First of all, some exciting news: Substack chose “How to Feel Alive” as a featured publication for the second time! Many thanks to all my long-time subscribers, and a very warm welcome to all the new members of this community who are just joining us. I’m so glad you’re here.
Speaking of which, I want to get to know you! More specifically, I’d love to hear about what you’re interested in, struggling with, and inspired by—and what currently is (or isn’t) making you feel alive.
So let’s do that thing people do at the beginning of classes and workshops (and some Zoom calls) where you introduce yourself, say where you’re from, and share whatever you feel like sharing about the above.
I’ll go first: I’m uh, Catherine Price. I’m a health and science journalist and author of books including How to Break Up With Your Phone, The Power of Fun, and Vitamania: How Vitamins Revolutionized the Way We Think About Food. I’m originally from NYC and now live in Philly (by way of northern California). As I explain in more detail on the “About” page, I started this Substack for two main reasons: to encourage myself to live life as fully as I can, and to attempt to rekindle my love of writing (which years of freelancing sucked out of me). So far, I feel like it’s been helping me do both.
Now it’s your turn! And also: take a moment to read through the comments from other people in the community, and if you find yourself thinking, “Huh, we have a lot in common,” then please comment back
To scrolling less and living more,
Catherine Price
PS: This is a photo of me doing something that very much makes me feel alive: playing music. (I play piano and am taking guitar and drums — all of which I’m sure I’ll write about in the future!) Granted, this particularphoto is of me performing alone, which is not my favorite thing to do (I like group collaborations.) But the connection, joy, and flow that comes from playing music is one of my favorite things in the world.
Take the leap! Feel the benefits! Become a paid subscriber:
Hi everyone! I’m Gemma - a 38 year old full time working mum living in Preston, England. I came across Catherine’s ‘how to break up with your phone’ newsletter with The Guardian and then became interested in increasing my levels of fun. Working full time as a Quality Engineer for a Medical Device company, maintaining a marriage to my partner of 21 years (married for 11 years) and raising my 2 children age 8 & 7 leaves me feeling burnt out and exhausted most weeks and I keep trying to figure out the changes I need to make to lighten my life. I actively choose to have fun more often than I used to though, especially with the children, and I’m always looking out for resources to support my quest for everyday joy!
This is the first Substack I have coughed up a subscription fee for. So - an experiment! Like fellow commenter Todd, I made my way here thanks to Catherine's appearance on the Art of Manliness podcast.
I'm a 48-year old from Boston with an almost miraculous degree of privilege and good fortune. Despite outward appearances, I'm grappling with a lack of friendships that hold any dimension beyond our kids' shared activities and an attention span that feels like it fell out of my pocket around March 2020 and shattered into 80,000 pieces. I'm a screen addict and have frittered away control of the boundaries between work, family time and personal development. I aspire to watch a non-animated movie - maybe even with a friend?! - without scrolling the director's prior filmography, his divorces, pictures of his ex-wives, and ... oh yeah: Siri, when did the last Blockbuster Video in Massachusetts go out of business?
To be honest, I wanted to find a 40-something male writer that I could relate to who writes about these subjects. I recommend the book "We Need to Hang Out: A Memoir of Making Friends" by the Boston Globe columnist Billy Baker. But that kind of introspective, witty, first-person regular dude writing on adult connection seems to be a complete outlier. The algorithms think I want listicles about the Eight Mental Focus Secrets of Seal Team Six. Anyway, when I heard Catherine on Brett McKay's podcast, I decided this was the closest thing I've found yet to the tone I've been searching for (Ferris Bueller reference was clutch) and I could let go of my pre-conceptions about the "dude" part.
Andrew! I don't even know where to start. First of all, I am so honored to be your first paid Substack subscription -- I truly hope that you come out of this feeling like the coughing was worth it. Second, I am totally happy to be a stand-in for a 40-something male writer friend. (One of my previous books was described by the Economist as "combining the droll wit of Mary Roach with the inventive perversity of a seventh grade boy," so, you know, I think I have potential. . . .)
I hear you on everything you're struggling with, from the screen time to your feelings of isolation (I struggle with those myself -- thanks for the book recommendation). It makes me wonder if perhaps there might be a way, through this Phone Breakup challenge, to help some subscribers connect in real life . . . I'll think on that.
