On Losing a Daughter
The people we were died at the exact moment our child did.
Family
The Most Tortured Relationship in America
Monogamy is one of the last bipartisan ideals—even if people struggle to live up to it.
In Praise of ‘Difficult’ Kids
Feisty children can be exhausting. They also possess a moral fire that deserves cultivating.
The Endless Goodbye
More than a decade before my dad died, I lost him to dementia.
How Our Relationships Affect What We Eat
When couples, families, and friends compromise on their diets, it can lead to devastating fights or creative new food cultures.
Dear Therapist’s Guide to Love and Relationships
Talking honestly and openly won’t necessarily save a troubled relationship, but doing so can clarify whether one can and should be saved.
Diamonds Aren’t Special and Neither Is Your Love
We’ve coupled love to marriage and marriage to gems, and all three thrive on the assumption of rarity. What would it mean for love to be common?
There Are Two Kinds of Happy People
Some of us strive for a virtuous life. Others strive for a pleasant one. We could all use a better balance.
The Myth That Gets Men Out of Doing Chores
They’re just as good at recognizing messes as women—they just don’t feel the same pressure to clean them up.
What I Learned About Love When I Stopped Being Honest
After growing up in a family that never lied, I spent decades being off-puttingly truthful.
What It’s Like to Carry On a Tradition With a Friend Who Can’t Remember It
“He could tell if it rang true inside of him or not.”
Stop Keeping Score
She who dies with the most checked boxes wins, right? Wrong.
Why Your To-Do List Never Ends
For many Americans, there’s more to do, and less mental bandwidth with which to do it.
Find the Place You Love. Then Move There.
If where you live isn’t truly your home, and you have the resources to make a change, it could do wonders for your happiness.