😀 The Joy List: Helpful Helpers Edition 😃

Hey, <<First Name>>!

"You will always belong anywhere you show up as yourself and talk about yourself and your work in a real way."

I needed this quote–– taken from Brene Brown's Braving The Wilderness–– earlier this week. Why? I was speaking at a sports conference.

For those of you who don't know me, I actively avoids sports. I failed the pushup test in gym, finished the mile at ten minutes and thirty seconds, and was the most hated person on my volleyball team for never serving the ball over the net. (Because of me, my team had to run many, many laps.)

Yet there I was at Beyond Sports, surrounded by hundreds of people from the MBA, WWE, NBA, and all the other athletic acronyms. I felt like they could look at me and sense my lack of muscle definition. I didn't belong.

I was speaking on a panel about how young people are creating social impact. At one point, a fellow panelist said that she loved sports because they gave her the opportunity to feel strong and find her voice. Fuck yeah.

However, I felt pulled to give a counterpoint. So I opened my mouth, heart in my stomach, and said, "I think that's amazing. And I also think that sports has a problem. People are encouraged to be brassy and confident, but there aren't enough spaces for athletes to be vulnerable. I think sports could benefit from a little more softness."

The room was quiet, and then the moderator quickly jumped back in to steer the conversation in a different direction. A voice in the back of my head snarled, "Why did you say that? You just offended this entire room. That was stupid."

Yet when I got off the stage, people immediately approached me. Two women asked if I could faciliate a conversation with their athletes. Another from a large mental health organization asked if I'd be interested in working with their team.

Turns out, I do belong in sports. Just in a different way than I expected.

Give Money. Save Money.

Donate to The Joy List: Contribute via Patreon or PayPal! I'll love you forever, and then some more when we're reincarnated as baby lemurs.

Becoming a freelance writer can be scary. But never fear! I have a 15 minute Skillshare class that will give you the foundation that I worked for five years to build. I've got your back!

Joy-Makers

Make more passive income*: My friend, Nate, works with people who want to turn their knowledge into an online course. I'm trying to learn more about passive income myself, and I can tell you–– he's an expert. If you already have some skills that you think an online audience could benefit from, c onnect with him here and see if you qualify for his coaching program.

Want to get fit and have fun*? Join me at Mark Fisher Fitness! I'll be in their "Snatched in 6 Weeks" program, starting September 24. This is the only gym I've found that is genuinely joyful in their movement, and welcomes bodies of all sizes and abilities. Find me in their MWF 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM class!

Swipe with Intention*: If you're like me, swiping on Tinder makes you sad. My new friend, Lily, is a matchmaker who wants to put herself out of a job by helping women bring more joy into their dating life. Lily's 5-week, group coaching experience, "Swipe With Intention," will help us improve the quality of our dates, learn how to attract the right person, and figure out the stories we have about ourselves that prevent us from walking around like the freakin' goddesses that we are. Learn more and sign up here.

Advertise With The Joy List

Want to partner with The Joy List? Check out all of our partnership packages here. If anything looks interesting, hit 'reply.' Let's chat!

Submit An Event

Are you creating an event that promotes connection, vulnerability, and/or playfulness? Know someone who is? Nominate that shindig to be in The Joy List! I always love hearing about new gatherings.

Even if it doesn't make the newsletter, I almost always include it in our Facebook events calendar.