Caroline kicks off a month on tradition with a trio of touchstones that somehow make perfect sense together: the grounded wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, the chaotic comfort of apocalyptic cartoons, and the heart-thumping emotional messiness of Sally Rooney’s novels. These become her compass points as she digs into why we crave routine, community and the tiny rituals that keep us steady—even when the world feels like it’s tilting. (A waitress shouting “I’m a hick, I’ll kill you” makes a cameo, but only to prove the point.)

External Sources Highlighted:

• Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
• Carol and the End of the World
• Beautiful World, Where are You? by Sally Rooney
• “In the Airplane Over the Sea” by Neutral Milk Hotel