My family moved around in Florida, and I struggled to make friends. I eventually built a community around cooking paella.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
John Paul Hernandez holding up a large pan of paella
The author made friends when he learned to cook paella.

Courtesy of John Paul Hernandez

I quit my job to travel with my dad. He died 10 days later.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Son and dad selfie
The author quit his job to travel with his dad.

Courtesy of the author

My newsletter started as a hobby. It became a multimillion-dollar business.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
CJ Gustafson Headshot
CJ Gustafson turned his side hustle into a business.

Courtesy of CJ Gustafson

I'm the organizer in my friend group. Someone has to be, or we'd never see each other.

Tech Insider : Business, Politics
Women meeting for coffee
The author is the one organizing friends' hangouts.

Courtesy of the author

I'm a 25-year-old grad student on a budget. I've struggled to accept financial help from my Boomer and Gen X friends.

Tech Insider : Business
Two smiling people pose for a selfie outside a Fellini storefront with a burgundy awning.
The author with her 64-year-old friend at a Manhattan coffee shop.

Courtesy of Jacqueline LeKachman

I went from a 3-bedroom Seattle townhouse to traveling the West Coast with 2 suitcases. My stuff doesn't define me.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
The author in her storage unit.
The author packed up all her belongings and put everything in a storage unit.

Courtesy of Amber Campbell

I was laid off from Disney after 31 years. Networking on social media helped me reach nearly 2 million people.

Tech Insider : Business
Chris Bess headshot
Chris Bess worked at Disney for 30 years.

Courtesy of Chris Bess

I asked strangers to let me grow flowers in their yards, and 40 people said yes. I turned their kindness into a business.

Tech Insider : Business
Marisa Mender-Franklin headshot
Marisa Mender-Franklin had 40 people reach out, letting her use their yards to grow flowers.

Courtesy of Marisa Mender-Franklin

At 83 and 74, my husband and I still go on multi-day walks all over the world. We have no plans to stop anytime soon.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author poses while on a trek through the Silvery Dolomites.
The author, shown posing on a trek through the Silvery Dolomites, said she and her husband will continue traveling to take long walks for as long as they can.

Courtesy of Louisa Rogers.

My partner's mother and I don't speak the same language. She shows her love for me through food.

Tech Insider : Business
A woman puts the finishing touches on a pasta dish.
The author said her partner's mother (not pictured) takes special care to show her love though the food she prepares for her.

Westend61/Getty Images

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