Hi, I’m Danielle.

It wasn’t one
particular moment.

It was the rhythm of everyday life.

Coffee that wasn't rushed.
Long walks with nowhere urgent to be.
Aperitivo marking the space between afternoon and evening.
Families gathering outside with children playing in the piazzas.
Learning to make fresh pasta with my own hands.
And not a laptop or phone in sight.

Enjoyment didn't feel like something you had to earn after being productive enough. It was simply part of the day.

People didn't seem particularly interested in what I did for a living—which honestly, made it much easier to explain that I was currently doing nothing.

Until then, I hadn't considered how differently everyday life could feel.
I then began asking myself:

What do I actually want my life to feel like?

The truth is, I don't think I'd ever stopped to ask myself that question. I was always too busy just getting through it.

At the time, I didn’t fully realize what was changing for me. I just knew I loved how I was starting to feel. I was happier, more positive, and looking at life a little differently. And sure, having fewer responsibilities played a part, but there was something more to it. The slower pace, the connection, the enjoyment of everyday life. It made me understand why some Italian communities are known for their longevity.

Around that same time, my mom had retired after a lifetime of hard work, including raising two daughters on her own.

Watching her enter this new chapter got me thinking about something so many of us have been taught: work hard, build a career, save for retirement, and someday you'll finally have time to enjoy everything you've been putting off.

But why wait until then? Why not make room for those experiences along the way?

I realized I didn't want to keep putting off the things I could be enjoying now.

Coming home
made that even clearer.

I hadn't even made it out of the JFK airport terminal before a grown man wearing headphones knocked right into my shoulder. I fully expected him to turn around and say “Mi Scusi,” but he never even broke his stride, too absorbed in his conversation to acknowledge what happened.

And just like that, the familiar rush came flooding back.
For the first time in my life, I wasn't all that thrilled to be home.

It didn't take long to fall back into my old habits. I started moving faster, reaching for my phone more, and feeling that familiar pressure to figure out what was next.

I missed the version of myself I'd discovered in Italy.
And the pizza.

I didn't want a permanent vacation or a life without responsibility. I just wanted to bring more of that relaxed, curious, unhurried feeling into my everyday life.

So I started small.

Coffee outside.
Walks near the water.
Making things with my hands.
Exploring somewhere new.

And then one thing led to another.
I started looking for classes I'd always wanted to take, returning to hobbies I'd forgot I loved, and discovering interests I never even knew I had.

Here I was, in my 40s, realizing I wasn't done discovering who I was. Not even close. There was still so much more to explore, experience, and learn about myself. And that was exhilarating.

I wasn't trying to reinvent my life. I was merely becoming more intentional about how I spent it, and those little moments were adding up to something I hadn't realized how much I needed:

A life I no longer wanted to escape from.

During my time in Europe, I'd learned about third places—cafés, piazzas, and gathering spots where people connect and community becomes part of everyday life.

I loved the concept, but some of my most cherished moments happened when I was alone, exploring or simply recharging. So I wondered why a Third Place couldn't be something more personal—not just somewhere to gather, but any place or experience that makes you feel more like yourself.

I started sharing my own Third Spaces on Instagram and with friends and family. Soon, they were sending me pictures and messages of their own.

“I found my third space today!”
“I tried something new this weekend, and I had the best time. I can't believe I waited so long to do it!”

Sometimes it was a coffee shop, finding a path to walk at their son's soccer game, or a quiet corner of their home.
And that's what I loved most. Everyone's Third Space looked different.

Some were quiet, others social. Some were familiar, others completely new.

But they all had one thing in common. They felt like theirs.

That's Why I Created
Our Third Space.

Not because I have life completely figured out. I'm still figuring out this next chapter, too.

But I've learned something I wish I'd understood years ago:

You don't have to completely change your life to start loving the way you're living it. And wanting more from your life doesn't mean you're ungrateful for the one you have.

The more I experienced, the more I wanted to share what I was discovering. I couldn't help wondering how many others felt the same way I once had—going through the motions, waiting for the weekend, scrolling through other people's lives while feeling increasingly disconnected from their own.

Technology has given us so many ways to connect, yet somehow we can feel further away from the world right in front of us. From nature, the people around us, and even ourselves.

And as our lives become more digital, I believe those real-world experiences and meaningful connections matter more than ever.

I wanted to create something that reminded people of that—and to give them a place to begin.

What I've Been Discovering
Along the Way

What I didn't expect was just how much these experiences could give back to me.

I'm meeting people I never would have crossed paths with, having conversations that stay with me, and discovering places I didn't know existed. Even the simplest afternoons can leave me feeling completely rejuvenated.

Sometimes it's a yoga class, an animal sanctuary, a little market, or getting lost in a new book in a cozy corner of my room.

I'm realizing that it's not always about doing something extraordinary. Sometimes the simplest experiences give me the most.

You don't always know what you'll find when you make room for something new. And sometimes that's exactly the point.

I know how easy it is to move through life on autopilot, putting off the things we'd love to do because there never seems to be enough time.

But why wait?

That's what I hope you'll find here: places to explore, experiences to try, creative ideas, meaningful connections, and a little encouragement to make more of the time you already have.

I also know how overwhelming it can feel to figure out where to begin. That's why I want Our Third Space to do some of the searching and discovering for you—finding places worth exploring, experiences you might not have considered, and little rituals, creative ideas, and thoughtful touches to make each one your own, with a little encouragement and a few gentle nudges along the way.

Whether you have ten minutes before work, a free afternoon, or an entire weekend you've been craving, my hope is to help you spend less time figuring out what to do and more time actually enjoying it.

This is the time we get. Let's make more of it feel like yours.

I'm so happy you're here.

— Danielle