The author has long struggled with sports, often feeling like a total failure on the field. But last year, after months of hesitation, they finally joined a casual football game with friends - and discovered that it wasn't as painful as they thought.
To their surprise, the friend's friendly kickabout became addictive - so addictive, in fact, that the author now attends every other Sunday with about 40 like-minded people who aren't exactly professional athletes. The group dynamic is all about playfulness and camaraderie, without any pressure to perform or improve.
While the initial thrill of joining a team can be intoxicating, it's the underlying philosophy of "amateurism" that has really caught the author's attention. Karen Walrond, an activist who has written a book called "In Defense of Dabbling," argues that embracing our amateur side is essential for personal growth and happiness.
For Walrond, this concept means finding activities we're drawn to, but not necessarily excelling at - things like juggling or playing the piano. What's essential, she says, is that these pursuits ignite curiosity, foster self-compassion, and allow us to access a sense of wonder or awe.
Walrond's book explores seven key attributes of intentional amateurism: play, exploration without expectation, mindfulness, curiosity, connection, challenge, and wonder. She cites examples from her own life - like trying pottery for the first time, which inspired her to develop a deeper connection with herself.
It's easy to see why so many people are drawn to this philosophy in today's society, where we often feel pressured to be productive, self-optimizing, and "successful." Walrond argues that embracing amateurism allows us to break free from these constraints, let go of perfectionism, and simply enjoy the process.
The author of the original article found themselves doing just that on the football pitch - finding joy in playing a sport they'd never been good at. It's not about winning or losing; it's about challenging yourself, having fun, and embracing your limitations.
As one 60-something woman quoted by Walrond put it: "Nobody's expecting you to be in the WNBA." The idea of embracing amateurism is liberating - a reminder that there's value in simply trying something new, making an attempt, and stretching ourselves beyond our comfort zones.
To their surprise, the friend's friendly kickabout became addictive - so addictive, in fact, that the author now attends every other Sunday with about 40 like-minded people who aren't exactly professional athletes. The group dynamic is all about playfulness and camaraderie, without any pressure to perform or improve.
While the initial thrill of joining a team can be intoxicating, it's the underlying philosophy of "amateurism" that has really caught the author's attention. Karen Walrond, an activist who has written a book called "In Defense of Dabbling," argues that embracing our amateur side is essential for personal growth and happiness.
For Walrond, this concept means finding activities we're drawn to, but not necessarily excelling at - things like juggling or playing the piano. What's essential, she says, is that these pursuits ignite curiosity, foster self-compassion, and allow us to access a sense of wonder or awe.
Walrond's book explores seven key attributes of intentional amateurism: play, exploration without expectation, mindfulness, curiosity, connection, challenge, and wonder. She cites examples from her own life - like trying pottery for the first time, which inspired her to develop a deeper connection with herself.
It's easy to see why so many people are drawn to this philosophy in today's society, where we often feel pressured to be productive, self-optimizing, and "successful." Walrond argues that embracing amateurism allows us to break free from these constraints, let go of perfectionism, and simply enjoy the process.
The author of the original article found themselves doing just that on the football pitch - finding joy in playing a sport they'd never been good at. It's not about winning or losing; it's about challenging yourself, having fun, and embracing your limitations.
As one 60-something woman quoted by Walrond put it: "Nobody's expecting you to be in the WNBA." The idea of embracing amateurism is liberating - a reminder that there's value in simply trying something new, making an attempt, and stretching ourselves beyond our comfort zones.
like I've been thinking we should try going to a recreational sports team meeting just me and my friends from school but never went for some reason lol guess what it could be fun 
anyway Karen Walrond's idea of finding activities that don't require being super good at them makes total sense I mean have you ever tried playing tennis without knowing how to serve? it's actually kinda frustrating 
but also super entertaining I'm gonna look into this book she wrote and check out some pottery classes for myself maybe I can find a new hobby 
I mean, what's wrong with being good at something? It's not like it's going to hurt anyone. And don't even get me started on how boring it is when everyone just phones it in and doesn't try their best. I'd rather have a team that's actually competing against each other than just coasting along because we're all just "amateurs" 
. And another thing, what's with the whole " nobody's expecting you to be in the WNBA" vibe? Newsflash: if you want to be in the WNBA, you gotta put in the work! 
I think this philosophy is so relatable! I've always struggled with joining groups or clubs because I don't want to be bad at it 
, but now that you mention it, having fun and not taking myself too seriously might actually make it more enjoyable 
.
), but the concept of finding activities that spark curiosity and wonder is really appealing. It makes sense why people would want to try new things without worrying about being good at them 
.
, it's so true! The idea of embracing our amateur side and having fun is a great way to live life, not just something we do on the weekends. 
Karen Walrond's ideas make sense, but what about people who are actually struggling to find joy in something and need some real motivation? And what about the ones who aren't into playing sports or trying new things because they just don't see the point? Shouldn't we be encouraging those people to try out, rather than just telling them it's all about having fun? 
I'm curious to know more about this "In Defense of Dabbling" book and what kind of research Walrond did on this topic. Need some sources here! 
I'm totally with Karen Walrond on this! Embracing your "amateur" side can be super empowering. I mean, who doesn't love trying new things and having fun without the pressure of being "good at it"? 
It's all about finding activities that make you curious and happy, rather than stressing about perfection. And honestly, that's something we could all learn from - life's too short to be stuck on being "productive" or "successful" all the time! 
. Embracing your amateur side can be super liberating, like a weight's been lifted off your shoulders 
. And Karen Walrond makes some really valid points about how curiosity, connection, and wonder are key aspects of this philosophy 
.
I mean, think about it, when was the last time you tried something new just for the sake of trying it? 
! I mean, think about it, most people are stuck on perfection and productivity 24/7, but what if we just relaxed a bit? 
Like, I know nothing about sports, never even played before, but joining that casual game with friends was actually super liberating. We didn't have to be pros or anything, we could just chill and have fun. And that's when it hit me - the joy is in trying something new, not in being awesome at it 
. Karen Walrond's got a point, embracing our amateur side can be super empowering. It's all about finding activities we enjoy, without the pressure to excel, you know? 
. It's like, we're so used to pushing ourselves to be the best at everything that it's great to see people embracing their "not-so-great" side 
. I mean, who needs to be a pro at football when you can just have fun with friends and enjoy the process? It's all about finding that balance between challenge and relaxation, you know? And Karen Walrond is totally onto something with her idea of intentional amateurism - it's like, we don't have to be experts or perfectionists to experience joy and fulfillment 
she makes so much sense about embracing our amateur side and finding joy in the process 
and for me, it's all about trying new things and not being too hard on myself 
. It's so easy to get caught up in trying to optimize every aspect of our lives, but what if we just allowed ourselves to experience joy in all its messy, imperfect glory?
. I mean, why can't we just relax and have fun with stuff instead of always being on a mission to be perfect? 
️ But seriously, have you seen those older women playing football? They're like the ultimate example of embracing amateurism - they're not worried about looking silly or failing, they just wanna have fun and play with their friends. That's so inspiring! 
