First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

Giving Thanks for Favorite Foodstuff

1. Parmegiano reggiano
2. Callebaut bittersweet chocolate discs
3. Kenter Canyon arugula
4. Villa Manodori balsamic vinegar
5. Straus whole milk vanilla yogurt
6. Café Fanny granola

Illustration by Ed Nacional

Lean On Me

The holidays are baaaaaaack. Traffic patterns are different, grocery stores are mobbed, my important emails are bouncing back with an automatic out of office reply. I know how to navigate through the holiday season, but I don’t love it. I’m not sure by whose side I belong. Yes. it’s a hard time to be single. Or maybe it’s a hard time to be in a relationship, and dealing with all the family obligations. Could be, it’s a hard time, period. With this as context, I was relieved to see artwork by Harland Miller, as a reminder that the fantasy of the devoted partner is most often just that.

Politics of Short Hair

In the 1920’s, when “the Bob” became the rage, modern women cut their hair to make a statement about freedom. Is it so different today?

Image: Adara by Guim Tió Zarraluki

Power to the People

Photo by warmsleepy

Importance of Persistence

Part of my daily practice of not getting discouraged.

Image via Magnificent Ruin

A Leap of Faith

I’ve never been a person who makes 5 and 10 year plans, though I admire that in others. At times, I suffer the consequences. When I really believe in something, I don’t like to plot out the possible scenarios ahead of time, maybe because I don’t want to be dissuaded. I prefer to figure things out along the way. Is this risky behavior?

Illustration by Alessandro Gottardo

The Glorious Georgia O’Keeffe

Born November 15, 1887, this photo of Georgia O’Keeffe was taken by her mentor, patron, lover and eventual husband, Alfred Stieglitz.

Crap Shoot

Image: DÉS-GRAVITÉ (Dice-Gravity) 2010 by Suzy Lelièvre

Friday Night Unplugged

Levez vos skinny fists comme antennas to heaven by Alex Hetherington Lies

Recalibrate

Last night, I went to hear a lecture by a noted theologian, Brad Artson. When he explains his view of the universe, I actually have a heightened sense of well being, as if everything is going to be okay. I like his analogy of the divine being similar to the voice on a GPS. When you make a wrong turn, there’s no judgment, no punishment, just a modulated speaker telling you to recalibrate.

Image from Bunch Design