After reading Hanya Yanagihara’s novel “A Little Life,” our columnist grapples with the reality of suffering that doesn't make us stronger.
The New Better Off
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Can being lost be productive? Our columnist on lingering in the mystery of our purpose — and surrendering to the paths that choose us.
Shame and defensiveness about racism are not the path to change. Our columnist extends a challenge to white progressives, and to herself: to face the reality of deeply embedded racism directly, and to resolve to change the prejudices that remain.
Do we second-guess ourselves to the point of poisoning the trust in our own abilities?
Might our obsession with every tweet and news bite be too much? The difference between misguided fixation and engaged awareness — and how to redirect our attention to what really matters.
The personal growth that comes from activities we do for joy, rather than status or reward — whether it's painting murals or sprucing up cars, pick-up basketball or beekeeping.
In the shadow of tremendous loss, a message about the gifts we are to each other, the raw truth of who we are, and what really matters.
Sometimes we need to trick our hearts to make great art — and do the things that most scare us.
A reflection on the emotional drain of civil conversation, and how we can reframe our thinking to see the best in each other — even those we deeply disagree with.
Parenting is a joy and a gift — but we should also give parents space to acknowledge the lost freedoms of youth that they miss. Courtney looks wistfully back to what life was like before her daughters, alongside the huge love and gratitude she feels for motherhood.
Can we learn to be tender even if we can’t fix each other’s pain? How would our world be different if men had permission to be vulnerable in public?
Creating a false division between life and work has its own pitfalls.
College rejection and acceptance letters are in the post this time of year. Our columnist drops truth on how rejection can teach us to find value in ourselves, and not in the affirmation of the decision-making process of an admissions department.
What if we learned to trust in the resilience of our relationships, and recognized the occasional necessity of butting heads with the ones we love?
The elemental closeness of a mother to her children, and to her own body.
Passing the baton. Gathering with others. Taking the long view. Lessons on persisting and persevering, even when we feel exhausted by it all.
Courtney Martin on the questions we learned to be afraid to ask, and how our quest for the answers shapes our lives moving forward.
It can feel painful to reflect on our mortality — especially the mortality of our loved ones. But maybe embracing the reality of death can help us to fear it less, and appreciate the wonder of life all the more.
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The Pause is a monthly Saturday morning companion to all things On Being, with heads-up on new episodes, special offerings, event invitations, recommendations, and reflections from Krista all year round.
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