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All Is Well

Looking at life through a glass half full.

Aging
Facing Mortality Honestly

Patricia Prijatel on April 6, 2024

A Personal Perspective: Ten years after its publication, Being Mortal by Atul Gawande remains as relevant as ever. Perhaps more so.

A Personal Perspective: Ten years after its publication, Being Mortal by Atul Gawande remains as relevant as ever. Perhaps more so.

Personal Perspectives
How I Beat My Spelling Bee Addiction

Patricia Prijatel on January 30, 2024

A Personal Perspective: I chuckled at my need to reach the level genius. But they dangled a reward, and I chased it, eyes sparkling, eyelashes fluttering.

A Personal Perspective: I chuckled at my need to reach the level genius. But they dangled a reward, and I chased it, eyes sparkling, eyelashes fluttering.

Aging
I Used to Be Young, but I Got Over It

Patricia Prijatel on January 14, 2024

All I ask of strangers in the store—don't judge me as being less competent because my hair is grey and my skin well-textured. I’m just out doing my best, as we all are.

All I ask of strangers in the store—don't judge me as being less competent because my hair is grey and my skin well-textured. I’m just out doing my best, as we all are.

Personal Perspectives
Cell Phones 1, Civil Society 0

Patricia Prijatel on November 14, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Public phone calls smack of disrespect for the people around us. How do we settle our bigger problems if we can't show basic consideration?

A Personal Perspective: Public phone calls smack of disrespect for the people around us. How do we settle our bigger problems if we can't show basic consideration?

Trauma
Why Am I So Cranky?

Patricia Prijatel on November 5, 2023

How do you get through the day with so much global chaos? Emphasize the day,

How do you get through the day with so much global chaos? Emphasize the day,

Health
What if Your Doctor Actually Talked With You?

Patricia Prijatel on August 28, 2023

Telling their stories can make patients’ lives more meaningful, and listening to them can help their health care team understand how to heal them.

Telling their stories can make patients’ lives more meaningful, and listening to them can help their health care team understand how to heal them.

Personal Perspectives
Why Am I So Tired?

Patricia Prijatel on August 13, 2023

Noise is physically exhausting. It’s associated with fatigue at work, in the classroom, and at home. And in the urban U.S., it's everywhere.

Noise is physically exhausting. It’s associated with fatigue at work, in the classroom, and at home. And in the urban U.S., it's everywhere.

Introversion
Have I Lost My Talent for Conversation?

Patricia Prijatel on August 3, 2023

A Personal Perspective: I remain in my own mental pandemic mode much of the time. In theory, I love seeing people again. In practice, I struggle.

A Personal Perspective: I remain in my own mental pandemic mode much of the time. In theory, I love seeing people again. In practice, I struggle.

Trauma
Did Trauma Damage Demon Copperhead's DNA?

Patricia Prijatel on June 19, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Barbara Kingsolver's novel "Demon Copperhead" shows how a life of deprivation and degradation can lead to what more privileged people consider poor choices.

A Personal Perspective: Barbara Kingsolver's novel "Demon Copperhead" shows how a life of deprivation and degradation can lead to what more privileged people consider poor choices.

Friends
I Don't Want to Lose This Friendship, But...

Patricia Prijatel on April 10, 2023

Personal Perspective: I can get so flummoxed by an opinion different from mine that I'm paralyzed and can't think of a response until it's too late.

Personal Perspective: I can get so flummoxed by an opinion different from mine that I'm paralyzed and can't think of a response until it's too late.

Anxiety
Overthinking Is No Joke

Patricia Prijatel on March 13, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Overthinking comes from a desire to control the unknown. But it can’t help us foretell the future—it just makes us stress about it.

A Personal Perspective: Overthinking comes from a desire to control the unknown. But it can’t help us foretell the future—it just makes us stress about it.