India, May 24 -- An old friend called earlier this week. We've known each other long enough to avoid the performance of catching up. The conversation moved quickly to the things people our age tend to talk about: parents, health, fatigue, work, the vague feeling that the days are somehow heavier than they used to be. At one point, she paused and said, "This year feels weird." I laughed, because I knew exactly what she meant. It does feel weird. There is no visible crisis. Life continues to unfold. We pay the bills. Attend work meetings. Cook, scroll, eat, and argue. But underneath it all, there is the persistent feeling of mental overcrowding. I have been feeling overwhelmed, I said to my friend on the phone. It felt strange to admit. But w...