Memories are powerful. They allow us to go back to a place in our past, or decades ago to a time we never knew. Daniel Blaufuks, a Lisbon-based German Jewish contemporary artist, showed me that media in the form of photography and film serves as the gateway to our memories. These mediums give us the power to explore our historical truths.

Alec Soth, the creator of “Patrick, Palm Sunday, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 2002,” is a Minnesota native, internationally acclaimed artist, and local creative (check out his publishing house, Little Brown Mushroom).

Social media is a convenient tool for bullies: anonymous, private - or public if it suits them. Users can personalize their feeds and ignore differing perspectives or critical conversation. Beautiful home decor photos, food blogs, and selfies contribute to overwhelming feelings of inadequacy. However, there is a healthier, happier way to navigate the [online] social sphere.

There is something truly liberating about physically removing yourself. It extracts you from a perfunctory lifestyle and forces you to see everything with fresh eyes.