The Instinct to Wish a Stranger Well After Sneezing
There is a small ritual humans perform for each other that has always seemed worth examining. Someone nearby sneezes — a
The Compulsion to Read a Menu You Have Already Decided From
There is a moment, somewhere between sitting down and ordering, when the decision has already been made. You knew before
The Compulsion to Assign Personality to Unreliable Objects
There is a kettle in a shared kitchen that takes exactly four minutes longer than it should. Everyone who uses
The Compulsion to Read a Menu You Have Already Decided From
There is a moment in every restaurant visit where the decision has already been made. You know what you want.
The Impulse to Knock on a Door You Know Is Unlocked
There is a particular kind of hesitation that happens just before an unnecessary knock. The hand rises. The knuckles hover
The Habit of Saying "Nearly There" Before You Actually Know
There is a phrase that arrives before the evidence does. "Nearly there." "Almost done." "Just
The Impulse to Describe a Smell Before Anyone Else Has Noticed It
There is a particular urgency that arrives before the words do. Someone walks into a room, or rounds a corner
The Compulsion to Finish a Path You Were Never Required to Complete
There is a hiking trail near a mid-sized city that ends at a viewpoint most people consider unremarkable. The
The Reluctance to Begin Something You Know You Will Enjoy
There is a particular kind of stillness that settles over a person before they begin something they have been looking
The Habit of Wishing Good Luck to Things That Cannot Hear You
Before a big presentation, someone will look at their laptop and say *good luck*. Not to themselves. To the laptop.
