Hi, I’m Ethan. For a long time, I thought public transport was always uncomfortable. In my mind, buses were slow, trains were crowded, and the subway was stressful. I preferred driving because I liked feeling independent. If I needed to go somewhere, I would take my car even for short trips. But last year, something happened that changed my opinion. My car broke down on a Monday morning, right before a busy week. I had meetings, errands, and a dentist appointment. At first, I panicked because I thought I wouldn’t manage without a car. Still, I didn’t have a choice, so I bought a weekly pass and started using the subway and buses. The first surprise was time. I expected my commute to be longer, but it wasn’t. In fact, it was sometimes faster because I didn’t sit in traffic. The second surprise was how much I could do while travelling. I listened to podcasts, answered messages, and even read a few chapters of a book. When I drove, I couldn’t do any of that. Of course, it wasn’t perfect. Some days the train was full, and once a bus was late. But I realised something important: I didn’t need public transport to be perfect. I just needed it to be reliable most of the time. And it was. Another thing that changed my mind was money. When I calculated the cost of petrol, parking, and small repairs, I saw how expensive driving was. I hadn’t noticed it before because I paid little by little. But when I looked at the numbers, the difference was clear. Now I still drive sometimes, especially on weekends or when I go out of town. But during the week, I often choose public transport. I used to think it was only for people who don’t have a car. Now I think it’s simply a smart option, and it makes city life easier.

Hello, I’m Sofia. A few years ago, I honestly believed I was “not a cooking person.” I could make basic food, but I didn’t enjoy it. After work, I felt tired, and cooking felt like another job. So I ordered food very often. It was convenient, and I told myself it saved time. But then I moved to a new apartment and started watching my spending more carefully. At the end of the month, I checked my bank app and saw that food delivery was a huge part of my expenses. I was shocked because I hadn’t felt like I was spending that much. It was always “just one meal,” but it added up. So I decided to try cooking at home for two weeks, just as an experiment. I didn’t want to become a chef. I just wanted simple meals. I made a shopping list, bought basic ingredients, and chose easy recipes like pasta, rice, salads, and soup. The first few days were hard because I made small mistakes. I overcooked rice, and once I burned chicken. But then I started learning. I realised cooking is a skill, not a talent. You get better with practice, like anything else. What surprised me the most was how calm it felt. When I cooked, I wasn’t only preparing food. I was taking care of myself. I played music, chopped vegetables slowly, and felt more present. It became a kind of routine that helped me relax. And the food tasted better than I expected, because I could control the ingredients. Now I still eat out sometimes, and I still order delivery when I have a very busy day. But I don’t see cooking as a boring task anymore. I see it as a useful life skill that saves money, improves health, and even improves mood. I didn’t expect such a simple habit to change my life, but it really did.

Hi, I’m Daniel. When I was younger, making friends was easy. You meet people at school, in class, or in your neighbourhood, and friendships happen naturally. But as I got older, I started believing that making new friends as an adult was almost impossible. I thought people already had their groups, and nobody really wanted new connections. This belief became stronger when I moved to a new city for work. I didn’t know anyone there. My days were busy, and in the evenings I just went home. At first, I told myself I liked being independent. But after a few months, I felt lonely. I missed simple things like chatting after work or having someone to explore the city with. One day, a colleague invited me to a small weekend event. It was nothing special—just a local food market and a short walk. I almost said no, because I felt tired and a bit awkward. But I went anyway, and that decision changed everything. I met two people there who were also new in the city. We talked about simple things: work, hobbies, and where to eat good food. It wasn’t a deep friendship immediately, but it was a start. Then we met again the next week. After that, we started doing small activities together: going to a café, trying a gym class, visiting a museum. I realised adult friendships work differently. They don’t appear magically. You have to create them. You have to say yes sometimes, even when it feels uncomfortable. You also have to be patient, because trust takes time. Now I think making friends as an adult is possible, but it requires effort and initiative. The good news is that when adult friendships grow, they can be very strong, because they are a choice. And I’m glad I gave myself that chance.