On Life, Hope y todo lo demás...

Only Time Can Tell

The author reflects on the journey of life, emphasizing that each generation must navigate its own path despite the doubts and uncertainties that arise. While guidance from previous generations is valuable, true understanding comes from personal experience. Embracing fear and uncertainty is essential, as these elements shape our unique life stories.

by Laura Basset Carbonell

The Healing Power of Books and Music

Books and music have a quiet but profound ability to heal. Through them, emotions and thoughts can be steadied, grief and longing given a place to go. Music, in particular, allows feelings to surface without needing words, while books open doors to worlds beyond our immediate reality. I was fortunate to have a father who […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

The Power of Saying ‘I’m Done’: Reclaiming My Life

I’ve spent most of my life hating parts of myself, measuring my worth by how others perceive me, shrinking and reshaping myself to fit expectations that were never mine to begin with. I’ve carried that weight for a long time. And now, the dam has finally broken. Things are better than they were when I […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Another Year

Another year disappears behind me, unnoticed, unceremonious.Once again, my family and I trace our hopes and dreams onto paper, as if naming them might keep them from slipping away. This year, I offer less.No plans. No striving.Only being—and the fragile hope that it will be enough. Time is a human illusion, a construct we cling […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

How I miss thee

I ruminate a lot, perhaps too much. Lately, especially after turning sixty, I find myself looking back to my childhood, my teenage years, and during this Christmas season, to those little-big moments with my dad, my abuelita, and my nieces and nephews, whom I can hardly believe have grown so grown. I remember when Christmas […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Farewell Eyes

People often ask, “What’s the point?” But the answer shifts with time and age. At 60, I’ve come to realize that I now think in terms of “last times.”The last time I might go on a date.The last time I’ll hike 20 kilometers.The last time I’ll feel confident wearing a sleeveless top. A growing list […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Learning to Stay

What one can achieve in sobriety is deeply personal; it looks different for everyone. For me, the emotional challenges were far more difficult than the physical ones. Alcohol gave me a false sense of self. I felt free, uninhibited, as if I had finally broken the chains of shyness and insecurity. But that freedom was […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Reflections at Sixty: Embracing the Past to Navigate the Future

At almost sixty, I find myself looking back, and in doing so, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of who I am today, who my true friends were, and who I loved most—and who loved me back. While I firmly believe that focusing on the future and moving forward is the best way to live, I […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

The Vanishing Self: Lessons from Sixth Grade

As a teacher, I’ve chosen to teach both sixth, eleventh, and twelfth grades, a deliberate decision rooted in understanding the delicate nature of adolescent development. Sixth grade represents a unique, precious moment of human potential—a time of unbridled authenticity that, sadly, often diminishes too quickly. In sixth grade, students embody a remarkable spirit. They are […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Hopes, dreams, and resolutions

As I reflect on the speeding passage of time, I’ve noticed a shift in my yearly resolutions, hopes, and dreams. This isn’t a negative development; it signifies that I’ve either achieved those aspirations or some have lost their significance. Time provides a valuable perspective on life. I had an extensive list of goals and self-improvement […]