In the meantime, best of luck mastering those Seal Team Six secrets, and thank you again for taking the leap! Please feel free to reach out at any time through the comments or discussion threads -- I'm here to help in any way I can.
Hi Catherine and friends! Catherine has been a role model for me since we went to high school together, where we had lots of pre-mobile phone fun playing volleyball and doing the school newspaper. I'm a fan! I now live in London and very lucky to have married the man of my dreams with 2 great boys. I unfortunately got long COVID last year so a lot of things that had brought me fun were suddenly gone-- human connection, work, moving around, dancing-- and I've had to find fun instead in the limited things I can still do: hugs, sitting in stillness, watching clouds and weather, chats with doctors. My health is starting to improve and I can start doing fun things again -- a favourite is nightly cosy time where my boys ask me to tell them a story based on a prompt they give me and I get to improvise a new one each night. Getting such a debilitating, novel, whole body illness has taught me that what is fun can and does change with time, and sometimes you have to find fun where you are rather than looking for it somewhere else. Very excited to now be an official part of the Catherine fan club! Catherine, you have always been one of the most inspiring, authentic, brilliant, and kind people I've known. Keep it up!
Liz Aaaaaaabb -- it is SO nice to see your name in this Substack. (It gives me an immediate flashback to those psych-up notes you used to leave on the bulletin board before volleyball games -- you know exactly what I'm talking about!) I am thrilled you're here, but I'm also so sorry to hear that you're suffering from long covid. You are truly one of the most energetic and exuberant people I've ever met, and the idea of you being limited by chronic illness makes me want to ditch writing as a career and devote myself to medical research. My contact info is still the same since last we were in touch, and I'd love to hear your voice. (Also, if there ever were someone who should be writing a substack, it's you . . .) Sending you hugs and love.
Hi everyone! I was so excited to learn that Catherine is on substack and I’m happy to be here. I’m a certified professional coach, Human Design Reader, instigator of joy, triathlete, dog mom to two Dobermans, wife, occasional nomad, and amateur plant-based cook. My mission is to help more and more people experience so much joy. Reading Catherine’s book made me feel like, “yes, someone else is doing this work too!” We rise together!
Hi y'all, my name is Todd. Originally from northern New Jersey, now living in Connecticut and open to moving deeper into New England if/when the right opportunity comes! I work in marketing which I do truly enjoy, combining lifelong creativity (I was big into drawing, painting, Legos, origami, all that jazz as a kid) with analytical decision-making skills. I learned about Catherine's work by way of the Art of Manliness podcast with Brett McKay, and I loved the definition of fun that she gave: "a special confluence of playfulness, connection, and flow." Currently struggling with the 'connection' aspect of fun and looking for ways to turn that around. Excited to join this journey!
Todd, so happy to have you here and to learn more about you and your interests. I think that many of us (myself included) struggle with the connection part of fun, and am hopeful that my substack will offer some ideas. Welcome!
Jude here, long-time Montessori educator and advocate for children, now retired. As I see it, we are in a multi-generational media/tech cultural experiment with no control and little wisdom being applied. It's been driven by capitalism, not by compassion or wisdom. It started with TV and then came that first book in the '70's, "The Plug-In Drug." We had no idea then what was coming! Brains are developing in ways never before experienced by humans, and it's deeply and widely pervasive, and with each decade more impact, mostly invisible even to neurologists. So yeah, maybe TMI, but I am thinking about it every day right now.
Hi Jude -- thank you for sharing! I'm a huge fan of Montessori myself (my daughter went to a Montessori pre-school) and completely agree with your conclusion that we're in the midst of a giant, uncontrolled experiment. (I think about it every day as well.) Welcome!
I'm Joe. I have an online news addiction somewhat under control :( .
I find delight in little children, nature, literature, visual art, and leading our non-profit clients to better realizing their mission through using CiviCRM, open source software used by over 11,000 organizations around the world. I delight in exercise including hiking and cross country skiing. Shoulder injuries limit my favorite swimming, which I used to delight in competing in.
I am a System Design Engineer with a doctorate in Political Philosophy. My privacy law prof spouse is visiting at Harvard this year so we're in the Boston area instead of Toronto. I miss the delight of visits with my friends and kids in Canada.
