How to Feel Better Naked
Whether you want to find joy in your body, or just greater self-acceptance, these four strategies from psychologists, activists — and, yes, nudists — might help.
At the Union of Activists, a Cause for Celebration
Emily Ann Frank Mayer was wearing a red cardigan with a sizable hole in the armpit when she caught Waleed Shahid’s eye while reciting a poem during an open mic night at Haverford College in September 2010. “It was a bold move,” he said, referring to her sweater choice. After the event, in a bold…
Catching His Eye on the (Ecstatic) Dance Floor
When Sanjay Aakash Amin told his therapist that, one year after breaking off an engagement, he still had reservations about meeting people in bars or on apps, she suggested he attend an ecstatic dance party. The event, which he described as “a no judgment dance party where you move however you feel,” took place in…
A Cheesy Romance From the Start
Elizabeth Rose Moroney met Jeremy Carl Blaustein on her first day of work at Formaggio Kitchen, a cheese shop in Cambridge, Mass. Both were cashiers behind the bread counter. Mr. Blaustein had started as a seasonal helper at the shop, which counts the cellist Yo-Yo Ma as a regular, in December 2014. But he was…
Falling for Each Other, Then a First Date
Though Julie Louisa Hagenbuch and Eddy Arturo López Noguera developed a friendship not long after meeting in September 2016, it would take 11 months for them to consider one of their outings as an actual date. And by that point, both say they had already started to fall in love. The two first introduced themselves…
Willing to Run Errands in Pursuit of Romance
By the time that Konstantinos Dean Dafis introduced himself to George Symmonds Forbes in November 2010, it seemed to Mr. Dafis like he was running into Mr. Forbes almost every weekend. Mr. Dafis, who goes by Dean, first noticed Mr. Forbes because they traveled in similar friend circles. But they didn’t formally meet until Mr.…
For Two Foodies, ‘Love at First Bite’
Rebecca Paige Rechtman made her way to Kung-Gene Chu’s heart not through his stomach, but through hers. The two first connected online through the dating service OkCupid in July 2014. “I had never been so captivated in a profile,” Mr. Chu said. A few weeks later, they met in person at Father Demo Square, a…
A Texting Lifeline During a Difficult Time
I chose my college based on the vibes of the people in the school’s accepted students Facebook group. This one blonde boy commented on my introduction post saying he also liked a favorite artist of mine, and my friend told me that was proof enough — if there’s one, there’s bound to be more. My…
Trial of New Alzheimer’s Drug Reports Disappointing Results
A closely watched clinical trial of a potential Alzheimer’s drug failed to prevent or slow cognitive decline, another disappointment in the long and challenging effort to find solutions for the disease. The decade-long trial was the first time people who were genetically destined to develop the disease — but who did not yet have any…
Tell Us the Story of Your Family Heirloom
The New York Times is interested in documenting the stories of family heirlooms from all cultures and backgrounds across the United States. These heirlooms do not need to possess extraordinary monetary value — in fact, everyday items with emotional resonance are of particular interest — but these items, and their stories, should represent something special…