Accepting support during indefinite, unplanned, and difficult moments is what makes us good friends, partners, and kids. It also prepares us to return that support when the moment calls. By taking in the love and care, others might feel more comfortable reaching for us when they need that love and care back. 

When friends (or the friendly neighborhood 9-year-old) come by, your home reveals what you like and how you see yourself. More than that, it’s an ode to all things you. Being at home means getting to be in a rejuvenating space specifically personalized for you by you. The objects, walls, furniture, smell — all of it lives and breathes who you are.

Not all of this curiosity should be treated as finite fuel to get our boat from point A to point B. It’s OK to ride the waves, look at the reefs, and sometimes submerge ourselves in the water (make an elaborate felt LaGuardia High School costume).

This past year, I started referring to each task, instead of myself, as the orange. Rather than just getting through the day and feeling like my orange was intact, I looked for the sweet nectar elsewhere, drained it, and savored the full glass of juice. This reframing not only helped me feel more in control, it also helped me find and enjoy the sweeter things.

The U. City Public Library is able to support this community through their handful of offerings. Their mission of providing a space for everyone doesn’t feel like lip service when they offer free books, dance and play storytime, yoga classes, and computer lessons all in the span of one week. They’re legit.

Letter writing is the ravioli delivery. The in-person declaration of care is important. It’s the fresh ravioli, after all. We all know it’s good, and we savor it. But it only exists in a moment in time.

When someone asks you to describe your best friend, it’s impossible. How do you pick a single memory or defining trait when everything with them is your favorite?

I would argue that, in most scenarios, having a wealth of micro-experiences … are actually pretty relevant. All of these examples, no matter how small they seem, require leadership, compassion, and knowledge. To me, those traits aren’t so small.

Taking the time to flip a few pages every night (whether they were from a rom-com beach read or a vulnerable memoir) bolstered my initial goal of trying new things. I felt room to be more creative and explorative.

The first thing you reach for when you wake up, the last thing you put down before bed: Smartphone usage is nearly ubiquitous among adults.