and new relationships. But deep down, I have always known that I truly want to build a life in the area where my close family and friends are. I miss them, and I am excited to return in 1 month.

The Seattle metro area has been getting hit by big snowstorms this month. Here are some pictures I took to document how spectacularly beautiful, albeit dangerous, the area has become thanks to all the snow. #WinterMiracles

I recently came across an edition of The Cut 's weekly advice column "Ask Polly," again, this past week. Its title immediately grabbed my attention: " I'm Broke and Mostly Friendless, and I've Wasted My Whole Life ." And admittedly, its headline had caught my attention a couple times before since its publication in November of 2018--how could it not; and yes, I "liked" it awhile ago on Facebook, too, as a way to "bookmark" it for future reading, but I never quite got around to doing so. Luckily, Facebook, for better or worse, groks me in a way that only my best friends really can and do, so it "uncannily" re-appeared on my feed, again, beckoning me to read it. Well, I finally made the time to give it a quick read this evening thanks to my newly-concocted reading regimen--and yes, this was also part of my 2019 New Year's resolution, so don't scoff at me, please. And the timing could not have been more "per