Inspiration - Monica Zorrilla

Monica Zorrilla - Photographer / Blogger

Sep 07

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Inspiration, Life Experiences 0 comments tags: body changes, life experiences, menopause

Menopause: Why Don’t We Talk About It More?

Lately, I haven’t quite felt like myself. I’m more tired. I don’t sleep the way I used to. I wake up in the middle of the night, and sometimes I just want to keep sleeping. My appetite has changed. There are days when I eat because I know I have to, not because I’m actually hungry. There are moments when I’m more irritable, others when I feel anxious, and others when I simply don’t feel like doing much of anything. And I started asking myself: What is happening to me? Is it stress? Is it anxiety? Is it menopause? Is it everything going on in my life? Or is it a combination of many things? Because menopause doesn’t happen in a bubble. Life continues while our bodies are changing. We still have to work. We still have responsibilities. We still have relationships with other people. We still experience good moments and difficult ones. And anything happening around us — work, a relationship, a worry, an unexpected problem — can affect us emotionally too. I don’t think we can say that everything we feel comes from menopause. It can be a combination of many things. But perhaps the important thing is […]

Aug 31

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Inspiration, Life Experiences, New York, Photography 0 comments tags: 25 years, life, life experiences, UN

You Never Know Where Life Will Take You

It feels strange to write those words. When I first came to New York, I never imagined that all these years later I would still be here. My plan was actually quite simple: come here, work, and stay for only three years.

Aug 23

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Food, Inspiration, Life Experiences, Peru, Peruvian 0 comments tags: food blogger, foodie, lomo saltado, peruvian food, yummy

Lomo Saltado

Lomo Saltado — A Taste of Peru There are certain dishes that are more than just food, and for me, lomo saltado is one of them. It is one of those meals I truly enjoy cooking — maybe because it has so many things I love all together: tender pieces of beef, onions, tomatoes, soy sauce, and that wonderful flavor that comes from cooking everything quickly in a very hot pan. And of course, it wouldn’t be lomo saltado without French fries and white rice on the side. Yes, potatoes and rice. That’s the Peruvian way. I usually start with good pieces of beef, cut into strips and seasoned simply with salt and pepper. I sear the meat over high heat, then add sliced red onions and tomatoes, keeping them slightly firm instead of cooking them too much. A splash of soy sauce brings everything together, creating that savory sauce that gives the lomo saltado its delicious flavor. Then come the fries. Some people mix them into the lomo so they absorb the sauce; others prefer them on the side so they stay crispy. I like a little bit of both. But what I love most about making lomo saltado […]

Aug 20

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Inspiration, Life Experiences 0 comments tags: acceptance, habits, life, life experiences, patience, respect, we are different

We Are All Different

We are all different. We think differently, we talk differently, we have different habits, and we all have our own ways of doing things. And inevitably, some of those things may bother, frustrate, or simply not make sense to someone else. That’s part of being around people. Sometimes another person may point out something about us that we never really noticed before. And if it’s something we recognize we can improve, there’s nothing wrong with making an effort to work on it. But there’s another side to it too. When we genuinely care about having someone in our lives, we also learn to understand the things that make them different from us. Not everything needs to be changed. Sometimes it simply takes a little patience and acceptance. And I think that’s where balance comes in. We can work on ourselves without losing who we are. We can communicate when something bothers us without expecting another person to change overnight. And we can try to understand each other instead of expecting everyone to think, act, or react the way we do. Because no relationship—whether it’s a friendship, family, a partner, or any other connection—is made of two people who are exactly […]

May 18

by monicazorrilla in Blog, Cities, English, Inspiration, Travel 1 comments tags: blog, life experiences, personal travel blog, storytelling, travel, Travel stories, world

The Places I’ve Been, The Stories I Carry

Throughout my life, I’ve had the opportunity to experience different places around the world — some through work, others through vacations, and some simply through the unexpected turns life takes. I’ve visited countries that left me speechless, cities I still miss, and airports where I only spent a few hours but still walked away with a story. I’ve tried foods I never imagined tasting, listened to languages I didn’t understand, met people completely different from me, and learned that every culture has its own unique way of seeing life. Some places I experienced deeply. Others I only briefly touched during a layover. But all of them, in one way or another, left something with me. I have spent more than two decades living in New York after moving from Peru, with many journeys along the way. Over time, I realized I didn’t want to keep all of these stories hidden only in photographs or forgotten somewhere in my phone. I wanted to write them down. This blog was born from that feeling. From the places that shaped me. From unexpected stories. From people. From food. From quiet moments inside airports. From losing a phone in Japan. From unexpectedly running into […]

Feb 20

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Inspiration, Life Experiences, Photography, Travel 1 comments