Hi Joe! A belated welcome -- thank you for introducing yourself and sharing a bit about your interests and challenges. I can say with full confidence that you are not alone in feeling addicted to the news (I deleted the apps off my phone several years ago because I felt the same way, and it's made an enormous difference in my mental health). I'm sure I'll be writing more about that exact issue as the election heats up -- for now, I wanted to personally welcome you and thank you for sharing.
at 19 and now I am 63. Left the desert for this rich Bay area and soon we are moving to Nevada, a higher desert to retire. I am an avid reader and yoga practitioner......I learned to be a workaholic here and now I want to learn to have joy disconnected to achievement ....
Terry, a belated welcome -- I'm so glad you're here, and hope that this substack will help support and inspire you as you work toward those goals (I have a feeling that you'll be able to inspire *us* as well, so keep us posted!)
I'm Conner, 57, self-employed nutritionist and recovering perfectionist & workaholic. The other day I found myself googling "how to have fun as an adult." 🙄 So delighted to have found this space through an article in today's WaPo about how "fun" has become "work" for so many of us. Very much looking forward to learning from & with y'all about making space for joy and play in day-to-day life! 😀
Hi Catherine, I’m Koushik. I completed my PhD at Iowa State University in 2022 and move to St. Louis for my job. I would like to learn about finding new friends as an adult and making real connection with friends/family.
Hi Catherine and y'all. I'm Jim Fazackerley. I was a paramedic captain and instructor and have switched gears in retirement to public affairs broadcasting at a little but mighty radio station in Pt. Reyes Station, CA. -KWMR. Catherine generously allowed me to interview her on a couple of occasions now as her excellent books on smart phones and Fun hit the presses.
I have a particular and peculiar interest in disaster preparedness & response but lately I'm thinking we need a better model for living in post-pandemic, ever-warming America than fear-reaction-recovery. So, I want to follow Catherine and other folks looking to reinvigorate our communities with connection and trust. Doing that work would certainly make me feel alive! Go Catherine!
Jim! A totally belated *actual* reply (as opposed to a "like") to say that it is wonderful to see your name here, and that I'm so happy that we've kept in touch over the years. Your work is so important.
Hi Catherine and all! I'm Jenny Zhan. I was an engineer and a librarian among the many paths I've come along, the most recent being a co-founder of Teamup. I grew up in China, studied and worked in the U.S. and now live in Switzerland. I first discovered Catherine's work from her TED talk so followed her everywhere. The world will be better if we all laugh more and have more fun in life. Catherine's delight practice inspired me to create a Journal of Collective Delight at https://teamup.com/ks4jokoihxshgdvrxw - It'd be awesome if some of you join in and share your delight too. It's easy, one click to add, a few words, optionally upload a picture, with or without name. It's less about who said what, more about the collective delight :)
I'm Heather Barson. I have a bachelor's in music education. I'm a French horn player. I'm a home birth midwife. I'm a yogi and sometimes teach kundalini yoga. My spiritual name is Jai Bhagti Kaur. I am married to a man and have 8 children. I am a member of the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids at the bardic grade. I love exploring the sacred feminine, hiking, riding my ebike, and exploring nature. I'm also studying herbal medicine for women. I'm at a point of major transformation in my life right now. I'm interested to see where I will end up and how I will continue to seek joy and fulfillment in my life.
Thanks, Heather! Your intro reminds me of a recent post I read by Anne Helen Petersen (author of Culture Study) called "Are You in the Portal?" It's here, if you haven't seen it yet/want to check it out: https://annehelen.substack.com/p/are-you-in-the-portal
My name is Tim Storey; former farm kid, engineer, science teacher, vintage window repairian, and now writing but only as a way to save the galaxy--or at least enhance it. I've read The Power of Fun and am incorporating it into our strategy(ies), as a galactically significant (meaning thought/perspective) work.
I accidently created a sapient beetle character named Bug Stu, he created some other characters, and through all that it looks like we'll be initiating the Jonesers Rebellion (my generation--stuck in between Boomers and Xers). I'm mostly writing to my former students here in the Middle of Nowhere between Chicago and Indianapolis. Half of it is on Substack (and Medium, originally) but I'm not trying to build an audience really, lol. I see Linda Brandt here is in Minneapolis--which is interesting since Bug Stu has been informing me there's a cosmic connection there (and Brainerd--home of Strong Towns). Looking forward to more : ).
my name is Francine Boilard. I am a retired optometrist living my dream of being a writer. I have been writing online for 5 years. (Phrenssynnes' blog) I have been on medium.com since 2021 and I started my newsletter this year on Substack.
