I was complaining to my therapist recently about a pattern of thinking and behavior that I just can’t seem to get unstuck from. “I don’t know whether it’ll ever change,” I said, blinking back tears. “And I don’t know how to change it, or what that even looks like.” She took a pause, and then said something to the effect of, “I don’t know, either. But I can tell you that it’ll happen gradually, and in lots of very small ways.” As soon…

In my private practice, I bear witness to difficult realizations about the limitations of human control when it comes to health. I work with a lot of people who are doing everything “right” in terms of diet and lifestyle—and by “right,” I mean that they’re doing what’s appropriate for their own, unique bodies—and yet they continue to struggle with chronic illness or other health challenges. It is very, very difficult for anyone to contend with a health scenario that can’t be controlled or…

I did some knitting this week. To give you a little background, my mom has been encouraging me to knit for years now. I haven’t been resistant, exactly, just lazy and unmotivated. I remember knitting a little bit in childhood and liking it, but with all of the day-to-day stressors and things that need doing, it feels difficult to carve out time and space for a hobby. I’m so glad that I picked up those knitting needles, though. I haven’t knit much except…

Someone asked me this week whether and how reopening was impacting my day to day life. I think the answer so far is not very much. I’m still social distancing and not yet taking public transportation regularly, so my routine is similar to the routine I’ve had through most of quarantine. There are some tiny differences, though. I made and went to a doctor’s appointment, which involved riding a bus. I’m walking more and feeling more comfortable being outside. The number of people…

Like many white people, I’ve been wondering how I can use my privilege to support the black community this week. I’ve shared a few things on social media, but reposting images and quotations, while a part of collective awareness, is less important than action and effort. Today, I thought I’d share a few of the resources that are guiding me. Change begins in our hearts and within our homes. So, first and foremost, I’m taking an inventory of my own unexamined bias and…

Well, I had a week! Nothing truly worth worrying about. A crisis like the one we’re living through casts a fresh light on everyday stressors. And my week was full of those. Some were work-related, but most of it was actually household stuff. Early in the week, the patch of peeling paint in my bathroom that I’d been suspicious of for a while—but had of course procrastinated on investigating—turned into a major ceiling leak. Because everyone is working remotely and in a limited…

It’s now warm enough that my mom and I can take socially distanced walks here in NYC. After so many weeks of no contact at all, this limited contact feels like real a treat. We’ve developed some cute little traditions for our walks. We often convene midway between her apartment building and mine. My mom is more punctual than I am, so she’s always waiting for me as I scramble to meet her. We can spot each other almost two blocks away. When…