Latest

24
Jun
The Habit of Giving Directions You Are Not Certain Of

The Habit of Giving Directions You Are Not Certain Of

There is a particular confidence that arrives just before the admission of uncertainty — a brief window where a person will
2 min read
23
Jun
The Compulsion to Read a Menu You Have Already Decided From

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 what
2 min read
22
Jun
The Habit of Lowering Expectations Just Before Something Good Arrives

The Habit of Lowering Expectations Just Before Something Good Arrives

There is a behavior worth watching closely. In the final hours before something anticipated arrives — a trip, a conversation, a
2 min read
21
Jun
The Discomfort of Being Watched Doing Something You Were Just About to Stop Doing

The Discomfort of Being Watched Doing Something You Were Just About to Stop Doing

There is a particular kind of embarrassment that has no clean name. It arrives not when you are caught doing
2 min read
20
Jun
The Instinct to Whisper When Reading Something Surprising Alone

The Instinct to Whisper When Reading Something Surprising Alone

There is something that happens in quiet rooms when a person reads something that stops them. Not something frightening, necessarily
2 min read
19
Jun
The Compulsion to Read a Menu You Have Already Decided From

The Compulsion to Read a Menu You Have Already Decided From

There is a moment, well-known and rarely examined, that happens in restaurants. You have already decided. The pasta, the
2 min read
18
Jun
The Habit of Saving Something Good for Later Until It Is No Longer Good

The Habit of Saving Something Good for Later Until It Is No Longer Good

There is a bottle of wine someone received as a gift three years ago. It sits in a specific corner
2 min read
17
Jun
The Refusal to Throw Away a Container That Might Be Useful

The Refusal to Throw Away a Container That Might Be Useful

There is a jar on the counter. It held mustard once, or maybe pickles — something brined and sharp. It has
2 min read
16
Jun
The Compulsion to Finish Reading a Room Before You Leave It

The Compulsion to Finish Reading a Room Before You Leave It

There is a particular hesitation humans perform at doorways. Not the ordinary pause of forgetting something, or the brief check
2 min read
15
Jun
The Habit of Giving Directions You Are Not Entirely Sure Of

The Habit of Giving Directions You Are Not Entirely Sure Of

There is something interesting that happens when someone is asked for directions. The person being asked — standing on a corner,
2 min read