I write about travel with a specialty on road trips in a convertible Mini Cooper. I call mine Brittany Brexit!
I post recipes with a focus on eating healthy without too many compromises.
I have an interest in reading so I am also a literary critic.
The last category I write in is sharing the great ideas I discover while browsing the web.
This week, I'm publishing an article on The Phrenssynnes Blog about a young singer who composed a song about his screen addiction.
Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself. Looking forward to reading you. 🙋♀️
Welcome, Francine! Thanks for sharing. And you may have to share some photos of your road trips/mini cooper in our "Delights" group chat :) https://substack.com/chat/1494477
As you know I’m a family doctor living in Philly and working in Jersey. I share your love of writing free from the mainstream editorial constraints with this side project on Substack... although I acknowledge that my writing is amateurish at times because of it. But writing brings me joy, and helps prevent burnout in my grinding day job. Currently watching Phillies (don’t put Kimbrel in to pitch tight situations!!), eating outdoors when I can for simple joy and to keep supporting Philly restaurants (had the day off yesterday and went to Grace and Proper for lunch, then Fiorella for dinner, both in my hood), and fighting a little cold I have no idea how I contracted despite my very careful behavior (Covid negative x 3).
Hope that was a good run on sentence and dismayed a few editors 😉
Welcome, Ryan! I hope you're feeling better. And everyone else: you should check out Ryan's substack. Really well researched and interesting! https://mccormickmd.substack.com
Oct 21, 2023·edited Oct 21, 2023Liked by Catherine Price
Hi Catherine and all! I'm Julia Richling and I'm in my second year of becoming a Certified Inner Relationship Focusing teacher (I love IRF so much!) My family and I are living in Germany, in a little village located on the slopes of a river valley. When we step our of our house, it's just a few steps to the beginning of the forest, which is so wonderful since I enjoy doing long walks in nature a lot.
I love dancing (especially historical dances), singing and playing board games. Also meeting new people and having deep conversations with me makes me feel alive. And of course meeting Focusing partners and clients and exploring the adventurous, always surprising inner worlds, laughing together, crying together... It's not always 'fun', but it's always 'true', so that's very special to me.
Welcome, Julia! And thank you for sharing that beautiful image of the river valley. I live in a very urban setting these days, and the idea of being able to step out of the house and into a forest sounds lovely.
Hi one and all! I'm Linda Brandt in Minneapolis and I call myself a renegade community builder. My full-time job is helping people be healthier and happier at work. My full-time calling is creating community wherever I go - Lean In Together MSP Networking building for 10 years and virtual coworking on Focusmate being two of those places. I see a strong social justice element in everything I do.
I'm committed to doing my part to encourage more adults to have "real fun" as you've described it.
People are welcome to find me on LinkedIn or Facebook if you also like meeting new people.
Hi Catherine and all! I'm Michael Skocay. I live in the Boston area (Go Sox!) and work at MIT. As my partner can attest, our bookshelf is filled with books I've read on productivity, minimalism, mindfulness, and wellbeing ('Atomic Habits', 'The Power of Habit', 'Make Time', 'Goodbye, Things', '10% Happier', and, of course, some of Catherine's books). I'm ever interested in finding ways to be a more balanced, engaged, and connected person in a world that often seems designed for burnout, disengagement, and, increasingly, isolation. I've also had the good fortune to spend time working for some very cool behavioral scientists at Harvard and through that got exposed to a wealth of fascinating research on decision-making, nudges, etc. Always enjoy reading your substack and continuing to learn new things (and maybe, just maybe, spend a bit less time on my phone).
Welcome, Michael, and thanks for sharing! Looks like we probably have pretty similar bookshelves. I, too, am "ever interested in finding ways to be a more balanced, engaged, and connected person in a world that often seems designed for burnout, disengagement, and, increasingly, isolation"—so I'm really glad you're here.
The New Yorker had a book review on the topic of convelescing... The article explained the antidote to workism is convalescing (relaxing) but not for an hour but for days on end, which is completely unfashionable or discouraged.
