"E-mail This"

Every Sunday, almost without fail, I receive an email from the New York Times. Not just the blanket email blast of the day's headlines, but something more personalized. From a friend who read an article, thought of me and clicked that oh-so-helpful "Email" button to send it my way. It's usually in support of something I'm into or am going through - recipes for a Moroccan meal; a restaurant review; 36 hrs in Buenos Aires which, last Spring, resulted in a flight confirmation email in my inbox about 20 minutes later; a Modern Love article meant to give me hope after a romantic letdown; a book review. Yes, this could be just another way for the NYT to gather facts that will be used to sell us more stuff we don't need and can't afford. But the sender's intentions and the effect on the recipient far outweigh any sinister marketing motives. Those articles are sent and received out of love and hope. They're some of my favorite emails each week.

Today I received an article on a new dance studio in Brooklyn. I forwarded an article on unconventional ways to display and sell artwork to an artist friend, and another article about the shifting rental market to a couple who has sold their home and are contemplating where to go next. Nothing that will change anyone's life, but it might. At a minimum, it shows you care.