I met my best friend of 16 years for the first time at her wedding. It felt like a reunion with an old friend.

Tech Insider
Miranda and Demi Drew at Miranda's wedding reception, outside on a field of grass.
Demi Drew and her best friend of 16 years, Miranda, met when Miranda got married.

Courtesy Demi Drew

My mom died when I was 8, and my mom's sister adopted me at 12. I got a second chance at being part of a family.

Tech Insider
Isabella Ambrosio with her mom and dad. They are dressed up and she and her mom are holding bouquets of flowers.
Isabella Ambrosio's maternal aunt adopted her four years after her mother died.

Courtesy Isabella Ambrosio

I took a 30-hour train from New York to Miami, and the motion sickness and terrible sleep were too much for me

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
The author is seen relaxing in a chair on the left and a bed on the right — both photos are in the romette of an Amtrak car
A Business Insider reporter took an overnight Amtrak train from New York City to Miami.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My parents attended Big Ten universities, but I chose a smaller, lesser-known one. They often chastised me for that choice.

Tech Insider
Purdue university sign next to a ball state university sign
The author didn't attend her father's alma mater, Purdue. She went to Ball State instead.

Michael Hickey & Education Images/ Getty Images

I used to rely on grocery delivery services to save time. Now, I shop with my kids — they love it, and I save money.

Tech Insider
Elliott Harrell's kids at the grocery store, in a cart and grabbing ketchup from a shelf.
Elliott Harrell now shops with her kids in a grocery store instead of using grocery delivery services.

Courtesy Elliott Harrell

When my kids were little, I wrote short snippets capturing our daily lives. Now they're teens, and this window into our past is priceless.

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Mom and kids posing for photo
The author wrote short memories in a book for her two kids

Courtesy of the author

Summer as a divorced parent goes too fast. I much prefer the school year when I see my kids more.

Tech Insider
Playful siblings having fun during summer day at the pool
The author shares how summer goes too quickly as a divorced parent

skynesher/Getty Images

When I retired at 54 with my husband, I worried we'd be bored spending all our time together. I'm learning to focus on myself.

Tech Insider
selfie of Leonie Jarrett in front of the ocean in greece
The author retired early.

Courtesy of Leonie Jarrett

I wanted to have a name in Spanish and English like my dad. I learned names can be adaptable.

Tech Insider
Woman wanted her name to be in Spanish
The author's dad is Chilean and went by a Spanish and English version of his name.

Courtesy of the author

I traveled with friends in my early 20s and again in my 40s. I love traveling with girlfriends at different life stages.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Melissa Noble (middle) and her friends while having a picnic in Bhutan.
Melissa Noble (middle) and her friends while having a picnic in Bhutan.

Courtesy Melissa Noble

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