Columnists

10/11/2026 · Lansing

The Tiny “When–Then” Plan That Makes Follow-Through Easier

Motivation is unreliable, especially before coffee. A simple when–then plan lets you decide in advance what you’ll do when the usual distraction shows up.

10/10/2026

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Column

The Fly That Ruins the Grand Finale

Emily Dickinson’s “I heard a Fly buzz—when I died—” does something gloriously rude: it replaces the solemn mystery of death with an insect. That tiny interruption is the poem’s whole power—and a useful lesson in how to write about enormous things.

10/10/2026

Column

The Most Radical Form of Generosity Is Paying Attention

Simone Weil thought attention was more than concentration: it was a moral act. Her strange, bracing idea can change how you read, listen, and even struggle with a problem today.

10/10/2026

Column

The Country Has Two Clocks, and Washington Keeps Watching the Wrong One

Prices, immigration, artificial intelligence, and campaign politics are colliding in the same news cycle. The public wants receipts, while Washington keeps offering talking points.

10/10/2026

Column

The Group Chat, the Ex, and Other Ways We Avoid the Actual Conversation

Three readers are stuck in familiar relationship mud: resentment over chores, a partner who still talks to an ex, and a marriage that feels more like a payroll department. The fix is not “communicate better” and it definitely isn’t buying throw pillows.

10/10/2026