| Thank you for the notes of concern asking whether I had left The Post, or even whether I had shuffled off this mortal coil. I am happy to report that neither is true. I’ve been taking time to retrain my brain to focus on my new beat — how we can regain our humanity in these troubled times — and that new column begins today. The first installment is about how we can find awe and wonder in everyday things. There is extraordinary beauty all around us, but we only see it if we pause long enough to take it in. The piece focuses on the exquisite flowers found this time of year in ordinary grasses in backyards and parks, and it offers some how-to information from Smithsonian scientists on observing these tiny wonders. I hope you find some comfort in this bit of counterprogramming. It is precisely when we have big problems that we need to find beauty in small things. Thanks for reading. | 
