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Paula Halpin's avatar

My young granddaughter was surprised to learn that a Capuchino can be made with cow's milk (the old-fashioned kind). Whose idea was that? she asked. She says she only knows of soya, oat, almond coconut, and hemp milks.

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Adair Heuchan's avatar

So true. Strikes a cord. Thanks for your candid and relevant article. Adair

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Kristin Shannon's avatar

As I write, I'm in New York City, probably the zenith of of choice globally. The kaleidoscope is wonderful, so much of it a tribute to the best in human creativity. Wish I knew what the balance should be between Obama's wise sartorial choices and Sara Jessica Parker's coffee predilections. Somewhere we do need to find an equilibrium between abundance and need - glad to keep your story close as a reminder, Judith.

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Anna C Rumin's avatar

wonderful - pinned the nail on the head!

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Judith Posner's avatar

I have never been a FOMO type of person. But just recently I have learned that there is also an acronym for aging curmudgeons like me. JOMO. The joy of missing out. It makes me feel so socially embraced and vindicated!

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Susie Kaufman's avatar

This is why I prefer shopping in garage sales. Whatever's available, I sift through it and almost always find something and that something is outside of trendiness. It just is.

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Patti Petersen's avatar

I seem to hit the default button these days on clothing, food choices, and exercise routines. I do venture out periodically but it seems when I do so, my energy gets zapped. This is a nice read, thank you.

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Lin Morency Buckland's avatar

This is right on! As someone who grew up and spent years living in countries where big supermarkets - and big everything - were not the norm, I still gravitate towards small local stores with good but limited choices. We really do need to save our decision making energy for more important things than which of 27 kinds of toothpaste, or laundry soap, or whatever to buy. And don't get me started on plastic! I fear for our suffocating planet and the excess that has brought us to this point. Thank you for this short, thoughtful piece.

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Beth Kaplan's avatar

I'm with you! Before a conference I helped organize, the main organizer made the mistake of sending a message to members asking about their food preferences and allergies. We were swamped with myriad replies about everything people wouldn't or said they couldn't eat, including one who said she was desperately allergic to arugula. Too much choice!

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Laddi Woolhouse's avatar

So true! We just heard an interview by Louise Penny who commented that our life is made up of the choices we have made. The problem as articulated here is that our need to make choices can overwhelm the quality of our lives.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Wow! We were just talking about that coffee-ordering scene last night at dinner.

And one guest said that Starbucks is cutting back on the myriad choices they've been ordering.

Re/groceries: the locally-owned organic food store near us closed recently because Whole Foods and Trader Joe's were too much competition and all three were close to each other. Sad to see it go.

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Judith Andre's avatar

So glad to hear Starbucks is seeing the light. Or, letting the light shine through.

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Judith Andre's avatar

I'm an East Lansing resident, and the closure of Foods For Living sparked this column. Glad to know I'm not mourning alone.

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