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ABOUT
- Meet Kate
  Hi, I’m Kate. I’m a Duke professor, podcaster, and author with a single mission: giving you permission to feel human. After years of being told I was incurable, I was declared cancer-free. But there’s no going back. I am forever changed by what I discovered: life is so beautiful and life is so hard. For everyone.
  ABOUT KATE
  Get to Know Me
  HUMAN
  AUTHOR
  PODCAST HOST
  SPEAKER
  How to Connect
  NEWSLETTER
  BOOKING
  EVENTS
  CONTACT
  PRESS
PODCAST
- Everything Happens.
  Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is a podcast for you. Duke Professor Kate Bowler is an expert in the stories we tell about success and failure, suffering and happiness. She had Stage IV cancer. Then she didn’t. And since then, all she wants to do is talk to funny and wise people about how to live with the knowledge that, well, everything happens.
  See All Episodes
  Kate Bowler
  The Summer of Too Much: Practicing Holy Underachievement
  Listen Now The Summer of Too Much: Practicing Holy Underachievement
  Suleika Jaouad
  Survival Is a Creative Act
  Listen Now Survival Is a Creative Act
  Erin & Ben Napier
  Everyone’s From Somewhere
  Listen Now Everyone’s From Somewhere
  Stacey Heale
  The Aftermath of the Aftermath
  Listen Now The Aftermath of the Aftermath
BOOKS
- Books
  Let’s untangle our culture’s obsession with toxic positivity and self-help, shall we? Kate studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She is the author of seven books including three instant New York Times bestsellers.
  All Books
  Everything Happens for a Reason
  (And Other Lies I’ve Loved)
  Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!
  Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens
  No Cure for Being Human
  (And Other Truths I Need to Hear)
RESOURCES
- Resources
  Our goal with Everything Happens is to create rich language and vibrant community that sustains us when life comes apart. Below, you’ll find categories that may be good starting points for you. Inside are a mix of podcasts, blessings, support guides, and bonus resources that we hope will be useful.
  ALL RESOURCES
  Types
  BLESSINGS
  DEVOTIONALS
  SUPPORT GUIDES
  COURSES
  FREE DOWNLOADS
  Discussion Guides
  FOR MINISTRY
  Topics
  ILLNESS
  GRIEF
  WHAT NOT TO SAY
  RESILIENT FAITH
  INSPIRING LIVES
  NUANCED HOPE
  CARING AT HOME
  CARING AT WORK
  COMPLICATED FAMILIES
  MOVING FORWARD

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Every week I usually forget most of the basics:
a) you are loved. b) life is absurd. c) it’s hard to be a human.

If you want some smart, kind, and funny encouragement to get you through your week, sign up for my newsletter. I’d love to be your reminder.

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Follow along on socials

@katecbowler

If asking yourself, "WHAT IS IT YOU PLAN TO DO WITH YOUR ONE WILD AND PRECIOUS LIFE?" usually ends with you in an anxiety spiral on the floor, this one is for you.

I find it`s helpful to focus on the small and the ordinary.

Folding laundry to a favorite song.
Lighting a candle before emails.
Drinking coffee sitting down, like a whole human being.

As @suleikajaouad says, “it all goes by in a blink.” Take a moment, even if it’s just one quiet cup.

*No shade to St. Mary Oliver. She really wanted us to lay in grass and stare at trees.🌳

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 17897825097251421

If asking yourself, "WHAT IS IT YOU PLAN TO DO WITH YOUR ONE WILD AND PRECIOUS LIFE?" usually ends with you in an anxiety spiral on the floor, this one is for you.I find it's helpful to focus on the small and the ordinary.Folding laundry to a favorite song.
Lighting a candle before emails.
Drinking coffee sitting down, like a whole human being.As @suleikajaouad says, “it all goes by in a blink.” Take a moment, even if it’s just one quiet cup.*No shade to St. Mary Oliver. She really wanted us to lay in grass and stare at trees.🌳

Pull up a seat—let’s talk about the language of purpose. Somewhere along the way, we started believing that every moment has to be meaningful, every choice strategic, every step part of a master plan. But what if that’s too much pressure for a human life?

Meaning, more often than not, is something we discover in hindsight. The ordinary moments—the ones that feel forgettable—are quietly stitching together a life. A sacred one.

So maybe purpose doesn’t have to be grand to be good. Maybe it just has to be faithful.

If you want to watch the full video about purpose, comment "SEAT," and I`ll send you a link to watch the full thing on YouTube.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 18048867926201148

Pull up a seat—let’s talk about the language of purpose. Somewhere along the way, we started believing that every moment has to be meaningful, every choice strategic, every step part of a master plan. But what if that’s too much pressure for a human life?Meaning, more often than not, is something we discover in hindsight. The ordinary moments—the ones that feel forgettable—are quietly stitching together a life. A sacred one.So maybe purpose doesn’t have to be grand to be good. Maybe it just has to be faithful.If you want to watch the full video about purpose, comment "SEAT," and I'll send you a link to watch the full thing on YouTube.

Here`s your reminder that good things aren`t extinct. They`re just shy. But you found some.

Let`s keep this going: TELL ME SOMETHING (ELSE) GOOD.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 17900976222232749

Here's your reminder that good things aren't extinct. They're just shy. But you found some.Let's keep this going: TELL ME SOMETHING (ELSE) GOOD.

