the delightful pursuit of new challenges

and the joy of unnecessary knowledge

Listen to me read this post here:

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We’re back in the UK, the land of Bridgerton, rugby and pub lunches. It’s cold and dreary, with grey skies and mist and drizzle, and frankly, it’s exactly what winter in England should be. It’s good to be back.

Because our workdays don’t begin until mid-afternoon in England (we’re six hours ahead of Houston), on the morning of our first day back in town, we went out for “a bit of a wander,” as Marcus would say. Something about that first walk around town returns us to who we are when we’re British residents, in a way that seems odd, yet really natural. For example, when you walk in Houston, you’re often taking your life in your own hands — sidewalks suddenly end for no apparent reason, and crossing roads feels like a real-life game of Frogger. It’s so sketchy that I wouldn’t think about going anywhere without driving: Houston is designed to prioritize cars, so even a trip to our closest grocery store or boutique requires getting behind the wheel.

In England, on the other hand, you couldn’t pay me to drive, since roads are impossibly narrow, and I find British road signage confounding. But luckily for me, most villages, towns and even cities in England place the pedestrian first, and this is especially true in Bath: after all, how else would you enjoy the charming storefronts, the cobblestones, and the cafés unless you were on foot? Suddenly destinations that I would consider legitimate driving distances away in Houston seem ridiculous to even consider using some form of transportation to get to in Bath — despite the cold and the weather, I grab my raincoat and scarf and waterproof shoes and head out the door. And I do this without a second thought. I barely recognize myself.

But while I move in a decidedly Houstonian way while in Houston and a decidedly Bathonian way while in Bath, on this trip, I’m finding myself missing one aspect of my Houston life desperately, and that’s my weekly trips to the pottery. Friends, I have become so obsessed with my little pottery practice — with my wonky pots and messy glazing — that it’s a little alarming. I actually feel this hobby becoming a part of my identity at this point: I’m the Black Trinidadian woman with silver hair who makes really sorrowful pots. As a result, this trip is making it glaringly obvious that it’s hard for me to suspend that part of myself as we spend longer amounts of time in the UK. For this reason, I’ve made it a not-so-secret mission to find a pottery where I can drop in and rent a wheel or a kiln on an hourly basis, or if necessary, actually sign up for a membership at a pottery, so I can get a pottery fix while I’m in the UK. It hasn’t been easy, since I don’t think a community studio like the one I’m a member of in Houston exists here in Bath.

(On the upside, I’ve been meeting some lovely local potters and adding to my collection.)

(And they’re all telling me that my best bet would be to look in Bristol, Bath’s nearest city. So that’s my next move.)

Even though finding a local pottery is a tad frustrating, Lordy-me, I’m having fun doing it. As I’ve been learning over the past few years, the best part of getting older is the evolution: there’s something really lovely about discovering new passions and rising to the challenge of figuring out how to pursue them. There’s something really exciting about acquiring absolutely unnecessary knowledge — knowledge not to further a career, but just for … well, fun. The idea of expanding our identities and self-definitions by learning new skills or new cities or even new relationships.

It’s clear that following our curiosity and cultivating a sense of adventure, no matter how small, is key to our aging well.

And so, my wish for all of us this week: that we entertain a hobby, relationship or even a trip that we’ve always wanted to do — and take a baby step toward exploring how to make it happen. Because no matter what’s happening in the world, we owe ourselves joy, and challenge, and adventure.

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20+ visionaries. 3 days. a lifetime of wisdom.

Speaking of the evolution of getting older, here’s something I’m beyond thrilled to be a part of: I’ve been invited to be a part of the Modern Elder Academy’s VIRTUAL Midlife Mastery Summit, an online event helping you to answer the question: What if aging wasn’t something to resist – but the key to unlocking your best years yet?

It's happening March 14-16, and I would love for you to join me! Over three powerful days, you’ll gain practical strategies from 20+ world-renowned thought leaders to help you reclaim your joy, purpose, and vitality – and make your next chapter extraordinary, by transforming aging into your greatest advantage for thriving.

Here are just a few who will be a part of this event (seriously, this lineup is ah may zing):

• Arthur Brooks, author of From Strength to Strength

• Krista Tippet, Peabody award-winning host of On Being

• Michael Franti, award-winning musician and activist (!)

• Martha Beck, author of Beyond Anxiety and The Way of Integrity

• Karen Walrond, author of The Radiant Rebellion (that’s me!)

• Rebecca Rusch, 7-time world champion adventure athlete

• Pico Iyer, author of The Art of Stillness (!!)

• Russ Hudson, co-founder of The Enneagram Institute

• Justin Michael Williams, Grammy-nominated musician

• Stacy Peralta, documentarian and former pro skateboarder

• Richard Leider, author of The Power of Purpose

Did I mention it’s VIRTUAL? So you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home!

Early bird pricing lasts until March 10th, so learn more and register now — I hope to see you there!

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preorder a signed copy of in defense of dabbling, and get a signed copy of the beauty of different! (while supplies last)

So here’s something lovely: if you preorder my new book, In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being a Total Amateur (coming September 2025!) from the lovely folks at Blue Willow Bookshop, they will include, absolutely free, a signed copy of my very first book, The Beauty of Different: Observations of a Confident Misfit! In Defense of Dabbling is all about the importance of doing things purely for the fun of it (and includes a few things — including pottery — that I dabbled in while writing the book, some of which went terribly, terribly wrong). The Beauty of Different is actually a photobook, and includes essays that prove that whatever it is that makes you different (or unusual, or odd, or just plain weird) is actually the source of your undeniable beauty, and maybe even your superpower. This book is actually out of print, so you’ll be getting a bit of a colletor’s item. The best part? I’ll personalize either — or both! — to whomever you’d like. What a way to get a jump on holiday shopping!

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. As you know, preorders mean everything to an author, and the fact that Blue Willow is doing this promotion is deeply kind. Please support those lovely folks — you’ll make some really lovely people really happy.