READING LIST

Stories You Shouldn’t Miss

My curated March reading list

Do you know what is the best of this platform? That you can find so many great writers who publish on endless different topics. And those writers create some very inspiring articles. It’s just not always easy to find them and I’m often scared I’d miss one.

That’s why I decided to start saving those stories that stood out to me. This is my first list of curated stories. While not all these articles were published in March, I read all of them during that month.

I list them in no other order but the one they were published in starting with Oscar Rhea and his final piece of the Kilimanjaro climb. He had created a fascinating and compelling series of stories documenting his journey to the top of the world’s tallest lone-standing mountain and Africa’s highest peak.

“I reach into my pocket and reveal a frozen Snickers Bar. The chocolate is frozen into a stone, but I can chip a morsel free with my teeth. I let the nibble of chocolate melt across my tongue until I can taste nougat and caramel.” — Oscar

His narrative takes you once across the world to the height and cold of the very top of this mountain. You will scramble with him up and try to push him the moment he’s getting tired. But I’m not going to reveal anything, read yourself.

Janin Lyndovsky accidentally submitted a prompt response to the wrong publication but that does no damage to the inspiring article she wrote. Looking for pictures of different terrains, she went through a transformation in her mind.

“And so, while travelling through the magnificent terrains, I realised that life and the world were too beautiful to waste it.” — Janin

Her narrative together with beautiful pictures transports you into another world. Take your time and appreciate the journey.

The next writer is in my eyes the best photographer out here. While I’ve followed her since I started writing on Medium, her photography skills have skyrocketed since.

But it’s not just because of the pictures. Her narrative is just too beautiful. The descriptive words she’s using bring you right there. To the glacier. You will see that bright blue and feel the cold. The excitement can be felt with every paragraph you’re reading.

“Denali drifts in and out of layers of fog, dwarfing the nearby peaks. Last night, she gave us a peek at her shoulder, but not much more. It was impossible to fathom her size.” — Erika

And while you’re reading the article, please don’t scroll too fast past those pictures, and be sure to stop for a moment on the one where she’s standing in front of the plane. Enlarge the photo and take in her smile. Isn’t it saying all about how she felt? Happy from within.

Erika Burkhalter is the best of both. Photographer and writer. But she’s a traveler too, so just be warned. After reading this piece you might want to go to Alaska too. Right now.

The next story isn’t about the quality of pictures or the beauty of a destination. It’s about living life. Happiness and how one can have fun while traveling with your loved ones. Children especially.

The title wasn’t saying much and I almost didn’t read through but the backstory was what kept me going.

“While my daughter and I zoomed ahead, I could hear my son laughing hysterically with joy on the scooter behind us.” — Dana

I felt like I was standing with Dana Daley and her daughter on the scooter. I could hear them laughing and making memories for eternity. I saw the hairs flowing in the wind and wished the ride would never end.

But before giving away too much, I stop talking and give you a chance to read.

The last writer and article I am going to highlight is about our planet, development and those that stay behind. It’s about culture and rituals. And it is about feeling helpless. Being trapped.

Paula Romeu visited ‘the forgotten people’. A tribe in Kenya that lives in the now like nobody else. Her story isn’t about feeling pity or sad. The piece takes a very unexpected turn. It gets controversial.

“They are by no means disrespectful but have zero conception of personal space we value so dearly in the West. And I loved it.” — Paula

As someone who’s spent several years on the African continent, I have made some similar experiences even if not the same. But she doesn’t hold back. She’s sharing what’s happening right there.

I hope you took the time to read these outstanding stories and valued the quality content. Please let me know if you appreciated this curated list and if you’d like me to create one for the upcoming months as well.

Thank you for your time.

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