Does everything we do—every job, every hobby, every mildly traumatic Tuesday—have to be redeemed for some grand purpose? When did existing become a group project? One that needed monetization and commodification?

I’ve been spiraling (academically), so I WROTE A SUBSTACK ESSAY to sort through our collective Purpose Panic™. Featuring a cameo from @elizabeth_gilbert_writer, who kindly dismantles the myth that we are what we do.

Link to join me in stories. Let’s be purposeless together. 💫

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 18512633218035508

Does everything we do—every job, every hobby, every mildly traumatic Tuesday—have to be redeemed for some grand purpose? When did existing become a group project? One that needed monetization and commodification?I’ve been spiraling (academically), so I WROTE A SUBSTACK ESSAY to sort through our collective Purpose Panic™. Featuring a cameo from @elizabeth_gilbert_writer, who kindly dismantles the myth that we are what we do.Link to join me in stories. Let’s be purposeless together. 💫

In a world where Everything Happens...

...including the unthinkable.

God, meet us here.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 18074360011782042

In a world where Everything Happens......including the unthinkable.God, meet us here.

It never hurts to check. 🥔

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It never hurts to check. 🥔

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Not all heroes wear capes.

Some wear compression socks. Or yesterday`s makeup.

We made some Very Official Awards™ for the perpetually exhausted, the low-key saints, and the ones still showing up when that is a whole miracle.

✨ Tap through. Tag your people. Claim your ribbon. You’ve earned it (and maybe a nap too).

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 17918330520108686

Not all heroes wear capes.Some wear compression socks. Or yesterday's makeup.We made some Very Official Awards™ for the perpetually exhausted, the low-key saints, and the ones still showing up when that is a whole miracle.✨ Tap through. Tag your people. Claim your ribbon. You’ve earned it (and maybe a nap too).

If you are reading this you have great eyesight. But also, thanks for being a person with me. The world is strange and hard for soft-hearted humans, but I think you’re a delight.

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Sign up below to receive a weekly email from Kate Bowler every Wednesday.

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ABOUT
- Meet Kate
  Hi, I’m Kate. I’m a Duke professor, podcaster, and author with a single mission: giving you permission to feel human. After years of being told I was incurable, I was declared cancer-free. But there’s no going back. I am forever changed by what I discovered: life is so beautiful and life is so hard. For everyone.
  ABOUT KATE
  Get to Know Me
  HUMAN
  AUTHOR
  PODCAST HOST
  SPEAKER
  How to Connect
  NEWSLETTER
  BOOKING
  EVENTS
  CONTACT
  PRESS
PODCAST
- Everything Happens.
  Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is a podcast for you. Duke Professor Kate Bowler is an expert in the stories we tell about success and failure, suffering and happiness. She had Stage IV cancer. Then she didn’t. And since then, all she wants to do is talk to funny and wise people about how to live with the knowledge that, well, everything happens.
  See All Episodes
  Kate Bowler
  The Summer of Too Much: Practicing Holy Underachievement
  Listen Now The Summer of Too Much: Practicing Holy Underachievement
  Suleika Jaouad
  Survival Is a Creative Act
  Listen Now Survival Is a Creative Act
  Erin & Ben Napier
  Everyone’s From Somewhere
  Listen Now Everyone’s From Somewhere
  Stacey Heale
  The Aftermath of the Aftermath
  Listen Now The Aftermath of the Aftermath
BOOKS
- Books
  Let’s untangle our culture’s obsession with toxic positivity and self-help, shall we? Kate studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She is the author of seven books including three instant New York Times bestsellers.
  All Books
  Everything Happens for a Reason
  (And Other Lies I’ve Loved)
  Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!
  Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens
  No Cure for Being Human
  (And Other Truths I Need to Hear)
RESOURCES
- Resources
  Our goal with Everything Happens is to create rich language and vibrant community that sustains us when life comes apart. Below, you’ll find categories that may be good starting points for you. Inside are a mix of podcasts, blessings, support guides, and bonus resources that we hope will be useful.
  ALL RESOURCES
  Types
  BLESSINGS
  DEVOTIONALS
  SUPPORT GUIDES
  COURSES
  FREE DOWNLOADS
  Discussion Guides
  FOR MINISTRY
  Topics
  ILLNESS
  GRIEF
  WHAT NOT TO SAY
  RESILIENT FAITH
  INSPIRING LIVES
  NUANCED HOPE
  CARING AT HOME
  CARING AT WORK
  COMPLICATED FAMILIES
  MOVING FORWARD

Meet Kate

Get to Know Me

How to Connect

Everything Happens.

Books

Everything Happens for a Reason

Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!

No Cure for Being Human

Resources

Types

Topics

Every week I usually forget most of the basics: a) you are loved. b) life is absurd. c) it’s hard to be a human.

Follow along on socials

Everything Happens.

Browse by topic

Make your inbox a little more human.

Meet Kate

Get to Know Me

How to Connect

Everything Happens.

Books

Everything Happens for a Reason

Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!

No Cure for Being Human

Resources

Types

Topics

Every week I usually forget most of the basics:
a) you are loved. b) life is absurd. c) it’s hard to be a human.