After many years of a strict handgun ban in Washington, DC, last week the Supreme Court ruled in favor of an individual's right to bear arms. I've lived in Virginia most of my life, and just a few miles outside of DC -- in Alexandria -- for almost two years, so the ban has never affected me personally. I've never owned a gun, but I like knowing I have the option if I want it.

I was washing my hands in a public restroom not long ago when I saw a woman standing at the row of sinks along the opposite wall. Her back was to me, but I noticed she was wearing a sleeveless shirt -- and what stood out to me were her toned arms. Her muscles weren’t immensely large, but they were well defined and I could tell she’d put in some effort to have them look that way. I made the split-second decision that I should tell her what I'd noticed: “You have nice arms,” I said. And you know what? By saying what I did, I made this woman’s day.

I'm not a scientist; I don't have a PhD; I don't conduct research studies for a living. But I read the news. I read blogs. I talk to people, and I observe. Based on what I’ve seen, heard, and observed, I truly don't believe married women are happier than single women just because they happen to be in a relationship. Barring a catastrophic event or a clinical diagnosis, happiness is a choice, regardless of your relationship status. Are some married women blissfully happy? Of course. Are there also blissfully happy single women? No doubt.

Is it possible to own a maximum of 100 things?

I prefer running when it's cold. Is it because I started running in January? Is it because I grew accustomed to the cool weather during those first few months (an instrumental time when you’re trying to decide if a new practice is something you want to continue for the long term)? (For the sake of clarity, let me be more specific when I say that I prefer running in the cold: I’m not talking about sub-zero temperatures. I’m referring to the concept of cold in northern Virginia. Also keep in mind that it hardly ever snows here during the winter.)