Earlier this weekend I invited a friend and client to consider a mental exercise that helped me in recovery and continues to help me when I’m struggling to embrace the present. I asked her to imagine herself five or six decades from now, looking back on this moment. How would she be glad to have spent her time? What would feel like the most valuable experience to choose? I was encouraging her to honor a holiday weekend, which involved changes to her normal…

When I posted a cozy butternut chickpea stew on Thursday, I mentioned that I’d been eating freezer leftovers all week. Part of the reason for this is that I was home with my second round of Covid. Fortunately, I’d gotten my booster on October 17th, and it was very mild. I only had upper respiratory congestion this time—it never moved into my chest. And I didn’t have an on-and-off-again fever or aches and pains, as I did when I had it last December….

Boundaries seem to be a hot topic these days. They’re the subject of a lot of articles, at least once recently published book, and—at least in my experience of the algorithm—a ton of Instagram content. This suggests that boundaries are a struggle for lots of folks, and I’m certainly one of them. My past efforts to get better with boundaries have been focused on being vocal about it when I’m not comfortable with something. I still have work to do there. In the…

To-do list for the first Sunday of November, 2022: Wake up woefully unrested, given the extra overnight hour overnight (tough week, busy mind) Spend the early morning wondering what to write about today, over coffee. Eat breakfast (banana chocolate chip muffin, yogurt with hemp seeds and berries). Feel an idea of what to write about taking shape. Feel pretty good about that idea. Eat lunch (leftover one-pot Italian quinoa lentils, vegan parmesan, salad). Go to a fun orange wine fair, hosted by a…

A year or so ago, I started noticing small prints affixed to street lamps around the city. They featured different depictions of a woman with a bob haircut, usually clad in clothes reminiscent of 60s mod styles. The woman was always accompanied by some sort of message. Some were accepting. Others were encouraging:   Some of the prints expressed yearning: Others were spunky and spirited: And some of the messages were just sweet. When I moved downtown, I only saw more and more…

One of the things I’m enjoying most about my new neighborhood is its rich history. In spite of real estate development, a lot of historic buildings and architecture are still present, still part of the look and feel of nearby streets. In trying to take more advantage of the city in which I live, I’ve been looking up local history tours and opportunities to play tourist in my own environs. Yesterday afternoon, I took a walking tour of the crypt beneath the Basilica…

Five years ago, just as summer transitioned into fall, I took a trip to Prague. I was a few months past a terrible breakup, still trying to find my footing. Enough time had gone by that friends were starting to ask me if I was ready to start dating again. It was a natural enough question, offered in an encouraging spirit, but it seemed ridiculous to even consider. I knew that whenever I did date again, it would probably have to happen long…