Letter 78: Engaging in Frivolity

When we embrace our full, human selves

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Hello, 2023!

Happy New Year and welcome back! During our holiday hiatus, we (Emily and Molly) were able to rest, read so many books, and focus on our families. We hope you were able to do some of the same. While the break was lovely, it’s also a joy to be back in this space. I can’t wait for you to read what we have in store this year.

Katie Schrodt returns for our first letter of 2023 with a word about enjoying the lighter aspects of life. A new year can seem hopeful—a precipice for new opportunities and new attitudes. But what if your previous year was tumultuous? Katie references a letter from Emily Fleming last year, who wisely realized that there’s not much we can do to change our circumstances; however, we can change how we respond to those circumstances. This mindset shift may seem small but it is absolutely life-altering and even empowering.

As you read Katie’s letter, feel free to think about your own experience: What frivolities are you choosing to embrace in 2023? We would love to hear from you—we’ve missed you!—Emily & Molly

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Click play to hear Katie read today’s letter.

Last January I read this great Learning Curve letter contribution by Emily Fleming. The entire post is worth a read, but something small at the end of the blog snagged my attention. Emily said, “After nearly two years of carrying the weight of the world during this pandemic, I want to be more intentional about engaging in frivolity, and sharing when I do.” 

After reading this, I knew I wanted 2022 to include a little more frivolity. The definition I like best is frivolity, adjective (of a person): carefree and not serious.

People have talked about the “right” to engage in frivolity for a while.

Women’s rights activist Betty Friedan once said, “I wouldn’t be satisfied with a life lived solely on the barricades. I reserve my right to be frivolous.”

I am a literacy education professor who has been working toward my tenure for the past six years. I write and read A LOT of academic articles. But at the end of 2021, I was tired of taking myself so seriously. Thus, my engagement with frivolity began.

For example, I read (among other genres) rom-com novels and posted them to my Goodreads. Before, I might have been embarrassed to be seen reading Book Lovers by Emily Henry or The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker. But guess what! I liked them! They were fun and made me happy—mini vacations. By the end of 2022, I had read 23 of these books.

A few recent favorites.

Just like Emily Fleming in the medical field, my already-undervalued profession in education was pummeled by the pandemic. Teachers are leaving in droves. Just before the 2022-2023 school year began, I was reminded of Emily’s blog and her words about being a “multidimensional human being.” It inspired me to write this Instagram post. I wanted to inspire teachers and non-teachers alike to embrace their full human selves. Not just the serious work self (although that is important too!), but the self who likes to binge Netflix shows, scream like a maniac for your little soccer player, go for walks, dance, sing, or re-read the Twilight series.

So I guess I am wondering. . .

What carefree, not-so-serious thing will bring you joy in 2023?

Here are a few more of my own examples:

• Attending dance class at Area54. Check out their TikTok and Instagram videos. I am never even CLOSE to being the best dancer in the room, but I’m happy and having so much fun as a thirty-eight-year-old professor trying to keep up.

• Listening to The Toast podcast. These sisters make me laugh SO HARD and keep me in the loop about frivolous celebrity gossip.

• Singing. I used to sing ALL the time before I had kids. For my birthday this year, we rented a karaoke room with friends and (terribly, frivolously!) sang our hearts out. 

• Lastly, getting my first TATTOO! Having always overthought tattoos in the past, I finally decided to JUST DO IT! 

Here’s to living with a bit of frivolity.

Happy New Year!

Katie Schrodt

P.S. Read Katie’s previous letters, Finding Our Way and Reading With Our Children.