I'm Ginny McReynolds. For nearly 40 years, it was my career that made me feel alive. I didn't realize then how much I focused on work and not on other aspects of my life. Now retired, I'm kind of starting at Square 1 with finding fun and engaging interests and activities. Doing your 2-week course, I realize how much of "fun" is tied to the way that I approach things. It's definitely helping me to see things more with a beginner's mind. Thanks.
That is so wonderful to hear, Ginny! I'm really happy to hear the course was helpful, and I'm thrilled you're here (and thanks for being the first person to jump in). I'd love to hear more about what you've been noticing and experimenting with.
Hi everyone! I’m Gemma - a 38 year old full time working mum living in Preston, England. I came across Catherine’s ‘how to break up with your phone’ newsletter with The Guardian and then became interested in increasing my levels of fun. Working full time as a Quality Engineer for a Medical Device company, maintaining a marriage to my partner of 21 years (married for 11 years) and raising my 2 children age 8 & 7 leaves me feeling burnt out and exhausted most weeks and I keep trying to figure out the changes I need to make to lighten my life. I actively choose to have fun more often than I used to though, especially with the children, and I’m always looking out for resources to support my quest for everyday joy!
Hi Catherine & friends,
This is the first Substack I have coughed up a subscription fee for. So - an experiment! Like fellow commenter Todd, I made my way here thanks to Catherine's appearance on the Art of Manliness podcast.
I'm a 48-year old from Boston with an almost miraculous degree of privilege and good fortune. Despite outward appearances, I'm grappling with a lack of friendships that hold any dimension beyond our kids' shared activities and an attention span that feels like it fell out of my pocket around March 2020 and shattered into 80,000 pieces. I'm a screen addict and have frittered away control of the boundaries between work, family time and personal development. I aspire to watch a non-animated movie - maybe even with a friend?! - without scrolling the director's prior filmography, his divorces, pictures of his ex-wives, and ... oh yeah: Siri, when did the last Blockbuster Video in Massachusetts go out of business?
To be honest, I wanted to find a 40-something male writer that I could relate to who writes about these subjects. I recommend the book "We Need to Hang Out: A Memoir of Making Friends" by the Boston Globe columnist Billy Baker. But that kind of introspective, witty, first-person regular dude writing on adult connection seems to be a complete outlier. The algorithms think I want listicles about the Eight Mental Focus Secrets of Seal Team Six. Anyway, when I heard Catherine on Brett McKay's podcast, I decided this was the closest thing I've found yet to the tone I've been searching for (Ferris Bueller reference was clutch) and I could let go of my pre-conceptions about the "dude" part.
Andrew! I don't even know where to start. First of all, I am so honored to be your first paid Substack subscription -- I truly hope that you come out of this feeling like the coughing was worth it. Second, I am totally happy to be a stand-in for a 40-something male writer friend. (One of my previous books was described by the Economist as "combining the droll wit of Mary Roach with the inventive perversity of a seventh grade boy," so, you know, I think I have potential. . . .)
I hear you on everything you're struggling with, from the screen time to your feelings of isolation (I struggle with those myself -- thanks for the book recommendation). It makes me wonder if perhaps there might be a way, through this Phone Breakup challenge, to help some subscribers connect in real life . . . I'll think on that.
In the meantime, best of luck mastering those Seal Team Six secrets, and thank you again for taking the leap! Please feel free to reach out at any time through the comments or discussion threads -- I'm here to help in any way I can.
ps: reading through the recent intros here, I see at least one guy from Boston, and another in CT. . . .
Hi Catherine and friends! Catherine has been a role model for me since we went to high school together, where we had lots of pre-mobile phone fun playing volleyball and doing the school newspaper. I'm a fan! I now live in London and very lucky to have married the man of my dreams with 2 great boys. I unfortunately got long COVID last year so a lot of things that had brought me fun were suddenly gone-- human connection, work, moving around, dancing-- and I've had to find fun instead in the limited things I can still do: hugs, sitting in stillness, watching clouds and weather, chats with doctors. My health is starting to improve and I can start doing fun things again -- a favourite is nightly cosy time where my boys ask me to tell them a story based on a prompt they give me and I get to improvise a new one each night. Getting such a debilitating, novel, whole body illness has taught me that what is fun can and does change with time, and sometimes you have to find fun where you are rather than looking for it somewhere else. Very excited to now be an official part of the Catherine fan club! Catherine, you have always been one of the most inspiring, authentic, brilliant, and kind people I've known. Keep it up!
