Some months ago, I read a news story by one of the oldest and most respected newswires in the world. It was completely fact-based, with few, if any, adjectives, and it got to the point straight away. The subject was a group of men from what we used to call the third world, and I shall spare further details for very little else matters.
Now, the astonishing thing, because it is so rare, was that it was written with an undertone of tenderness. By that I mean that the people in the story were portrayed as real people with the whole range of human attributes, faults, foibles and emotions. The story never veered toward solicitousness, compliments or gushing commentary but it did describe these men as human beings full of weaknesses, strengths, virtues and mistakes.
Of course, these things were never said outright, rather, they were implied. Instead of coldness and clinical restraint which borders on the abstract, every word was terse but there was a sense of humanity, of, dare I say, compassion that imbued the entire piece. Here was the mark of true writing. Strangely, in a straightforward news item.
A few weeks later, I was watching a show and the guests were actors, not, mind you, the famous stars of Hollywood. Instead, these were working actors who still had to audition for parts. They had not reached that level of fame where everything was catered to them, and their names on the lips of people around the world.
It was refreshing hearing from people who, while successful and able to make a living, were not awash in a highfalutin, out-of-reach lifestyle. Again, they spoke of their struggles being without work, of guest roles, of sometimes going to award shows but missing out on the prize. All in all, it was incredibly relatable.
Editors’ Picks Winter Eats
S’mores Roast marshmallows over the fire, and let the heat melt dark chocolate chips sprinkled on graham crackers.
Turnovers Nothing more than puff pastry enveloping a fruit-rich filling and sprinkled with granulated sugar. It’s the stuff of indulgent mornings.
Fondue Melt grated Gruyère with white wine, garlic and a slurry of cornstarch and water, leave over a low flame and watch the crowd appear.
It’s befuddling when you begin scrolling through several content creator feeds because it stands in stark contrast to the above. Their feeds are a repeated rehashing of the influencer in some exotic locale with shots of themselves, what they ate, what they did. I ended up asking myself, where are all the (local) people? It’s the people that make the place. A feed without people, other than the subject themselves, is without life, without verve without the very essence of travel. Otherwise, it’s just a peek in a fishbowl, a sort of peering at people, a very 19th century redux.
There is something wonderful about seeing people, hearing from or about people as people; real people.
What We’re Excited About This Season
► Binge watching shows while wearing snuggly pajamas in bed.
► Strapping on our snowshoes! Especially when there’s fluffy piles of snow around.
► Getting back to the sauna. When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing more luxuriously relaxing.
This original article first appeared in the WINTER 2025 2026 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
Get More Inspiration
from City Style and Living
