<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Man vs The World]]></title><description><![CDATA[Man vs The World]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/home</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 20:44:41 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[The Baltic States]]></title><description><![CDATA[I don’t remember how it happened, but I decided to travel to the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to ring in the new year of 2024. While these countries aren’t known for bustling tourist attractions, they’re rich in fascinating history and unique cuisine. This was my first solo trip since my ASD diagnosis, and it became a significant part of my journey in processing it. Prior to this trip, I resolved that it would be my last time staying in hostels. Hostels worked well in my...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/the-baltic-states</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67702325e7cfced28eee20b0</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 29 Dec 2024 04:26:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_2cb9964a132d46f58f6d059605d9160c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[USA Road Trip: Part 2]]></title><description><![CDATA[It was May of 2022, and I felt a strong urge to continue my road trip. With a new fully electric car and more money saved up, nothing was stopping me. Before heading south again, I drove to Brooklyn to get my hair braided and purchased food at one of my favorite restaurants, Jen’s Roti Shop. I wanted to experience “home” one last time. I figured I would conclude my time in the northeast watching the sunset at Pier C Park in Hoboken, New Jersey, as my car charged up nearby. The park was full...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/usa-road-trip-part-2</link><guid isPermaLink="false">670c117263214eea75630f83</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2024 02:06:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/975b5e831e6b431982c2632038b7cc02.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Road-trip: USA Part 1]]></title><description><![CDATA[2022 was simultaneously incredibly difficult and rewarding. I began a journey of healing, self exploration, adventure, and education. Before I get into that, I must give you a brief synopsis of how my 2021 ended to provide more context. In November 2021, my mother passed due to complications from COVID-19. At the same time, a romance blossomed between me and a woman named Tracy from Liberia. This relationship would soon die out as quickly as it blossomed two months later, in early January. As...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/road-trip-usa</link><guid isPermaLink="false">61fc038f2cb572878a672b82</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 22 Aug 2023 19:07:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_0498d548d15741c281354c88e2063248~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_800,h_533,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Guatemala]]></title><description><![CDATA[I landed in Guatemala City, Guatemala on March 6th, 2023. It was a long journey as I had a 10 hour layover in Miami. All I wanted to do was lie down at that point. Immediately after getting through customs, I called an Uber to take me to Antigua, Guatemala. The weather was significantly cooler than I expected. It was slightly cloudy with a nice breeze. It wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t hot and humid either. Minutes after requesting a ride, my driver pulled up, and I was on my way. My driver...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/guatemala</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64ceaac881671ba717a4e417</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 08 Aug 2023 04:01:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_da1ca174fd5d4a18973188ead5c5eb0c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Living with ASD]]></title><description><![CDATA[After a month-long evaluation process, I’ve officially been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD). This provides me much relief as I now have a better understanding of myself. But looking back, I can see how living as an undiagnosed autistic person has affected every aspect of my life. Not only has not knowing resulted in consistent negative self-talk, but it has also resulted in me constantly doubting myself and living with limiting self-beliefs. I won’t go into my entire history but...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/living-with-asd</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64c945072e584c90d2789c1e</guid><category><![CDATA[Neurodivergence]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 02 Aug 2023 01:33:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_cbb1c68ea5c8405fb00779639d3f253a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Anxious for Nothing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Traveling is my #1 hobby, so I spend a lot of time on airplanes. Getting on a plane means relinquishing complete control to the pilot for a couple hours or more. It means trusting that he knows exactly what he is doing while the airplane is moving at 30,000 feet in the air at 500 miles per hour. Sometimes the pilot must fly through a storm cloud which creates turbulence. This is when anxiety begins to creep in. The moment I hear the pilot’s voice telling us that the storm will only affect us...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/anxious-for-nothing</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64afdf1ec6b6328155b2ced6</guid><category><![CDATA[Reflections]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:13:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_55f48c7db2df4428aa0b1f7ce835eb6a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burnout]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lately, I’ve been dealing with what I believe to be autistic burnout. Simple tasks feel like insurmountable activities. Something as simple as putting on socks or brushing my teeth feels like a full gym workout. Some days I struggle walking without falling over. I feel disoriented, exhausted, and unmotivated. On my worst days, I lose the ability to speak, having to resort to hand signals and gestures to communicate with my partner. It feels like I’m walking through a fog so dense I can’t see...