The Yoga Mat Paradox: How the Pursuit of Wellness Became Performance
It’s hard to recall a time when yoga mats weren’t a staple in every beachgo beachgoer’s arsenal. They’re as ubiquitous as sunscreen and towels, touted as a panacea
Month: June 2026
I Suspect Mrs Jenkins Has an Unusual Lawnmower
I was trying to get some work done, which would have been considerably easier if Mr Whiskers had not decided that my laptop represented a threat to national security. The orange menace had spent the better part of ten minutes…
Annie Dillard: Where the Wild Things Worry Me Too
Annie Dillard. I’ve been reading her work for years, but only recently did I start to feel a deep connection to her writing. As I delve into her essays and stories, I find myself drawn to the way she navigates…
I Think Mrs Jenkins Dropped By Unannounced Again
I was sitting on the couch staring at the coffee table when I noticed three things that absolutely should not have been there. The first was an empty energy drink can. The second was a crumpled piece of paper covered…
Ludwig Wittgenstein: Where the Thread Keeps Unraveling
Ludwig Wittgenstein’s name has been etched on my bookshelves for years, a constant presence that I’ve grown accustomed to. His Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus collected dust alongside other philosophical texts, its yellowed pages whispering secrets to me as I flipped through them…
I Think the Cat is Trying to Warn Me
I first noticed something was wrong with Mr. Whiskers on a Saturday morning while I was drinking coffee in the living room. The apartment was quiet except for the occasional hum of the refrigerator and the distant sound of traffic…
Barbara Pym: How to Write About People You’ll Never Quite Get
I’ll be honest, I only stumbled upon Barbara Pym’s work a year ago, browsing through my college library’s fiction section. Her name stood out to me because it seemed… old-fashioned? Not in a bad way, but like she was from…
I’m Starting to Think Pandora’s Hiding Something from Me
Pandora had been acting strangely ever since I got home from work, though it took me a while to realize exactly what was bothering me about it. Nothing she was doing would have seemed suspicious to a normal person. She…
The Beauty of Restraint: Finding Elegance in a Culture of Excess
In the midst of this sweltering summer, I find myself drawn to those who em embody restraint. Not in the sense that they’re buttoned up or stifling the
W.H. Auden: Where Myth Meets My Midlife Crisis (and Vice Versa)
W.H. Auden’s poetry has been a constant presence in my life, even though I only discovered him during my senior year of college. It’s funny how sometimes it takes stumbling upon something to truly appreciate its value. For me, Auden’s…
I Think Mr Whiskers Is Affecting Pandora’s Behavior
I’ve been trying to brush it off, but Pandora’s behavior has me on edge. She’s been distant lately, and I’ve noticed she’s been checking her phone an awful lot—usually when we’re in the middle of a conversation or watching television…
Iris Murdoch: Where Philosophy Meets Heartbreak
Iris Murdoch – the name itself seems to conjure a world of complexity, of intellectual rigor, of moral depth. As I sit down to write about her, I’m struck by the sense that I’m venturing into uncharted territory, that I’m…
I Think Pandora’s Notebook Holds the Answer
I was making toast in the kitchen, trying my best to focus on breakfast, while John Mercer’s guitar playing seeped through the walls. He had been practicing all morning, or at least it felt that way. It might have only…
The Performance of Exhaustion: How Our Culture’s Obsession with Validation Fuels Burnout
As I watch people navigate the sweltering summer streets, I am reminded of a peculiar phenomenon – the performative nature of social exhaustion. It’s as if the mere
John Maynard Keynes: When Brains Meet Bluster (and Can We Still Learn from Either?)
I’ve always been drawn to the idea of a “big thinker,” someone who can see beyond the present moment and shape the future with their ideas. John Maynard Keynes is one such figure, and I find myself frequently returning to…
I Think My Cat Knows More Than He’s Letting On
I’m standing in our living room, staring at Mr. Whiskers as he grooms himself on the armchair. It’s weird how he always picks the exact spot that drives Pandora crazy. She swears he does it on purpose. Personally, I think…
Hannah More: Where Rebellion Meets Responsibility
Hannah More’s life has been etched into my mind like the lines on a well-loved book. As I delve into her story, I find myself drawn to the complexities of her character – her contradictions, her convictions, and the societal…
I’m Starting to Think John Mercer’s Involved Somehow
I’m making breakfast in the kitchen when I notice Pandora’s hair tie sitting on the counter. The strange thing is that it definitely wasn’t there yesterday. I’m almost certain she hung it on the hook by her bedroom door after…
The Illusion of Effort: How Athleisure Wear Obscures Reality
As we trudge through the sweltering summer months, it’s hard not to notice the proliferation of athleisure wear on our city streets. Everywhere you lo look, people are
Vladimir Nabokov: When Language Is a Labyrinth with No Clear Exit (And That’s Kind of the Point)
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure why Vladimir Nabokov fascinates me so much. His life seems to defy any straightforward narrative – a Russian aristocrat turned English professor, an immigrant who never quite fit in, and a writer known for…