Welcome to the funexamined life!

A friendly blog about learning to suffer less. Underlying this blog is the surprising idea that people can grow and change, sometimes a lot. After a lifetime of addiction, depression, and obesity, I have landed on some patterns of thinking that have greatly relieved my distress, which I am excited to share with you through writings and meditations. They include mindfulness meditation, meditations on the natural world, and approaches to addictive behavior and recovery. Like if your goofy meditation buddy was really into Carl Sagan.

About Stef

Stef P. used to write as a child, but forgot she liked it until she quit drinking. She studied rhetoric and composition at California State University, Fresno. Stef’s journey has been one of pulling up on the throttle just in time to keep from crashing into the cliff. Narrowly escaping the worst outcomes of depression, binge eating, alcoholism and drug addiction, she has found new peace in meditation as a spiritual practice. For the operational aspects of this blog, she is deeply indebted to her longtime partner Daniel B., who has provided unendingly patient and time-consuming technical, creative, and moral support. She has a demanding day job she finds fulfilling and joyful. She lives happily in Portland, Oregon with her family and cat Fatberry.