Repetition Is the Mother of Knowledge

A Russian proverb for the day. Straight from me to you. We seem to live in a redundancy-phobic age. Everything is about upgrades, innovation, the next season. The day after Christmas, furry pink hearts and boxes of children’s Valentines packed shelves at my local drugstore. “Yeah,” a cashier told me. “We already have Easter inContinue reading “Repetition Is the Mother of Knowledge”

When a City Reminds You of Those You’ve Lost

I had a best friend a few years back. A straight guy. Which maybe should have tipped me off. But I’d known him since middle school. We’d been chummy for many years, and he had gradually become a second brother to me. Year after year, we ambled down Third Avenue in chilly November rain andContinue reading “When a City Reminds You of Those You’ve Lost”

Just Do What You Can

My first day back at grad school this quarter, and I’m feeling so much calmer. Even–dare I say–at peace. So what gives? I used to press myself into a corner and demand that I read 50 pages a day–even if it’s not assigned. Make all my deadlines and make them early. And ace them. InContinue reading “Just Do What You Can”

The Dangers of Negative Self-Talk

I like to think I’m a basically positive person. I can be annoyingly so when friends and loved ones bring problems and frustrations to me. “So what would help with that?” I’ll ask. I like to focus on actions–either physical or cognitive–that have a chance of improving the situation. So I was astonished this morningContinue reading “The Dangers of Negative Self-Talk”

A Year of What Matters Most

In 2014, I launched my new year on this blog with a set of goals that proved to be mighty powerful. I wanted to try something that scared me. So I took swimming lessons and joined Toastmasters to hone my public speaking. Check. I wanted to tackle major life goals. I’m now in grad schoolContinue reading “A Year of What Matters Most”