Tis the Season
A few years ago, during the lead up to the holidays, I needed a root canal. Trapped in the dentist’s chair, forced to listen to a loop of Christmas carols, I thought I might lose my mind. For the follow up visit, I brought noise canceling headphones and unseasonal music.
Cartoon by William Haefeli for The New Yorker
How to Tune Out and Tune In
More seasonal advice. Take a few deep breaths and listen. Trust what you know to be true.
Illustration by Lisa Congdon
Navigating the Pre-Holiday Week
I find the days leading up to Christmas among the most disorienting of the year. Part of it is being Jewish, and there’s a frenzy that I don’t quite understand. It’s also the weird limbo state between work and holiday. 5 years ago, I began inviting a group of friends to my home for Christmas dinner. The benefit is not only that I’ve secured an activity on the actual day, but it gives me a focus beforehand. And the one place I’m most at ease this week is wandering through the aisles of my favorite food markets. How are you holding up?
Disassembled gingerbread house from things organized neatly
Archive for December, 2014
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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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