Courtney Junkmail

Following are ten foolproof ways to nurture your community that have served me.

1. be present and listen


2. take initiative and be accountable


3. eat together: communal dinner with questions prepped ahead of time


4. give gifts 


5. inspire fun, play, and adventure


6. design spaces for belonging: “Designing intentional spaces is at the root of belonging. It’s the physical

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On a cold Monday in December, 65 people were gathered for Reading Rhythms, an event that bills itself as “not a book club” but “a reading party.” The parties, which began in May, take place on rooftops, in parks and at bars. The premise is simple: Show up with a book, commit to vanquishing a chapter or two and chat with strangers about what you’ve... See more

Go out and do something.

It isn’t your room that’s

a prison, it’s yourself.

~ Sylvia Plath

I can’t encourage you enough to find ways to connect with people who inspire or impress you in some way. Any time I hear a story about someone participating in an outlandish and fun antic, I find a way to get in touch so we can hang out. Creating the practice of curating your community of friends will give you a life that is nothing short of

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So let me propose a somewhat crude distinction between 2 kinds of art:

• Art consumed as a commodity , or used to sell a product. For many people, these kinds of works might not qualify as “art” at all, because they’re not intended to create an autonomous aesthetic experience. Their aesthetic qualities are often subservient to a functional purpose.

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You've heard of 2-hour cocktail parties. But what about 2-hour reading parties? I attended one last week and it was a blast. Here's how to make reading fun and meet new people by hosting a reading party: 1) Pick a 2-hour timeslot on a... See more