I had never experienced vertigo or any balance issues before. It was an ordinary weekday—let's say a Tuesday—and I had just woken up. I’m not someone who jumps out of bed quickly, and that day was no different. I sat up slowly, as usual, but this time, my head spun...

One of the items on my bucket list has always been to visit New York, and I’ve especially dreamed of spending Christmas there. There’s something about the city’s winter charm—coming from Texas, where snow is a rare sight—and the thought of strolling through Central...