Note: This was originally an email to my subscriber list in 2021: Here in New York, we've been blessed with a pretty mild Autumn so far (isn't "Autumn" so much fancier and less stressful than "Fall"?) But for those who live with seasonal affect disorder, the low feeling that comes with colder weather and fewer sunlight hours, this time of year can be emotionally challenging. And that low feeling, can sometimes look like a seasonal depression. Depression can bring some unwant

Note: This was originally written as a subscriber email in 2022: Over the last week or two, I noticed a couple of funny interactions. They were situations where people wanted to pay me for something, and I found myself asking them not to. Which is weird, because 1. money is useful and 2. I had done something for them that normally people pay for. But these were specific instances in which I actively prevented payment. It got me thinking about the different reasons we will opt

Note: This was originally published as a subscriber email in 2022: I don't really like being told what to do- do you? (Well, except when I'm stuck in decision-making analysis paralysis- then I'm wishing for a prophet to tell me what to do. And it's usually at those times that it's most important for me to make my own decisions.. sigh.) Some people are natural rule followers, and appreciate the guidance and motivation to "do what's right." But others are by nature more rebelli

Once upon a time, many years ago, there was a man who didn’t understand marital intimacy very well. This man married two women. This was a time and place in which polygamy was a norm but there was more to the story. He had a “use” for each wife, both purely physical. One was for procreation, and the other was for recreation. (Mainly his own.) One wife was given ancient birth control potions but lots of beauty products and fine foods. Her body was prioritized for aesthetics an

Bring Them Us Home In the aftermath of the 10/07/23 horrific massacre that Hamas waged on the peaceful people of Israel, the motto “bring...

Note: This was originally written several years ago as a subscriber email. Decades ago when I was in high school, we had a school...

Note: This post is more personal and less clear than usual- not sure if I'll leave it up, but sharing it for now: “Just because other...

This was originally an email subscriber post in 2022: Sometimes, (and when I say "sometimes" here, I mean "very often") when I'm working...

The following was originally posted in 2021 for email subscribers: Do you ever listen to audiobooks? Something I wish I had discovered...

The Four “H”s of Jewish History This was originally written in 2011, but lightly edited today 9 Av, 5785:  Have you ever heard of "the...

This was originally published as a subscriber email in 2022: On Sunday, I thought I had chickenpox- that's the best way I can think of to...

A friend recently shared that she’d heard a respected shadchan talking about how important it is to “marry kids off” young and quickly,...

This was originally published in a schmoozeletter email in 2021: Lately, I've been thinking about the idea of being a moderate. For a...

This post was originally a schmoozeletter email in 2021 One of my love languages is book recommendations (also: cut fruit..) I believe...

Note: This was originally posted as a schoozeletter Parsha email for subscribers in 2022: Have you ever heard yourself or someone else...

Today is my husband’s 53rd birthday. 53 is not usually a significant number (although it is for him, because he loves when his age is...

The story I'm about to share is over 30 years old, but I still think about it frequently. When I was in middle school, I had a friend who...

Sometimes, when I'm talking with a client or a friend about something traumatic they've experienced, especially loss, they end up sharing...

For many years, I had a little issue with the Omer. We'd always been taught that the seven weeks of counting from the holidays of Pesach...

There’s a great motivational quote, attributed to Nelson Mandela: “I never lose, I either win, or I learn.” That’s an empowering way to...