The Antidote to Rage Bait

Oxford Dictionary just named “rage bait” its Word of the Year for 2025, which feels about right for a time when outrage has become the internet’s favorite...

Opting Out of the Holiday Stress Olympics

Every November, like clockwork, my inbox fills with articles about “surviving” the holidays. Social media feeds explode with memes about toxic family dinners and...

The Past Explains You, But It Doesn’t Define You

One cannot read a book or watch a movie these days without encountering a revelation of past trauma. In the New Yorker, Parul Sehgal...

The Leaf Blower Mindset

Last weekend, I watched my neighbor meticulously blow every leaf from his driveway, directly onto mine. As I stood there amid a swirling cloud...

Sorry, Pessimism Isn’t Wisdom

Sarah prides herself on being realistic. “Look, I’m clear eyed about how the world works. It’s a dangerous place filled with dangerous people.” She plans for...

A Simple Rule to Shift Your Perspective

Growing up, I was not allowed to use the word "hate." It was considered a four-letter word in our house. "Dislike" was perfectly fine,...