By Refresh Editors Welcome to that odd stretch of the year after the holiday season where either freezing temperatures or the lack of celebratory occasions are liable to make the days feel dull. This particular passage can be hard to navigate, but I’ve often thought of it as a very interior season: a time past the bluster of New Year’s Resolutions and before the year is old enough to reminisce on. It’s a good time to dive into some personal…
by: The Refresh Editors Have you ever rolled your eyes at the health coverage you see in magazines or online? If you’re tired of reading cheery listicles of health tips that don’t take chronic illness into account, or paeans to the latest trendy diet, TheRefresh is here for you with pieces that explore not just how to stay well, but how to live a full, rich life even as you face health challenges, and that honor the personal experiences of…
By The Refresh Editors If you’re new to The Refresh, it might come as a surprise to see that nestled among the latest book post or soul-baring personal essay are glimpses into history. We’re delighted to work with writers who look into the past as a means of better understanding our present and future worlds — and ultimately to remind readers that even though we could easily consider the current time to be a bit politically tumultuous, ups and downs have…
by Genevieve Lowles During the early years of World War II, over 18,000 tons of explosive bombs were dropped on the city of London by the German air force, known as the Luftwaffe. 18,000 tons is a difficult amount to quantify. It caused untold destruction, property damage, and approximately 13,000 civilian deaths. It’s difficult to imagine now, especially as a resident of London in 2018. The population today certainly has plenty to worry about. However, I often find myself imagining…
by Genevieve Lowles It was a Friday in May when I made the phone call. A bright and dusty morning, I’d just passed the crowded entrance of Stockwell tube station in London. There are so many people, full of direction and purpose. I’m on the way to work, because it’s 8:30 in the morning, and that’s what I do at that time. My head is full of voices, wordless chattering and the sound of my own uneven breathing. It churns…