I Don’t Put My Life on Hold

At some point, I stopped waiting for the perfect moment. The perfect trip.The perfect plan.The perfect company. I understood that life isn’t something you prepare for… It’s something you live. I’ve traveled alone because I wanted to go.Not because there was no one —but because I felt like going. I’ve reserved tables for one.Gone for walks without a plan.Organized my home as if it were a temple, not for visitors. It’s not rebellion.It’s an emotional responsibility. I learned that loneliness isn’t always about being alone.You can be surrounded by people and feel disconnected.And you can be physically alone and feel completely at peace. I’ve had long relationships.I’ve had deep friendships.I’ve lived shared chapters and individual ones.All of it is part of life. But what truly gave me strength was this: Discovering that I can hold my own life. That I can travel even if no one is available to join me.That I can dress up even if there’s no event.That I can cook beautifully even if the table has only one setting.That I can buy myself flowers without waiting for someone to bring them. My home is my center.My body is my home.My life is my responsibility. It hasn’t always […]

Jan 04

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Inspiration, Life Experiences, Photography 0 comments tags: architectural photography, clouds, landscape, lima, Peru, Reflection

2026

I look at this photo, and I don’t think about vacations or escape. I think about how I want to live. The sky is cloudy, the sea is not completely still, and the beach is almost empty. And yet, everything feels calm. A real calm, not forced. One of those that doesn’t come because everything is perfect, but because you learn to be at peace even when it’s not. That’s how I want my 2026 to be. I want a calmer mental life. I want less noise in my head, fewer unnecessary loops, and less anxiety over what I cannot control. I want to learn —keep learning— to live more in the present, like this horizon that doesn’t rush, that just is. But I also want the strength of the sea. Not the wave that crashes, but the constant, silent strength that never stops. That strength that keeps pushing even when no one is watching. In 2026, I want many things to keep improving. Some have already started, others still need time. I want to feel stronger emotionally, more confident in myself, clearer about what I want and what I don’t. I want to be more patient, more honest with […]

Sep 27

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Inspiration, Life Experiences 0 comments

The Path I Never Planned, But Was Meant to Walk

My life has been a journey I never imagined. When I left Peru, I thought it would only be for a short time, and without realizing it, more than two decades went by. I left behind my family, my home, and my traditions… and arrived in a country that, over time, also became a part of me. Along the way, I’ve experienced many things: moments of joy, achievements I never thought I could reach, as well as loneliness, goodbyes, and changes that have hurt. I’ve come to realize that no matter how much we try to control everything, life always finds a way to surprise us. People come and go, plans shift, and feelings transform. Over time, I’ve learned that neither I nor anyone else holds all the answers. Only God and life know why things happen, when a door should open or close, and which paths we must walk to grow. Even if I don’t always understand it in the moment, everything eventually begins to make sense later on. Today, when I look back, I see that every step, every tear, every smile, every doubt has shaped me into who I am. And even though it hasn’t always been […]

Aug 04

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Familia, Inspiration, Life Experiences, Peru 0 comments tags: amigas, Apoyo, familia, lima, no hay distancia, Peru, recargar

Stepping Away to Return Stronger

Coming to Peru and spending time with my family has been medicine for the soul. Feeling their love, their unconditional support, their presence… reminded me that I am not alone, that I have a home that always holds me up. Reuniting with friends I’ve known since childhood was also a beautiful gift. They made me realize that distance doesn’t erase bonds — that even if we’re far apart, we can still support, listen to, and be there for each other. I’m deeply grateful to them for reminding me of that with so much love. Taking a break from social media these past two weeks also helped me make space in my mind, to listen to myself clearly, and to understand many things I needed to process. Today, I return to New York with a stronger heart — but above all, with more peace. I know I still have a path to walk, but I also know that I have the power to change, to heal, and to move toward where I truly want to be.

Jul 21

by monicazorrilla in Blog, English, Familia, Inspiration, Life Experiences, Peru 0 comments tags: Apoyo, bonitos momentos, buenos tiempos, familia, family, hermana, hermanos, lima, Peru, Risas en familia

Family gives you love, strength, and support

My family is the little piece of heaven I always carry in my heart. They are my roots, my refuge, my home — even when I’m far away. Every moment I spend with them fills me with love, heals me, and renews me. It’s as if everything falls back into place when we’re together. My mom, with her endless tenderness and love that embraces me even from afar. My dad, with his calmness, his advice, and his words that always arrive right on time — just when I need them most. My brothers, who each have their own world, are always there for me, unconditionally, whenever I need them. And my sister, who has been and continues to be my partner in crime whenever I want to do something, with her energy, she’s always there to help when I need her. But it’s not just the hugs and the support that connect me to them. It’s also the shared meals, the laughter, the jokes between us… those simple moments that fill my soul. Living far away has only taught me how much I love and value them. Although life takes me down different paths, my heart always leads me back […]