The holidays inspired me to reflect more deeply. I did not just think about being nice to people. I did not only focus on images inside stores relating to memories of toys I did not get, or the toys I did get: The first Atari video game.

And no, I did not head off to a Cistercian monastery in Massachusetts and navel-gaze about my studies and future career plans. Instead, I stayed home in my lovely city, New York. I went to the movies and saw Vice.