Liz Aaaaaaabb -- it is SO nice to see your name in this Substack. (It gives me an immediate flashback to those psych-up notes you used to leave on the bulletin board before volleyball games -- you know exactly what I'm talking about!) I am thrilled you're here, but I'm also so sorry to hear that you're suffering from long covid. You are truly one of the most energetic and exuberant people I've ever met, and the idea of you being limited by chronic illness makes me want to ditch writing as a career and devote myself to medical research. My contact info is still the same since last we were in touch, and I'd love to hear your voice. (Also, if there ever were someone who should be writing a substack, it's you . . .) Sending you hugs and love.
Hi everyone! I was so excited to learn that Catherine is on substack and I’m happy to be here. I’m a certified professional coach, Human Design Reader, instigator of joy, triathlete, dog mom to two Dobermans, wife, occasional nomad, and amateur plant-based cook. My mission is to help more and more people experience so much joy. Reading Catherine’s book made me feel like, “yes, someone else is doing this work too!” We rise together!
Yes! Thank you so much for introducing yourself, Kelsey -- I'm thrilled you're here!
Hi y'all, my name is Todd. Originally from northern New Jersey, now living in Connecticut and open to moving deeper into New England if/when the right opportunity comes! I work in marketing which I do truly enjoy, combining lifelong creativity (I was big into drawing, painting, Legos, origami, all that jazz as a kid) with analytical decision-making skills. I learned about Catherine's work by way of the Art of Manliness podcast with Brett McKay, and I loved the definition of fun that she gave: "a special confluence of playfulness, connection, and flow." Currently struggling with the 'connection' aspect of fun and looking for ways to turn that around. Excited to join this journey!
Todd, so happy to have you here and to learn more about you and your interests. I think that many of us (myself included) struggle with the connection part of fun, and am hopeful that my substack will offer some ideas. Welcome!
Jude here, long-time Montessori educator and advocate for children, now retired. As I see it, we are in a multi-generational media/tech cultural experiment with no control and little wisdom being applied. It's been driven by capitalism, not by compassion or wisdom. It started with TV and then came that first book in the '70's, "The Plug-In Drug." We had no idea then what was coming! Brains are developing in ways never before experienced by humans, and it's deeply and widely pervasive, and with each decade more impact, mostly invisible even to neurologists. So yeah, maybe TMI, but I am thinking about it every day right now.
Hi Jude -- thank you for sharing! I'm a huge fan of Montessori myself (my daughter went to a Montessori pre-school) and completely agree with your conclusion that we're in the midst of a giant, uncontrolled experiment. (I think about it every day as well.) Welcome!
Hi Catherine and others here.
I'm Joe. I have an online news addiction somewhat under control :( .
I find delight in little children, nature, literature, visual art, and leading our non-profit clients to better realizing their mission through using CiviCRM, open source software used by over 11,000 organizations around the world. I delight in exercise including hiking and cross country skiing. Shoulder injuries limit my favorite swimming, which I used to delight in competing in.
I am a System Design Engineer with a doctorate in Political Philosophy. My privacy law prof spouse is visiting at Harvard this year so we're in the Boston area instead of Toronto. I miss the delight of visits with my friends and kids in Canada.
Hi Joe! A belated welcome -- thank you for introducing yourself and sharing a bit about your interests and challenges. I can say with full confidence that you are not alone in feeling addicted to the news (I deleted the apps off my phone several years ago because I felt the same way, and it's made an enormous difference in my mental health). I'm sure I'll be writing more about that exact issue as the election heats up -- for now, I wanted to personally welcome you and thank you for sharing.
Arizona transplant to San Jose
at 19 and now I am 63. Left the desert for this rich Bay area and soon we are moving to Nevada, a higher desert to retire. I am an avid reader and yoga practitioner......I learned to be a workaholic here and now I want to learn to have joy disconnected to achievement ....
Terry, a belated welcome -- I'm so glad you're here, and hope that this substack will help support and inspire you as you work toward those goals (I have a feeling that you'll be able to inspire *us* as well, so keep us posted!)
I'm Conner, 57, self-employed nutritionist and recovering perfectionist & workaholic. The other day I found myself googling "how to have fun as an adult." 🙄 So delighted to have found this space through an article in today's WaPo about how "fun" has become "work" for so many of us. Very much looking forward to learning from & with y'all about making space for joy and play in day-to-day life! 😀
Agreed. Fun has become a work goal achieved......
