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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
  Tim Shriver
  Through the Lens of Love
  Listen Now Through the Lens of Love
  Sarah Wildman
  Small Talk Survivors
  Listen Now Small Talk Survivors
  Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
  Relentless Tenderness: A Conversation on Healing
  Listen Now Relentless Tenderness: A Conversation on Healing
  So Much Love, So Much to Lose
  Listen Now So Much Love, So Much to Lose
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

Read More The Ache That Makes Us Human

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

YOU’VE BEEN ASKING AND I AM SO HAPPY TO TELL YOU!!!
We are doing Advent over on Substack this year!

Make sure you’re subscribed to my Substack (katebowler.substack.com). I’ll be sending out a weekly roundup each Sunday with links to the upcoming week’s Advent reflections.

Share this with anyone you know who might want to join in. Advent begins on November 30th.

Comment “STACK” and I’ll send you a link to subscribe. ✨

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✨New merch just dropped! ✨
(And no, we didn’t include a candle that smells like “Complicated Feelings”… but maybe next year??)

This week on Substack, we`re in full holiday mode. We’ve gathered our favorite ways to give—gifts that validate and comfort, causes that heal, and a playlist that won’t make you want to hide in the bathroom at the Christmas party.

Comment "GIFT" and I`ll send you a link! 🎁

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✨New merch just dropped! ✨
(And no, we didn’t include a candle that smells like “Complicated Feelings”… but maybe next year??)This week on Substack, we're in full holiday mode. We’ve gathered our favorite ways to give—gifts that validate and comfort, causes that heal, and a playlist that won’t make you want to hide in the bathroom at the Christmas party.Comment "GIFT" and I'll send you a link! 🎁

@timothyshriver has been showing up for people on the margins long before it was cool—American disability rights activist, film producer, former educator, and longtime Chair of @specialolympics. Oh, and he started a movement called UNITE. No big deal.

In this week’s chat, we talk about how service isn’t just something we do—it’s how we get vulnerable enough to find what’s real.

You’ll laugh. Admire his amazing hair. You’ll want to volunteer.

Comment "SERVE" and I`ll send you a link to watch the full episode!

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@timothyshriver has been showing up for people on the margins long before it was cool—American disability rights activist, film producer, former educator, and longtime Chair of @specialolympics. Oh, and he started a movement called UNITE. No big deal.In this week’s chat, we talk about how service isn’t just something we do—it’s how we get vulnerable enough to find what’s real.You’ll laugh. Admire his amazing hair. You’ll want to volunteer.Comment "SERVE" and I'll send you a link to watch the full episode!

Some days, saying “yes” to the good feels like a rebellion. A holy defiance against the part of us that would rather stay in bed, pull the covers up, and wait for the world to fix itself.

I know it’s dark out there. I know.
But hope isn’t pretending things are better. It’s choosing to keep watch for what’s still good—and saying “yes” to it all.

Bless that teenage oracle for the reminder.

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Some days, saying “yes” to the good feels like a rebellion. A holy defiance against the part of us that would rather stay in bed, pull the covers up, and wait for the world to fix itself.I know it’s dark out there. I know.
But hope isn’t pretending things are better. It’s choosing to keep watch for what’s still good—and saying “yes” to it all.Bless that teenage oracle for the reminder.

For the ones carrying a loss that still surprises you. Who whisper, “It wasn’t supposed to be this way.”

Who keep showing up—to the laundry, the meetings, the stocking of the pantry—while holding a grief that reshaped everything in a world where Everything Happens.

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For the ones carrying a loss that still surprises you. Who whisper, “It wasn’t supposed to be this way.”Who keep showing up—to the laundry, the meetings, the stocking of the pantry—while holding a grief that reshaped everything in a world where Everything Happens.

Just another day around here. ✨

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It’s church—but make it child-sized.

I was walking around cathedrals in Sweden and I saw a perfect and well-executed idea: kid’s church. Complete with candles, robes and...a coffin. Did I see a couple kids marry their dolls and then later host a tasteful burial? I did.

Isn’t that genius? First of all, hilarious. Wouldn’t it be great if we all had a sense of humor about church. But I loved how even the smallest hearts are invited to play with big questions: how we live, how we give, how we remember, and how we say goodbye.

Here’s to the kind of faith that makes space FOR IT ALL. And please, give me more Baby Bishops at Halloween. I demand it.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 18353834140162432

It’s church—but make it child-sized.I was walking around cathedrals in Sweden and I saw a perfect and well-executed idea: kid’s church. Complete with candles, robes and...a coffin. Did I see a couple kids marry their dolls and then later host a tasteful burial? I did.Isn’t that genius? First of all, hilarious. Wouldn’t it be great if we all had a sense of humor about church. But I loved how even the smallest hearts are invited to play with big questions: how we live, how we give, how we remember, and how we say goodbye.Here’s to the kind of faith that makes space FOR IT ALL. And please, give me more Baby Bishops at Halloween. I demand it.

It’s funny, isn’t it? The things we think will make us happy. The quick dopamine hit, the life-changing serum, the “maybe this will fix it” vacation. And sure—it works. For a minute.

But the kind that sticks? It’s my kid fishing at sunset with a chicken nugget tied to a stick. It’s looking at how far this little @everythinghappens community has come and thinking—wow. We really kept going.

Turns out, it was never the vision board. Just give me the ordinary days with good humans.

Inspired by the wonderful @lizmoody—what’s making you happy lately?

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 17991786170850848

It’s funny, isn’t it? The things we think will make us happy. The quick dopamine hit, the life-changing serum, the “maybe this will fix it” vacation. And sure—it works. For a minute.But the kind that sticks? It’s my kid fishing at sunset with a chicken nugget tied to a stick. It’s looking at how far this little @everythinghappens community has come and thinking—wow. We really kept going.Turns out, it was never the vision board. Just give me the ordinary days with good humans.Inspired by the wonderful @lizmoody—what’s making you happy lately?

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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Make your inbox a little more human.

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
  Tim Shriver
  Through the Lens of Love
  Listen Now Through the Lens of Love
  Sarah Wildman
  Small Talk Survivors
  Listen Now Small Talk Survivors
  Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
  Relentless Tenderness: A Conversation on Healing
  Listen Now Relentless Tenderness: A Conversation on Healing
  So Much Love, So Much to Lose
  Listen Now So Much Love, So Much to Lose
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

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

Make your inbox a little more human.

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.