Exercise: The Wonder Drug
I had my first appointment with a psychologist when I was in second grade. My school district forced me to see a counselor, during school hours, at least once a…
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***
I’ve always been a worrier. Whenever my dad and my dog Rosco leave for one of the zillion or so walks they take together each day, my stomach clenches up…
What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?
Now, I know that most normal people like to listen to music on their iPods when they go out for a run or hit the weight machines at the gym.…
The Social Contract
So, I was walking my dog, Rosco, the other day and I witnessed something that left me confused. No, more than that. Reeling. Freaked out. Wondering when the hell the…
Things Versus Experiences
I’ll admit something embarrassing: I’ve read a lot of self-help books, the kind of books that tell you to simplify your life, to focus on being grateful for what you…
See Something, Say Something?
We’ve all heard the Big Brother-y motto the government has been drilling into our heads since 9/11: “See something, say something.” I get it. We all know we live in…
Am I Enough?
I’m a writer. I write every day, even if it’s just a couple of sentences, squeezed in between other, more pressing tasks (that is, the kind of tasks that pay…
First Kill All the Meteorologists
We all know the quote: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers” (Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 2, Act IV, Scene 2). And though I agree wholeheartedly with…
My Twisted Runaway Train of a Mind
I learned long ago that my brain never entirely shuts down, no matter how tired I am. It’s the reason I sleep so poorly and why I am always wide…
What a Difference a Week Makes
Last week, on New Year’s Day, I was fighting a crippling bout of depression and hanging by my fingernails onto a slender thread of hope that things might get better…
Happy New Year!
This is a first for me. Usually, when I write these posts, I do it at least a couple of days ahead of time, but today, I’m writing off the…
Merry Christmas!
It’s Christmas morning and I’m taking the day off (mostly) to do all my favorite traditional holiday stuff like opening presents (and toasting the best ones with a big glass…
Random Acts of Meanness
Remember a few years back, there was that whole movement called “Random Acts of Kindness?” I recall hearing about it—everywhere, ad nauseam—but I don’t remember actually witnessing a single random…
Fixing the World, One Grocery Store at a Time
I know I’m complaining again—or, rather, I’m about to—but here’s the thing: If I don’t point out the errors of the world, how are we ever going to fix them?…
The Worst Thing You Can Say to a Writer
Let me set the scene: It’s Thanksgiving and we’ve just enjoyed a festive, if somewhat tense, holiday meal (what do you expect? Family brings out the crazy in everyone). We’re…