About us
hello,
This meetup is basically for friendly people to get together and hang out.
I was asked to point out that it is NOT singles only. Couples whether married or not can join and partake in all activities.
I will try to keep it to locations near the NY/NJ border, locations that conversations can actually take place (NOT loud places with dim lighting).
Mostly, it will be game nights, and walks in parks. Since there are many hiking groups out there, I will say that we will NOT hike, we will walk or stroll through a park, enjoying the surroundings, nature, and by talking while walking, enjoy each others company.
I will also try to set up "group conversation" nights where we can talk about subject but not limit ourselves to that subject alone. I found that hot topics were....internet dating....and male/female interactions ("why do they do this..." kind of questions ).
I intend on having most meetups on Friday nights and during the day of a Saturday. Since most likely I will be available those times. Other members are more then welcomed to host other meetups at other times, but I can not guarantee that I could attend.
Upcoming events
52
FTI: Happiness, Habits, and Science: What Positive Psychology Gets Right
·OnlineOnlinePositive psychology is often associated with ideas like happiness, gratitude, and “living your best life.” But what does the actual research say—and how useful is it in real life?
In this event, we’ll explore the field of positive psychology from a grounded, practical perspective:
- What is positive psychology, and how is it different from traditional psychology?
- What does the research say about happiness, meaning, and well-being?
- Which practices (if any) actually improve people’s lives?
- Where does the field fall short or get oversimplified?
This is not about feel-good slogans. It’s about understanding what holds up under scrutiny—and what we can realistically apply.
Expect a thoughtful, open discussion focused on evidence, lived experience, and honest reflection.
A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.Format:
Lecture and discussionNote:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.1 attendee
FTI: Emotional Intelligence (EQ): The Hidden Driver of Success and Impact
·OnlineOnlineIQ can open doors—but EQ determines what happens once you walk through them.
In this session, we break down what emotional intelligence really is, why it plays a critical role in leadership, relationships, and decision-making, and how improving it can dramatically increase both personal success and collective outcomes.
We’ll cover:
- The core components of EQ (self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skill, motivation)
- Why high EQ individuals consistently outperform in leadership, negotiation, and team environments
- How EQ influences trust, influence, and long-term relationship building
- Practical ways to measure and improve your EQ in real-world situations
- How stronger EQ at scale leads to better organizations, communities, and outcomes
This isn’t just about being “nice”—it’s about building the awareness and control needed to navigate complexity, align incentives, and create win-win outcomes in every area of life.
A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.Format:
Lecture and discussionNote:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.1 attendee
Past events
976
Group links
Members
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