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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
  Rowan Williams
  The Strange Gift of Joy
  Listen Now The Strange Gift of Joy
  Suleika Jaouad
  Living the Questions (Without Fixing Yourself)
  Listen Now Living the Questions (Without Fixing Yourself)
  Malcolm Guite
  What If Prayer Isn’t What You Think It Is?
  Listen Now What If Prayer Isn’t What You Think It Is?
  Mark Rank
  The Randomness of Everything
  Listen Now The Randomness of Everything
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
  Joyful, Anyway
  
  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
MERCH
SUBSTACK

Kate Bowler

Read More The Power of Ordinary Love

End of content

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.

Follow along on socials

@katecbowler

I wrote JOYFUL, ANYWAY because life is… a lot.

There’s grief. There’s disappointment. There’s that weird ache that shows up on Tuesdays when you’re answering emails and wondering if this is it.

And yet—there are also tiny, ridiculous moments of joy.

I wrote this book for anyone who can`t always be happy, but is learning to be joyful, anyway.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 17851155372659963

I wrote JOYFUL, ANYWAY because life is… a lot.There’s grief. There’s disappointment. There’s that weird ache that shows up on Tuesdays when you’re answering emails and wondering if this is it.And yet—there are also tiny, ridiculous moments of joy.I wrote this book for anyone who can't always be happy, but is learning to be joyful, anyway.

Bless you who are quietly whispering "help" in a world where Everything Happens.

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Bless you who are quietly whispering "help" in a world where Everything Happens.

These are YOUR words. 🥹

Thank you for reading, for feeling,
and for finding joy anyway. 🤍

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These are YOUR words. 🥹Thank you for reading, for feeling,
and for finding joy anyway. 🤍

NEW YORK CITY. 👀

I told you I had something up my sleeve.

I’m thrilled to say that @drvivekmurthy is joining me on the JOYFUL ANYWAY tour. We’ll be in conversation on April 16 at @fapc_nyc chatting about loneliness, belonging, and finding joy...even in this economy.

Vivek spent years as U.S. Surgeon General naming the loneliness epidemic out loud. I’ve spent years insisting that joy still sneaks in anyway.

So yes. He’s our people.

Comment “NYC” and I’ll send you the ticket link. Let’s fill the room. ✨

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NEW YORK CITY. 👀I told you I had something up my sleeve.I’m thrilled to say that @drvivekmurthy is joining me on the JOYFUL ANYWAY tour. We’ll be in conversation on April 16 at @fapc_nyc chatting about loneliness, belonging, and finding joy...even in this economy.Vivek spent years as U.S. Surgeon General naming the loneliness epidemic out loud. I’ve spent years insisting that joy still sneaks in anyway.So yes. He’s our people.Comment “NYC” and I’ll send you the ticket link. Let’s fill the room. ✨

For the ache you can’t fix.
For the life that didn’t turn out how you planned.
For the quiet, stubborn joy that still shows up anyway.

This is a litany for real life.

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For the ache you can’t fix.
For the life that didn’t turn out how you planned.
For the quiet, stubborn joy that still shows up anyway.This is a litany for real life.

Such a joy (the real kind, not the “everything is perfect” kind) to talk with @annshoket and @SheMedia.

We got into the kind of joy that doesn’t wait for your life to calm down… or your inbox to hit zero… or your relationships to suddenly become effortless (lol). What I keep learning is that joy doesn’t stay contained. It moves. It spreads. It catches.

When one person admits life is hard and still notices what’s good, it gives everyone else permission to do the same.
Joyful, anyway—and apparently, contagious.

Also, in related news, would you like to see my giant puppet face talk about this argument from many angles? BEHOLD!

Loved bringing Joyful, Anyway to the stage at @sxsw — if I thought I was excited to go on tour before this, I was wrong. I am now… alarmingly pumped. T-MINUS NINE DAYS PEOPLE.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 18302473285273885

Such a joy (the real kind, not the “everything is perfect” kind) to talk with @annshoket and @SheMedia.We got into the kind of joy that doesn’t wait for your life to calm down… or your inbox to hit zero… or your relationships to suddenly become effortless (lol). What I keep learning is that joy doesn’t stay contained. It moves. It spreads. It catches.When one person admits life is hard and still notices what’s good, it gives everyone else permission to do the same.
Joyful, anyway—and apparently, contagious.Also, in related news, would you like to see my giant puppet face talk about this argument from many angles? BEHOLD!Loved bringing Joyful, Anyway to the stage at @sxsw — if I thought I was excited to go on tour before this, I was wrong. I am now… alarmingly pumped. T-MINUS NINE DAYS PEOPLE.

Blessed are we who were made to love and lose and risk and ache in a world where Everything Happens.

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Blessed are we who were made to love and lose and risk and ache in a world where Everything Happens.

On this International Day of Happiness, a small confession:

Happiness is great! But it`s... not all its cracked up to be.

Joy, though—joy doesn`t require good circumstances. Joy can appear even when nothing is measurably better.

If you want more of that, Joyful, Anyway is coming soon.

Pre-order at the link in bio.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 18012044426687357

On this International Day of Happiness, a small confession:Happiness is great! But it's... not all its cracked up to be.Joy, though—joy doesn't require good circumstances. Joy can appear even when nothing is measurably better.If you want more of that, Joyful, Anyway is coming soon.Pre-order at the link in bio.

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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Everything Happens.

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
  Rowan Williams
  The Strange Gift of Joy
  Listen Now The Strange Gift of Joy
  Suleika Jaouad
  Living the Questions (Without Fixing Yourself)
  Listen Now Living the Questions (Without Fixing Yourself)
  Malcolm Guite
  What If Prayer Isn’t What You Think It Is?
  Listen Now What If Prayer Isn’t What You Think It Is?
  Mark Rank
  The Randomness of Everything
  Listen Now The Randomness of Everything
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
  Joyful, Anyway
  
  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
MERCH
SUBSTACK

Meet Kate

Get to Know Me

How to Connect

Everything Happens.

Books

Joyful, Anyway

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

Meet Kate

Get to Know Me

How to Connect

Everything Happens.

Books

Joyful, Anyway

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.