Monday, 19 January 2026

Do You Make Yourself Smaller Around Certain Friends?

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Do You Make Yourself Smaller Around Certain Friends?

Choose the friends who are curious about you

Nina Badzin

Jan 19

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Photo of the light through the trees by Nicole Mason on Unsplash

This month’s anonymous letter is from someone who feels unable to share her successes or little details of her life because her friends show little curiosity or seem annoyed when she talks about herself.

* Have a friendship dilemma? You can tell me about it, anonymously.

* Want more personal one-on-one advice? Annual subscribers—you can get a personal email back from me about your dilemma once a year.

* See more anonymous letters here. Catch up on the podcast here.

Dear Nina,

I have a lot of friends so I feel funny writing to you. My issue isn’t that I’m lonely or need people to do things with. I’m busy enough.

The issue is that I feel like I’m only half of myself when I’m around most of my friends.

If I talk about work, they don’t ask follow up questions or they change the subject. I feel like I’m bragging when I talk about things that have gone well in my career (mostly because nobody asks me about work). Or I get a vibe from them as if they’re thinking, “Who does she think is?” sort of no matter what the topic is (not just work).

I guess I’m not totally sure what I’m asking other than, is it normal to feel like you have to be quiet or “dull” or smaller around your friends or they’ll find you annoying?

Signed, “Lucy”

Dear “Lucy,”...

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Saturday, 17 January 2026

Cheers to 2026! Your Most Loved Recipes of 2025, 🌴 Sunny Escapes + Special Subscriber Perks!

͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Hola from La Antigua, Guatemala, where mornings begin with strong, shade-grown coffee and breathtaking volcano views!

As we ring in the New Year, I want to take a moment to thank YOU for being part of our journey through 2025. It was a year full of incredible food, travel, and community, and we couldn't be more grateful for your support.

In case you missed it, here's a look back at the Top Recipes of 2025 – the ones you loved, shared, and cooked on repeat:

🍲 Pepián – Guatemala's national dish, a spiced comfort stew.
🌿 Jocón de Pollo – minty, herb-forward chicken stew.
🥔 Ensalada Rusa – creamy, classic, and popular at gatherings.

And to kick off the New Year, we're sharing special subscriber perks. With taxi fares on the rise in Huatulco, Mexico that free airport transfer you get when booking with Bayside Vacations just got a whole lot sweeter. And I'm especially excited about our newest collaboration with Cooking Italy & The Roman Food Tour.

If you're craving a sunny getaway (especially during seaweed season), don't miss our report on Dreams La Romana Resort in Dominican Republic

Scroll for details plus travel tips and a fresh recipe to cook this week.

Michele of A Taste for Travel

Travel Tips and Planning

Beach Escape Pick

Dreaming of a Caribbean beach break minus the Punta Cana seaweed roulette?

We chose Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa on the Dominican Republic's Caribbean coast for the great swimming and lower risk of sargassum but we discovered a bonus.

Right now, adults (18+) at Dreams can access neighboring adults-only Secrets La Romana without paying the higher rate.

It's a standout perk… and may not last! So act fast!

Check out the article

15% Off The Roman Food Tour Experiences

We've teamed up with Cooking Italy & The Roman Food Tour to offer subscribers 15% off select Rome experiences (Code ATASTEFORTRAVEL) from Trastevere food tours to hands-on cooking classes.

Get the Exclusive Code

Timely Travel

Aruba Eats

Contributing Editor Sue Campbell tipped us off about Aruba to You a new delivery app (think UberEats, island style).

It's got everything from local favourites to high-end meals plus wine, spirits, or cocktails at many spots.

With competitive delivery rates, an eclectic (and growing) choice of cuisines, it's perfect for those staying at rentals instead of resorts.

Browse Things to Do in Aruba

Track real time delivery on the Aruba to You app.

Tropical Table

Tortitas de Berro (Mini Watercress Omelettes)

Tortitas de Berro are a delicious way to enjoy the fresh, crunchy watercress found in markets throughout Mexico, Guatemala, and much of Latin America.

These bite-sized omelettes make a quick and tasty breakfast or an easy, economical lunch.

Perfect for weekends or anytime you're craving a light, flavourful dish.

Get the Recipe

Top these tasty bites with cortija or Zacapa cheese.

Beach & Foodie Buzz

Notable news, updates, and happenings

Planning a winter escape to the Caribbean? Our updated Budget Caribbean Travel Tip Series will help you save money and time. You'll also receive our handy Aruba checklist with free things to do!
Supper Club is back at Huatulco's Café Juanita Tuesday nights with menu specials like chorizo with shrimp and white beans, boeuf bourguignon, and elote-tomato salad. Reserve via WhatsApp +52 958 100 7339.
If winter is getting you down, get up to 50% off at Barcelo Resorts in Mexico, Punta Cana and Aruba with the Blue Monday code (26Blue10) for MY Barcelo Members until January 20th.
Looking ahead to Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala? It's one of the country's most spectacular celebrations so book your Antigua hotel now to experience the colourful processions and cultural traditions firsthand!