On the Hardships of Romance

Move In or Move On?

Rumor has it, the longer the relationship, the harder it gets. And it's not easy kicking the fear for the uncertain future, whether the happy couple can weather the storm or crumble beneath the unpredictable yet inevitable consequences of life. But we take our chances because for each lost opportunity, another is found, and until we rise to the occasion, we can never be completely sure what we're made of. Enjoy!

On Life-Saving Life Savers

And Sugar-Coating Heartache.

When the going gets tough, a good distraction is always welcome, even if it's in the form of brightly-colored, translucent, rock-hard, sucking candies. The rainbow reminds us that life exists on the other side, in spite of the shattered walls around us that mimic the cavity-inducing, guilt-invoking crunch between our teeth. And like the melting mnm/sourpatch/gobstopper, the pain, too, will dissipate over time until the next trip to the candy store where the options seem limitless and the choice gets harder to make. Enjoy!

On (Un)complicated Explanations

The chief virtue that language can have is clearness, and nothing detracts from it so much as the use of unfamiliar words.(Hippocrates)

It is true that children grasp the world around them with more attention to detail than their adult counterparts and, so, we must choose our words wisely when filling in their curious gaps about the past, present, and future. And if we stumble, they forgive as easily as they (don't) forget, which simply means there's room for trial, error, and our own creative lens through which to take in (their) world around us, too. Enjoy!

On Taking Things for Granted

In New York City.

Like most New Yorkers, I take the City for granted - until recently. During a trip out west, I found myself (at moments) craving crowds and unkempt public transportation, where seats are hard to come by and patrons are seemingly insincere. As I walked the quiet, downtown, urban sprawl, I wondered if it's true what they say - You Can Take The Girl Out Of Brookyn, Buuuut - and, for the first time in my life, made sense of the generations of New Yorkers who vacation around the world but always (always) come back home. And now I'm back, perhaps indefinitely and (as life happens) perhaps not, with a new appreciation for muffled subway sound systems and the glare in my neighbor's eye, as I work hard to embrace the possibility of life without. Enjoy!

On Laughter Being the Best Medicine

Even Better Than Yoga (Well, Kinda.)

Your day will guarantee to brighten if you go on youtube and search for the 'Best Baby Laugh Ever.' And there's actual scientific evidence: aside from laughter being contagious, your attitude is destined to respond positively. So the next time you're feeling down, go to the closest internet cafe, ignore the looks and stares of the gloomy passerby-ers, get your youtube on, and turn that frown upside down. Enjoy!

On the Small Pleasures in Life

Different Strokes for Different Folks.

While I'd like to believe I would escape this guy's antics unscathed, that'd be as foolish as convincing myself that I've outgrown, say, Captain Crunch. And yet his diligence and craftiness is admirable and, if given the opportunity, I'd watch with a mixture of empathy, relief, and my usual astonishment at people's inability to stay cool. Enjoy!

On Showing Respect

When Resources are Scarce.

Hand-picking school supplies during the first week back to school takes precision and thought, especially since the consequences are seemingly vast: the 90210, neon-colored folders and bright pink/green/yellow quadratic, pencil-top erasers are filled with more promise than the actual school year is capable of. (Note: Graduate school is no exception.) Back in the day (aka b.2k.), these supplies included the required schoolbook jacket cover, to protect the property de l'école from accidentally greasy fingers, unpredictable pets, and sudden onset of [insert ailment]. Coupled with the excitement of knowing (first, second or fifth-hand) a previous owner whose name was inscribed on the inside cover (That used to be my sister's book! Ain't life is Grand?), for some folks this was the highlight of their year. Until, of course, it came time to put those books to use, at which point the newness of the school year was instantaneously replaced by the dread of antiquated mathematical formulas and unending narratives about waxing and waning moons, wars that changed lives, and fictional tales of Crime and Punishment. Enjoy!