Participants were to observe noble silence — meaning no reading, writing, speaking, or eye contact. I never imagined life would lead me to a silent retreat, and I wasn’t prepared for what it might have in store. So I did what I always do when life feels out of my control: I planned a week of outfits. The shoes were part of a loving nudge to get me to take up running, which he thought could help my anxiety. What he didn’t realize was that I had anxiety about running, too.

Source: New York Times September 15, 2018 09:56 UTC