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/burnout</link><guid isPermaLink="false">646fd26cf0d2668eeb5f2786</guid><category><![CDATA[Neurodivergence]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 25 May 2023 22:20:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_58f39d2288784f3d81b406aa1605c53d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_844,h_570,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Beautiful Brain]]></title><description><![CDATA[I discovered recently that I may have a neurodivergent brain. I haven’t been diagnosed officially but all the signs of it are there and have been my entire life. Finding out at 35 years old has been jarring and I initially refused to accept it. I likely have at least two of these “disorders” but I have traits in all three. It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with me. I’m not disabled. It isn’t a good or bad thing. It simply means my brain doesn’t function in a typical way. This world is...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/my-beautiful-brain</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6387bd50cde4897768b6c38a</guid><category><![CDATA[Neurodivergence]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2022 20:37:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_f0c85c4db26542e9b9c3cc7d3895ff67~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Los Angeles]]></title><description><![CDATA[Traditionally, I travel to a new country every year for my birthday in June, but 2021 would be different thanks to COVID-19. My original plan was to spend it in Central Europe, but I ended up in Los Angeles instead. It would be my first visit to Southern California in my adult life and my first time in Los Angeles. It was a two week trip, and I initially felt apathy towards it because of how expensive hotel and car rental would be. My expenses were cut significantly days before my trip due to...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/los-angeles</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6100abf2b7e7a70015f8cc50</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2021 02:57:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3733ed857eb7499abd1aef936c96d734.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2020 in Review]]></title><description><![CDATA[I’ve been reflecting on 2020 and figured I’d give you a perspective of my year you haven’t seen. People saw the fun I was having through my Instagram posts but had no idea what was happening behind the scenes. It all began in February 2020. In February, I moved from Chicago, Illinois, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I left a city where I had numerous meaningful friendships to a place where I knew nobody. It was a tough but necessary decision to reach my long term goals. A month after moving,...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/2020-in-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5fedf885a189d6001746558a</guid><category><![CDATA[Reflections]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 31 Dec 2020 18:49:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_0dfad977140f41e3b2fbd926a5e0d78e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mexico]]></title><description><![CDATA[My trip to Mexico was unplanned and spontaneous. My friend Rosalinda called me out of the blue and asked me to join her. I booked the flight that day, and two weeks later, we landed in Cancun. This was my first international flight with another person, so I was a little nervous about how things would go. I wondered, “What if our travel styles aren’t compatible?”. “What if she has annoying habits that are unbearable?” We’ve also had a few romantic dates. Things never got serious, but I...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/mexico</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f749fc56ecefd00179ffe72</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2020 16:25:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_c004d3d1070b4ff5b21cc9fc002ffc28~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Paris ]]></title><description><![CDATA[I’ve been avoiding going to Paris for the simple fact that it’s the top tourist destination in the world, and I usually don’t enjoy places that everyone else seems to love. Still, I arrived with an open mind, not letting my preconceived notions deter my experience. I arrived in Paris during a massive transportation strike, so no trains or buses were running. I was determined to see the sites, regardless of how far I would have to walk. 01/02/20 On my first day in Paris, I did light walking...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/paris</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5e4ae02b53a7d0001813124b</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2020 20:24:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c889ee64911c4253898b347bb6351e43.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[London]]></title><description><![CDATA[Traveling for New Years has become a yearly tradition for me. This year I decided London was the place I wanted to spend it. I picked London because of how much my peers that have been there talked about it, even drawing comparisons to New York City. This was something I had to experience for myself. 12/29/19 My first day in London I arrived later than scheduled because of the flight departure getting pushed back. I scrapped my itinerary for that day and opted instead to walk around the city...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/london</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5e46de12f279500018f05849</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 14 Feb 2020 19:13:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/493b4abc56d7496882c250c7b0169dc6.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Arizona ]]></title><description><![CDATA[I’m not sure what inspired my Arizona trip but I’m so glad it happened. For what ever reason I was excited about the trip up until the day I had to fly out. That day I became apathetic and prepared myself to be disappointed. I was not, not in the slightest. 