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Expand your life

When stumped by a life choice in 2023, let me suggest you choose “expansion” over happiness. Jungian therapist James Hollis argues that major personal decisions should be made not by asking, “Will this make me happy?” but by “Will this choice enlarge me or diminish me?” We’re terrible at predicting what will make us happy.…

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Never Have I Ever

I posted “Never Have I Ever” lists in 2014 and 2018. Four years later, it’s time again. My “Never Have I Ever” list. I revisited the list from 2018 to see how much is still true, and it turns out that all 12 are still true today, and I’ve managed to add three more to…

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Patrol flags past and present

When I was 13 years old, I was elected patrol leader by my fellow Boy Scouts. In addition to my many other responsibilities, I was required to choose a name for our patrol and create a flag. I chose The Gumby Patrol. Gumby was a claymation character featured in a television series that ran from…

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Our engagement anniversary

Today is Elysha and my engagement anniversary! Eighteen years ago today, I proposed marriage to the woman I love, and she miraculously accepted. Kind of. Happily, the day of our engagement remains clear in my memory, partly because it was such a perfect day and partly because when we arrived home that night, I immediately…

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Brouse Rule of Sleeping

On Christmas Eve, Charlie said that he was worried that he might be unable to sleep. “Too excited,” he said. “You must follow the Brouse Rule of Sleeping,” I told him. “You know the rule. Right?” He did. The Brouse Rule of Sleeping was bestowed upon me a few years ago by my friend and…

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Christmas morning thrills

We took a lot of photos on Christmas, but this dark, grainy, difficult-to-discern photo might be my favorite. After waiting for more than an hour for Elysha to wake up and come downstairs to open presents, Clara and Charlie were finally released from their perch on the stairs and charged into the living room toward…

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My 2022 Christmas haul

Every Christmas, I take inventory of the holiday gifts that my wife, Elysha, gives me. Some people wish for cashmere sweaters, the latest gadget, stylish watches, and jewelry. My hope is often for the least pretentious, most unexpected, most nostalgic, quirkiest little gift possible, and Elysha never fails to deliver. When it comes to gift-giving,…

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Best email of the year

My first date with Elysha (though I didn’t know it was a date) was a hike up Mount Carmel in Hamden, CT. We climbed the mountain as friends, but halfway down, she reached out and took my hand, and she hasn’t let go since. After the hike, we returned to my apartment, where we sat…

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Interview and repeat

This isn’t Homework for Life (which you should be doing), but it’s a close cousin. Every year for the past six years, musician Billie Eilish has been interviewed by Vanity Fair and asked the same questions again and again. She’s also asked to watch and reflect upon her previous answers. It’s a fascinating idea. Eilish…

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The Unpopular Opinion Game

Things Many People Love that I Do Not Pickles Wes Anderson films Steely Dan The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Coffee Soccer Mayonaise Sleep Alcohol Sushi Shopping Reality television Now share your list!

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