If you could switch lives with anybody, dead or alive, who would you choose and what would you do? We asked our staff writers, and this is what they had to say:
Shruthi:
I wake up in a cloud of expensive sheets, silk pillowcases cradling my face like I’m the protagonist in a movie—except I have no idea how I got here. My phone (which is definitely not mine but somehow has my fingerprints?) lights up with a text from “Valentino PR,” reminding me about a fitting for a dress worth more than my college tuition. Panic sets in. Where am I? Why is there a Chanel bag on the nightstand? And most importantly: Why do I have 47 missed calls from AmEx?
By noon, I’ve accepted my fate: I am Anna Delvey. And from what I’ve heard of her, I’m lowkey an icon. And, apparently, I have a lunch reservation under a fake name at a restaurant where a glass of “premium” water costs $40. With no idea how to pay, I take some.. inspiration from Anna. I order champagne, drop vague references to a “trust fund,” and let the suggestion of wealth do the heavy lifting. The waiter nods approvingly, and I giggle the second they leave. I’m kinda.. untouchable. I’m rich.. and I’m definitely getting side-eyed by a manager who suspects something. Time to pull the ultimate Anna Delvey move: act extremely offended, claim they’ll regret treating a VIP like this, and storm out before the bill arrives.
The night ends in the only way an Anna Delvey night can, chaotic, glamorous, and.. possibly, vaguely.. illegal. I find myself at an exclusive rooftop party, surrounded by people who all assume I belong here because I just act like I do. Someone hands me a beverage that, strangely, smells of oranges; someone else asks which drill mines my family owns by the gulf. I dole out a cryptic smile number 78 and say in a hushed tone, “It’s all rather private.” They nod, impressed, understanding.. something I guess. I’m thriving. But just as I’m about to secure a free penthouse stay from a tech bro, who keeps talking about setting up a private meeting with collectors to discuss art investments, who also definitely thinks I’m European royalty, my phone buzzes—an alert from an unknown number: “Ms. Delvey, we need to discuss your outstanding balance.” I do what any self-respecting scammer would, I think Anna would be proud: throw on my biggest sunglasses, order yet another drink on someone else’s tab, and disappear into the night.
Ava:
If I could spend a day as anyone, I would choose to be a nepo baby, but not just any nepo baby, Rebecca Bloom. She’s super wealthy, engaged to someone obsessed with her, and extremely educated. The reason I’d want to be her out of all nepo babies is because she’s not famous by association of her parents. She could go to Target and not get recognized by anyone, except maybe the people who follow her on TikTok, but even then she’s still underground. I just want to be a nepo baby that has a lowkey Instagram and travels the world on private jets and casually buys whatever they want every day. I’d also like to attend whatever college I’d like and study abroad whenever I want. Being a lowkey nepo baby would probably solve all of my problems, especially since I’d be able to get whatever food I want all the time. I get all the benefits of a celebrity, with none of the hassle of having to perform or get clipped by the paparazzi. Becca actually has a semi large following on TikTok, but she’s stated she didn’t even know what it was until her 20s, and even then she was under the impression it was solely a dancing app. I would fly to Italy on a private plane with whatever food I want and immediately arrange a masquerade or fancy aristocrat party to attend. I’d spend all day tanning, eating, shopping, and going to the spa. Then, that night I’d wear a ball gown or something and have the time of my life showing off both my wealth and education by making small talk with other horribly rich and slightly less educated people. She also has super clear skin and a pet cat. That’s my whole dream. I would be unstoppable and everyone would get sick of me.
Sasha:
Imagine waking up in the morning, only to find yourself in an entirely different world. Instead of opening your eyes to the familiar warmth of your cozy bed, soft blankets, and the distant hum of 21st century life, you awaken on a bed carved into the trunk of an ancient olive tree. The air smells of sea salt and wild herbs, and the distant crash of waves echoes through the marble halls of your palace. You are no longer a teenager- you are Odysseus, king of Ithaca, hero of the Trojan war, and the man fated to endure one of the most legendary journeys in all of mythology.
Living a day in the life of Odysseus would be like stepping into a whirlwind of danger, strategy, and gods with grudges. As Odysseus, you’re hailed for your intelligence and quick thinking, but even the sharpest minds make mistakes- sometimes fatal ones. After all, your 10 year journey home from Troy is filled with monsters, sirens, curses, and the relentless fury of Poseidon himself.
One of the most pivotal moments in Odysseus’ tale is when he blinds the cyclops Polyphemus to save his men, but then makes a fatal error: revealing his true name. That single act of pride leads to the deaths of nearly all his crew, as Polyphemus calls upon his father, the sea god Poseidon, to take revenge. If I were truly in Odysseus’ body, I would have resisted the urge to boast. I would have kept my identity secret and protected my men from the god’s wrath. Sometimes, cleverness means knowing when to stay silent.
And then there’s the moment with the bag of winds- another tragic misstep. Odysseus received the bag from Aeolus, god of the winds, to help guide his ship safely home. But instead of telling his crew what was inside, he kept it a secret. Suspicious and greedy, the men opened the bag while he was sleeping, thinking it was treasure, only to unleash a storm that blew them far off course- straight into Poseidon’s territory. If I were Ody, I would’ve told them the truth. A leader earns loyalty through trust, not secrets.
Even just one day of Odysseus’ sandals would be enough to understand the weight of his decisions- the burden of leadership, the cost of pride, and the pain of loss. It’s easy to judge from the outside, but living his life, feeling the constant pull between glory and survival, helps explain why he made the choices he did.
Odysseus was not perfect- he was deeply flawed, like all heroes- but he was brave, clever, and relentlessly determined to return home. If I had the chance to walk in his footsteps for a day, I’d do my best to honor his legacy by learning from his mistakes- and maybe, just maybe, help bring a few more of his men home.
