“Do you live in Paris?” I asked.“No, I live in Abidjan, Ivory Coast,” she replied.“Were you born there?”“Yeah, born and raised.” “What brought you here?”“Holidays with my family.”“Who’s your family?”“My dad, my brother, his girlfriend, and my sister. My mom didn’t join us.” “Do you enjoy living in Abidjan?”“I love it. It’s home. I spentContinue reading “Julia”
Tag Archives: mental-health
Megan
“I feel trapped in the cycle of society—working, earning, achieving—without ever stopping to look at myself. I just live a life that might not even be mine. But when I finally sit down and try to face my true self, I feel lost.” “What exactly makes you feel lost?” I asked.“I don’t know who IContinue reading “Megan”
Vaiora Ekaterina Stroganoff
We met in a small hotel room at the Mercure Paris Notre-Dame Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The walls were white, interrupted by exposed old wooden beams. The room had only one chair, which I offered to Vaiora. I sat opposite her on the edge of the double bed, the white linen taut and freshly laundered. “How do youContinue reading “Vaiora Ekaterina Stroganoff”
Chris and Carlota
“What is your greatest fear?” I asked Chris.“Being judged.”The beep of a truck, stacked on Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, cut through the open window of the chambre de bonne.“And not being good enough,” he continued. “I suppose those two are linked. I understand how odd they are—I judge myself, then worry about what others think,Continue reading “Chris and Carlota”
Inside me
If I recall correctly, it was the first interview I conducted in a tattoo studio. It took place in Berlin at the end of August 2023. She and I settled onto a black sofa tucked into the far corner of the studio. The air buzzed with the hum of tattoo machines, loud pop music, andContinue reading “Inside me”
Alina Krasina
“What moment from the past do you remember as the most beautiful?” I asked her.“There are so many. My life is made up of beautiful moments. I think it’s my specialty—being a profoundly happy person. Even in times of difficulty, devastation, or pain, I can find beauty. When the puzzle pieces fall into place overContinue reading “Alina Krasina”
Sophie
“Who or what inspires you?” I asked.“Traveling. I’m the happiest when I’m not at home. Okay, that doesn’t sound great,” she laughed. “But I love seeing new things. Where I live, 40 minutes away from Hamburg, it’s just so boring, and people aren’t as open as they are in big cities. When I have myContinue reading “Sophie”
Vlad Zorin
I placed the recorder in front of him. He chuckled and said, “This thing is scary.”“I used to have a more discreet recorder,” I replied, “but it broke.” “Where’s your space for relaxation?”“Probably in the distant past. It’s not here yet.”“And what was in the distant past?”“There was a bed. But I can’t really sayContinue reading “Vlad Zorin”
David
Hi! I’m a clinical psychologist working in psychiatry and especially with psychological traumas. I find your approach fascinating—it seems to offer a kind of healing. It would be really nice to get a chance to meet you!Best regards,David “Do you like your name?” I asked him when we met for the interview.“Oh, I like it,”Continue reading “David”
Alexandra Khonkina
“How are you feeling?”“Cold.”“Are you talking about the temperature outside or your general mood?”“The temperature outside, but in general, it’s also kind of cold.” “What usually warms you up?”“Strong emotions—something intense and explosive, something that creates energy. It doesn’t even have to be positive in the usual sense. Even something painful can warm me. ForContinue reading “Alexandra Khonkina”
