Staying on Balance
On Friday, I had an off night. Anxiety rippled through me, and it was hard to push aside. My sleep was restless. The next morning, like many Saturday mornings, I went to synagogue for weekly services. Regular readers will know that I belong to an extraordinary Jewish community, and it’s one of the anchors that sustains me. Common to most spiritual practices, the liturgy is filled with praise and gratitude. I don’t necessarily connect the gratitude to a divine being. But on this Saturday, the very act of repeatedly and formally expressing thanks completely lifted my mood.
Illustration by Luci Gutiérrez
Hard Questions Worth Asking
At times, it may feel like a luxury to ask yourself what you want. It can also feel like a risk, particularly if you’ve been disappointed wanting things that haven’t turned out as expected. As a Career Coach, I know these weighty questions are worth asking. They help us focus and prioritize. Where do we want to put our efforts? That’s how we get results.
Poster by Anthony Burrill
The Single Summer Lift
Before moving south to L.A. with its unending warm weather, I’d feel wistful with the start of summer. In San Francisco, where I lived, July and August were shivery months. As couples bolted the city for romantic weekend getaways to the wine country, I huddled alone in my apartment by the heater. Summer exacerbated being single. Not anymore. Relentless sunny skies can have its drawbacks (barely), but it’s a relief to live in a place from which you don’t need to flee.
Photo by Sarah Illenberger
Favorite Way to Relax
Saturday on the couch reading The New Yorker’s print edition. And you?
Illustration by Christoph Niemann
What’s for Dinner?
These chicken pot pies take hours to prepare. I made them for a dinner party at my place on Saturday. And there was one left over. I’m so excited to be eating this tonight. What food are you looking forward to?
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FIRST PERSON SINGULAR is a guide to surviving, thriving and sometimes just getting through a single day. Created by Wendy Braitman (more…)
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