I realize I need to show up as a Latina, because otherwise we all miss out — Being “multiethnic” in today’s America is a little bit like being invisible and eavesdropping on someone’s conversation, except that in this case, I’m part of the conversation and people are saying these things right to my face. I identify as Latina; my father is Puerto Rican and my mother is…

Forcing a smile and putting your hands out can calm you down. And there’s science to support that. — My head felt like it was about to explode. I was on a crowded subway train in New York City, homebound, with my child in tow. He was having a loud, epic temper tantrum. I had carried him down the subway steps, kicking and screaming, while also hauling our stroller…

Kobe Bryant’s death has raised difficult questions about how we express grief for imperfect people — that is, all of us — When basketball legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash along with his daughter and seven other passengers, the international outpouring of grief was swift and passionate. Bryant was many things to many people. He was an 18-time NBA All-Star with five championships and two Olympic gold medals. …

A one-track mind is a good thing, once you learn to control what you focus on — Obsessive thinking is something I’m very, very familiar with, which is why I can say that it doesn’t totally deserve its bad rap. While this might sound strange, I’ve come to appreciate the way my mind fixes on one topic at a time and doesn’t let go. …

Thirty years ago this month, the only Beach Boy who could actually surf took one last, desperate dive in search of his past. — Christmas comes this time each year. So went the lyrics to the Beach Boys 1964 holiday hot-rod song “Little St. Nick.” It was an obvious statement amidst a holly bush’s worth of banalities that included a description of Santa as “a real famous cat all dressed up in red” and…

Witchcraft might not solve your problem, but it may just shift your mindset — I’ve always been a little bit goth. But despite my spooky affect, I never seriously dabbled in the occult — until the day, six years ago, that I cast a spell. I can’t say it worked, exactly, but it did change something in my life for the better. It happened…