We’ve endured lockdowns in Shanghai since March 2022, surfacing with just a day to buy provisions before going back into “house arrest.” My husband’s birthday fell on the second day of the current lockdown. I gave him, my spouse of 22 years, two packs of our favorite Swiss chocolates. He has slowly rationed one bag, not touching the second. Our birthdays are five weeks apart. In the spirit of making do with what we have, he surprised me by giving me the second bag of the chocolate I gave him. He’s been saving it all this time for me. — Quynh Chow

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…