Perspectives

I hide window cleaner from my husband and keep a private stash of useful things. But sometimes I lose my belongings without any assistance. One bitterly cold morning, my keys were safely inside the house—and I found myself taking shelter at a stranger’s funeral.

I went to Kohl’s to return an Amazon purchase and left with a sweater, two chocolates, and a small role in someone else’s bonus prospects. When did buying something become an invitation to complete a performance review?

What do an overcrowded refrigerator, leaking teriyaki marinade, and two uncooperative crisper drawers have to do with emotional regulation? More than you might think. A funny, painfully relatable look at what happens when life's little frustrations send our nervous systems into overdrive, and how paying attention to our bodies might help us recognize when we're about to lose it.

Introversion, Sensitivity, Trauma, and the Need to Recharge Some people need more time alone than others. Not because they dislike people. Not because they are antisocial. And not because they are, as I occasionally remind myself, lazy ass slackers. For some of us, being around people simply requires a great deal of energy. I know what it feels like to need time to recharge my battery after talking all day or socializing with people who are not in my innermost circle. I need

Paint, Yarn, Words, and a Little Perspective I have come to realize that I am happiest when I am making something. Sometimes it is a painting. Sometimes it is crochet. Sometimes it is writing. Apparently, one creative outlet was not enough. It is nice to be able to pick up another when I have exhausted my interest in one for the day but have not yet satisfied the urge to make something. Painting, especially, makes me a little giddy. I love playing with color—hues, values, lig

They remain extremely secure, even from me. This morning, Wix asked me to complete a CAPTCHA to prove that I was human. This seemed reasonable. I have been human for quite some time and felt reasonably qualified. Unfortunately, the CAPTCHA did not agree. I clicked on the squares containing traffic lights. Then bicycles. Then crosswalks. Occasionally, a small section of an object appeared in the corner of a square, requiring me to decide whether three inches of bicycle tire le

A reflection on what the Bhagavad Gita offers when life feels chaotic, the chariot wheels have fallen off, and control is no longer among the available options.

Shiva and Shakti I live with two Siamese cats who have established a highly functional system of household management. Shakti is in charge. Shiva is large. These are not the same thing. Shakti was the runt of the litter and still looks like a forever kitten: tiny, delicate, quick, and entirely convinced that size is a vulgar substitute for intelligence. Shiva is much taller, substantially broader, and about five pounds heavier. He is a handsome, long-limbed, blue-eyed gentle