Essays

Is midlife reinvention just a trap?

“Maybe it’s more about shedding what was once imposed on us.”

Aug 22 • Alexis Mera Damen

At 40, I asked ChatGPT if I should get Botox (what it said and what I realized)

"I hope that, as the years pass, I’ll continue to feel proud of who I am—and how I look—at every stage of my life."

Jul 22 • Alexis Mera Damen

I thought divorce at 33 meant failure—until I reinvented my life in Amsterdam

"I felt like a new person, free from expectations and from the life I once thought I wanted."

Nov 5, 2025 • Alexis Mera Damen

My husband dumped me on FaceTime

"I was sitting on the living room floor of my Brooklyn apartment when I answered the call... I noticed he had removed his wedding ring."

Oct 22, 2025 • Alexis Mera Damen

I was a toothless teenager—here's how it shaped me

A personal essay exploring the connection between teeth, identity, beauty standards, and self-worth, particularly for young women.

Jun 10, 2025 • Alexis Mera Damen

Look, Mom—I’m published in HuffPost!

When my therapist told me I should try taking up space by talking about grieving my mom's long goodbye, I never thought it would lead me here.

May 1, 2025 • Alexis Mera Damen

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts