My days usually revolve around three passions: music, walks, and sports. For me, music is a way to breathe differently. I listen to everything from indie rock to classical music, and I can spend hours putting together playlists to match my mood. I also love just putting on my headphones, playing something melancholic, and wandering aimlessly through the city. Exercise helps you stay in shape: A few times a week, I work out at home or go for a run in the park. It’s not about having a “perfect body”; it’s about feeling stronger than I did yesterday.

Now, about the main weakness that I haven't been able to address yet. I absolutely love cats. Their purring, soft paws, cheeky personalities, and ability to leap off the couch with regal grace. I’ve never had a cat of my own - sometimes my landlords wouldn’t allow it, and other times I wasn’t confident I could give it the care it needed. My dream is simple, but huge: to get a furry friend one day. I've even come up with a name already—Murzik (yeah, it's a classic, but what else could it be?). I want to feel his warm body next to me when I'm feeling down, and hear that "brr-brr-brr" sound when he rubs against my legs.

But there are things that make you think more deeply. For example, relationships with people. At 18, it seems like you’re supposed to already have a good grasp on friendship and love, but I’m noticing more and more how people are afraid to be vulnerable. We put on a brave face and say, “It’s okay, everything’s fine,” even when we’re feeling torn up inside. I'm learning to talk about my feelings honestly, even when it's uncomfortable. Because true intimacy is born when you can be vulnerable and still be accepted.

Hi! My name is Lucy, and I just turned 18. I currently live in the Netherlands - a country of canals, bicycles, and endless wind that ruffles my hair as I walk along the waterfront. I moved here not too long ago, but I’ve already grown to love the sunsets over the water and the cozy little streets, where the smell of fried potatoes with mayonnaise wafts from every window.

And the meaning of life… You know, I don’t think it’s somewhere far away. I think the meaning lies in these little things: the moment your favorite song syncs with the rhythm of your footsteps, in that first sip of coffee in the morning, in the smile of a stranger who held the door open for you. And on that very day, when I finally pick up that little ball of red fur from the shelter and whisper: “Well, let’s go home.” Maybe the point is just to be here and feel.