09/17/19 My trip was off to a rough start because my flight was 2 hours delayed due to mechanical issues with the plane. I was annoyed and anxious because I had a car rental reservation and they were expecting me at a specific time. I...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/arizona</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5da9dc3fa739d700170425f7</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jan 2020 15:28:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_d7d0bf1e1f364b578a42f703bffda7a8~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Solo Travel &#38; Dating]]></title><description><![CDATA[I’ve been traveling almost 5 years now and it’s drastically shifted my perspective on every aspect of the world. I’ve learned so much about myself and others. It’s changed who I am and who I want to be. I no longer desire the traditional successful American life. This has ultimately made me undateable. The following reasons details why. Non-Traditional Jobs I have about 6 streams of income which allows me to be self employed through the sharing economy. This means I can make my own schedule...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/solo-travel-dating</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5d3a474d9e37c40017407b38</guid><category><![CDATA[Reflections]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jul 2019 01:29:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/975b5e831e6b431982c2632038b7cc02.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cuba]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cuba was unique from my other trips in that I didn’t have access to the same amenities and conveniences. Usually, when I travel, I put a few things on my list I want to do, but there’s never a set plan. I arrive and go with the flow. This time around, I couldn’t do that. I had to be strategic with how I was spending money, using the internet, and consuming water. I had a good time nonetheless. 06/04/19 Once I landed in Havana, I went through immigration and security, which took only 10...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/_cuba</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5d1e21eacde83f001656905a</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jul 2019 17:54:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8713ee8bf0e7451b9d7faafa116525ae.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Colombia ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Colombia was a solo trip I took to celebrate my 31st birthday in June of 2018. Prior to booking the trip, in a span of a few weeks Colombia kept coming up in conversation with different people, some of which were strangers. It was either a strange coincidence or a sign from God but that was all the excuse I needed to make it happen. I spent all of my time in Bogota and Cartagena, two vastly different cities. My first full day in Bogota was eventful to say the least. I got up early in the...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/colombia</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5c8f3e722ace79001c0cb102</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 2019 03:14:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_afce2bc0a08540d7815bf0d630551b72~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Punta Cana ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Punta Cana was a unique experience for me simply for the fact that I was staying on a resort. Every trip preceding this one meant staying at an Airbnb or hostel to immerse myself into the culture of the place I was visiting. A resort meant I was completely disconnected from the Dominican culture. It had more of a vacation than an exploratory vibe. This only happened because I was there with 6 friends, two of which were celebrating birthdays. This was the most I’d ever spent on any trip and I...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/punta-cana</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5c73b3bb3b84a1001ce1f8e1</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2019 20:25:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_2a7dedea94324295850252f9bfd2893a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_667,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Japan 
]]></title><description><![CDATA[My trip to Japan happened because I decided I wanted to explore Asia in 2019, so why not start with the Land of the Rising Sun? It turned out to be the best experience of my life. I’ve debated with myself on which angle I should take when talking about my trip because of the numerous experiences that have had a lasting effect on me. Should I talk more about being a black American in a homogeneous, Asian culture? Should I focus on the contrast of the Western Christian faith vs that of Buddhism...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/japan</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5c6179af46b4420562d2505b</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 11 Feb 2019 16:43:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a2607f1d76c2455cbf256dcf2bf9718e.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prague ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Prague has been my most fun trip thus far, mainly because of the cool people I met. The Czech Republic was the last leg of a two week trip that took me through Hungary and Austria. I arrived with no expectations or a solid plan but that didn’t curtail the fun that insued. It all started when I decided to use Couchsurfing app to meet people. One feature of the app is that it allows you to connect and hang out with other travelers in the area. Once on the app, I communicated with a traveler...]]></description><link>https://www.manvstheworldblog.com/post/prague</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5c009c2c3cc996001a13165a</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Stories]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 02 Dec 2018 18:24:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34a29e_0b545ab59b7b4124a49f7675f3d438ce~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Darnell Lowe</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>