Readers share the words that defined this year for them, from the profound to the personal — A lot happened in 2018—and not just politically, though that certainly is where one’s mind tends to wander. …

We flee reality by documenting our lives on social media. VR is one of the few new technologies that forbid it. — “Take everything out of your pocket,” the attendant says. “Wallet, keys, phones — all of it.” I look at him quizzically. “Yes,” he reiterates. “Your phone. Put it in the locker.” I had just made my way through three floors of wax figures and tourists at Madame Tussauds in Times…