First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

Holiday Food

I’m deep into matzoh ball prep, and looking forward to my friend’s delicious brisket. What holiday food will you enjoy this weekend?

Peeps via this isn’t happiness

Growing Pains

When I first went back to school to become a credentialed Coach, I remember the awkwardness of learning something new. I hadn’t been a student in a long time. And then, slowly along the way, I gained confidence and experience. Now, I’m back in training, this time to become a Mentor Coach for the institute where I got trained. It’s both humbling and inspiring. When was the last time you were a student?

Illustration by Marc Johns

The Value of Company

Today, I was drawn to an obituary for John Cacioppo, a neuroscientist who pioneered the study of loneliness. His research looked at the impact of personal relationships on physical and emotional health. One of the nuances of Cacioppo’s viewpoint was not equating loneliness with being alone. I appreciated that. He said, “Being with others doesn’t mean you’re going to feel connected, and being alone doesn’t mean you’re going to feel lonely.” It’s worth a read. Let me know what you think.

Cat Evening by Lorraine Sorlet

Spring Fever

Botanical Dance by Debbie O’Donnell

Word from the Street

When I was in my teens, I marched to end the Vietnam War. Boys were getting drafted on a daily basis and our generation was highly motivated. It’s good that we had a lot of stamina, because the fight took a decade. The image above was a banner used during the suffrage movement, circa 1913-1920. Women struggled for 75 years to get the right to vote. Let’s hope this era’s “young at our gates” will accelerate the process.

#NeverAgain

I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday.

Poster by Oliver Jeffers

Life Without Wheels

The other night, I was watching an (awful) movie from 1970 with Elizabeth Taylor. There’s an innocuous scene that caught my attention. Taylor is moving out of her apartment, toting 2 heavy suitcases. And I was trying to remember what it was like to use luggage without wheels. However did we do it?

10 Suitcases by Zoe Leonard. At the Whitney Museum now until June 10.

Hump Day Affirmation

Photo by Andres Gonzales

What’s Your Sign?

Chart by Michelle Rial

Dressing Up

I can’t remember if I owned one pair of sweatpants before moving to Los Angeles. Now, I have an entire drawer devoted to them. The other anchor in my L.A. wardrobe is denim. An assortment of jeans occupies another shelf of its own. In the Jewish congregation to which I belong, jeans and flip flops are standard fare. And I like that because it’s informal and removes a barrier to entry. But Saturday morning service is the one place where I challenge myself to wear  fancier attire. Do you like to dress up?

Overdressed and Underappreciated by Matt Adrian