Conner, I'm so happy you're here! (And how funny that you were googling that.) Here's to more joy and play!
Hi Catherine, I’m Koushik. I completed my PhD at Iowa State University in 2022 and move to St. Louis for my job. I would like to learn about finding new friends as an adult and making real connection with friends/family.
So nice to have you here, Koushik!
Hi Catherine and y'all. I'm Jim Fazackerley. I was a paramedic captain and instructor and have switched gears in retirement to public affairs broadcasting at a little but mighty radio station in Pt. Reyes Station, CA. -KWMR. Catherine generously allowed me to interview her on a couple of occasions now as her excellent books on smart phones and Fun hit the presses.
I have a particular and peculiar interest in disaster preparedness & response but lately I'm thinking we need a better model for living in post-pandemic, ever-warming America than fear-reaction-recovery. So, I want to follow Catherine and other folks looking to reinvigorate our communities with connection and trust. Doing that work would certainly make me feel alive! Go Catherine!
Jim! A totally belated *actual* reply (as opposed to a "like") to say that it is wonderful to see your name here, and that I'm so happy that we've kept in touch over the years. Your work is so important.
Hi Catherine and all! I'm Jenny Zhan. I was an engineer and a librarian among the many paths I've come along, the most recent being a co-founder of Teamup. I grew up in China, studied and worked in the U.S. and now live in Switzerland. I first discovered Catherine's work from her TED talk so followed her everywhere. The world will be better if we all laugh more and have more fun in life. Catherine's delight practice inspired me to create a Journal of Collective Delight at https://teamup.com/ks4jokoihxshgdvrxw - It'd be awesome if some of you join in and share your delight too. It's easy, one click to add, a few words, optionally upload a picture, with or without name. It's less about who said what, more about the collective delight :)
Thank you, Jenny -- I'm so happy that the delight practice resonated with you!
I'm Heather Barson. I have a bachelor's in music education. I'm a French horn player. I'm a home birth midwife. I'm a yogi and sometimes teach kundalini yoga. My spiritual name is Jai Bhagti Kaur. I am married to a man and have 8 children. I am a member of the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids at the bardic grade. I love exploring the sacred feminine, hiking, riding my ebike, and exploring nature. I'm also studying herbal medicine for women. I'm at a point of major transformation in my life right now. I'm interested to see where I will end up and how I will continue to seek joy and fulfillment in my life.
Thanks, Heather! Your intro reminds me of a recent post I read by Anne Helen Petersen (author of Culture Study) called "Are You in the Portal?" It's here, if you haven't seen it yet/want to check it out: https://annehelen.substack.com/p/are-you-in-the-portal
Thanks for the suggestion! That was excellent.
Hi Catherine--Hi Everyone,
My name is Tim Storey; former farm kid, engineer, science teacher, vintage window repairian, and now writing but only as a way to save the galaxy--or at least enhance it. I've read The Power of Fun and am incorporating it into our strategy(ies), as a galactically significant (meaning thought/perspective) work.
I accidently created a sapient beetle character named Bug Stu, he created some other characters, and through all that it looks like we'll be initiating the Jonesers Rebellion (my generation--stuck in between Boomers and Xers). I'm mostly writing to my former students here in the Middle of Nowhere between Chicago and Indianapolis. Half of it is on Substack (and Medium, originally) but I'm not trying to build an audience really, lol. I see Linda Brandt here is in Minneapolis--which is interesting since Bug Stu has been informing me there's a cosmic connection there (and Brainerd--home of Strong Towns). Looking forward to more : ).
Thanks, Tim, for sharing! (And I'm happy to hear that you've found The Power of Fun useful!)
Hello Catherine,
my name is Francine Boilard. I am a retired optometrist living my dream of being a writer. I have been writing online for 5 years. (Phrenssynnes' blog) I have been on medium.com since 2021 and I started my newsletter this year on Substack.
I write about travel with a specialty on road trips in a convertible Mini Cooper. I call mine Brittany Brexit!
I post recipes with a focus on eating healthy without too many compromises.
I have an interest in reading so I am also a literary critic.
The last category I write in is sharing the great ideas I discover while browsing the web.
This week, I'm publishing an article on The Phrenssynnes Blog about a young singer who composed a song about his screen addiction.
Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself. Looking forward to reading you. 🙋♀️
Welcome, Francine! Thanks for sharing. And you may have to share some photos of your road trips/mini cooper in our "Delights" group chat :) https://substack.com/chat/1494477
Hi Catherine ☺️
As you know I’m a family doctor living in Philly and working in Jersey. I share your love of writing free from the mainstream editorial constraints with this side project on Substack... although I acknowledge that my writing is amateurish at times because of it. But writing brings me joy, and helps prevent burnout in my grinding day job. Currently watching Phillies (don’t put Kimbrel in to pitch tight situations!!), eating outdoors when I can for simple joy and to keep supporting Philly restaurants (had the day off yesterday and went to Grace and Proper for lunch, then Fiorella for dinner, both in my hood), and fighting a little cold I have no idea how I contracted despite my very careful behavior (Covid negative x 3).
Hope that was a good run on sentence and dismayed a few editors 😉
Welcome, Ryan! I hope you're feeling better. And everyone else: you should check out Ryan's substack. Really well researched and interesting! https://mccormickmd.substack.com
Hi Catherine and all! I'm Julia Richling and I'm in my second year of becoming a Certified Inner Relationship Focusing teacher (I love IRF so much!) My family and I are living in Germany, in a little village located on the slopes of a river valley. When we step our of our house, it's just a few steps to the beginning of the forest, which is so wonderful since I enjoy doing long walks in nature a lot.
I love dancing (especially historical dances), singing and playing board games. Also meeting new people and having deep conversations with me makes me feel alive. And of course meeting Focusing partners and clients and exploring the adventurous, always surprising inner worlds, laughing together, crying together... It's not always 'fun', but it's always 'true', so that's very special to me.
Welcome, Julia! And thank you for sharing that beautiful image of the river valley. I live in a very urban setting these days, and the idea of being able to step out of the house and into a forest sounds lovely.
Hi one and all! I'm Linda Brandt in Minneapolis and I call myself a renegade community builder. My full-time job is helping people be healthier and happier at work. My full-time calling is creating community wherever I go - Lean In Together MSP Networking building for 10 years and virtual coworking on Focusmate being two of those places. I see a strong social justice element in everything I do.
I'm committed to doing my part to encourage more adults to have "real fun" as you've described it.
People are welcome to find me on LinkedIn or Facebook if you also like meeting new people.
Welcome, Linda! I LOVE the term "renegade community builder -- and am going to look into both the resources you mentioned. :)
Hi Catherine and all! I'm Michael Skocay. I live in the Boston area (Go Sox!) and work at MIT. As my partner can attest, our bookshelf is filled with books I've read on productivity, minimalism, mindfulness, and wellbeing ('Atomic Habits', 'The Power of Habit', 'Make Time', 'Goodbye, Things', '10% Happier', and, of course, some of Catherine's books). I'm ever interested in finding ways to be a more balanced, engaged, and connected person in a world that often seems designed for burnout, disengagement, and, increasingly, isolation. I've also had the good fortune to spend time working for some very cool behavioral scientists at Harvard and through that got exposed to a wealth of fascinating research on decision-making, nudges, etc. Always enjoy reading your substack and continuing to learn new things (and maybe, just maybe, spend a bit less time on my phone).
Welcome, Michael, and thanks for sharing! Looks like we probably have pretty similar bookshelves. I, too, am "ever interested in finding ways to be a more balanced, engaged, and connected person in a world that often seems designed for burnout, disengagement, and, increasingly, isolation"—so I'm really glad you're here.
The New Yorker had a book review on the topic of convelescing... The article explained the antidote to workism is convalescing (relaxing) but not for an hour but for days on end, which is completely unfashionable or discouraged.
very happy to be here - looks like a great community.
I'm Ginny McReynolds. For nearly 40 years, it was my career that made me feel alive. I didn't realize then how much I focused on work and not on other aspects of my life. Now retired, I'm kind of starting at Square 1 with finding fun and engaging interests and activities. Doing your 2-week course, I realize how much of "fun" is tied to the way that I approach things. It's definitely helping me to see things more with a beginner's mind. Thanks.
That is so wonderful to hear, Ginny! I'm really happy to hear the course was helpful, and I'm thrilled you're here (and thanks for being the first person to jump in). I'd love to hear more about what you've been noticing and experimenting with.