First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

Cocktail Hour

Happy weekend!

Photo by Jeremy Liebman

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?

Audacity

On the wall in my apartment is a framed letter from the White House replying to my request for the President to attend my 9th birthday party. Whenever I look at this, I’m reminded that even as a child, I was fearless about writing to strangers on my behalf. It’s a skill that I’ve used successfully in my professional life. And yet, when faced with opening a pump jar of any kind, I’m petrified. Tell me about your audacity.

Illustration by Daisy Emerson

Our Guilding Lights

It was a little more than a year ago that Betty, one of my great inspirations, passed away. She was 88, and I’d known her from ballet class. There was no one like Betty. She’d had a career in musical theater, danced with the San Francisco Ballet and regaled us with stories from her glory years. Even at 88, she took class 5 days a week. Her body was strong and fierce, her skin barely wrinkled. She never seemed to have a bad day. Betty was beautiful and ageless, and she showed me what’s possible. I’ll never forget Betty. Who is your guiding light?

She Lights Up the Night by Jean Jullien

Building Downtime into your Week

In my weekly ritual, Friday night is a time to slow down. And as it approaches, I can feel my body start to relax. My mind, on the other hand, takes a while to remember the routine. I have to keep reminding it. A martini helps. For my Career Coaching site, I wrote about the importance of taking a day off when you’re looking for work. And at the core of this advice is the idea that even when you haven’t reached your desired outcome, you still deserve a break.

Henrik Plenge Jakobsen

Finding Momentum, Even When You’ve Lost It

Every day for the last year, I’ve committed to completing 2 extraneous tasks: 10 minutes of Spanish and 100 sit-ups. I literally have not missed a day. I’m obsessive about it, because in a world that often seems out of control, at least in this small way, I feel a tangible sense of accomplishment. And even mundane wins like these build on each other. What keeps you going?

Illustration by Lee Crutchley

Condiments

Kyle Bean inspired by Damien Hirst

NYC Dog Love

My favorite Tweet today: the New York City Subway banned dogs unless they fit in a bag and the people of New York did not disappoint.

Decorating with Citrus

When I moved into my condo six years ago, a friend from San Francisco flew down to help me get settled. I’d spent the extra money so that the movers unpacked all the boxes (which was amazing, BTW and highly recommended). I didn’t need him for that. My friend, who is a photographer and a sculptor was in Los Angeles to assist with the aesthetics. One of his best (and enduring ) suggestions was to keep a glass bowl of lemons on the dining room table for a pop of color. They’re less messy than flowers and last longer. Since that visit, hardly a day has gone by without some citrus enlivening the space. It’s become my signature.

Hand-drawn pastel artwork by Anna Roberts