What To Do When You See Someone Being Harassed

Aug 22, 2015 | Life

It was early evening, just after the sun set, around 7 PM on Fall night in Brooklyn. My husband and I were walking through the crowds outside of Atlantic Terminal. I saw a young woman, walking alone, get approached by a man with a clipboard. “Heyyy!” he said, “Do you...

Why Are We So Afraid of Having These Conversations?

Aug 18, 2015 | Life

A man jumped out from behind a subway pole at me while I was absorbed in my cell phone late this evening. I jumped, startled. He started to ask me about whether or not an F train was coming, and then, mid-sentence, said: “Wait, why did you jump? Why are you...

Why I’m Not Writing As Frequently

Jul 31, 2015 | Writing Practice

I’m not writing as much as I’d like. Part of it is intentional – I joined a startup a few months ago, and I made a commitment to myself that I’d focus on my new job and keep my energy streamlined, so I wouldn’t get burned out. I did that. But...

Have You Ever Saved Someone’s Life?

Jul 25, 2015 | How People Work

In high school I worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor. I had a few close encounters — just a few feet from me, below my line of sight, a 6-year old began to drown in four feet of water. Her toes barely skimmed the floor of the pool, and her arms fluttered up and...

Let’s Start With Shitty First Drafts

Jun 23, 2015 | Writing Practice

What do you do to stay creative? I’ve been looking for something new to do this summer, a way to have fun learning again, and I think I found it. At least for right now. I’ve been in New York for almost two years now — surprises me how fast time passes. Yet I...

How I Make My Morning Routine Work For Me

May 24, 2015 | How People Work

I struggle to do a morning routine. In my head, my morning routine is perfect: twenty minutes of yoga, twenty minutes of writing, twenty minutes of meditation before I start the day. There’s a steaming cup of tea, a sunny window, a book if I’m feeling...

The Profound Habit of Following Your Own Advice

May 3, 2015 | Big Life Questions

Wisdom is nothing more profound than an ability to follow your own advice. — Sam Harris. I struggle with writing essays that sound too much like advice, because I know inevitably as soon as I tell you the ten tricks for getting into bed early, I’ll suffer bouts of...

The Power of Saying Things Out Loud

Apr 16, 2015 | Decision Making

The power of saying what you want out loud continues to astound me. It was January 1, this year. I was setting goals. I outlined what I wanted to do this quarter — take singing lessons, finish the first draft of my book, a few more things. Being in New York has been...