Quotes

Chitta Walks is for people whose days move fast, while the mind never fully lands. Thoughts keep looping even when nothing is urgent. The body moves, but attention is elsewhere. Over time, this disconnect drains clarity and ease. This walk is a simple reset. We meet in Berlin’s Tiergarten and walk at a gentle pace. Parts of the walk are in silence, with light guidance and a few short prompts. The walk itself is the practice, bringing body and mind back into the same moment. No apps. No performance. Just a clear space to slow down and notice what is happening. If you want to slow down without withdrawing from life, join a Chitta Walk. ✨ **What to expect (approx. 90 minutes):** * A short arrival and orientation * A guided silent walk (phones off, no conversation) * One concise science-based impulse on attention or stress * Optional reflection in pairs or small groups * A simple takeaway or experiment for daily life 🚶**Who this is for:** * Professionals, creatives, and people in transition. * People who feel mentally busy and want more clarity and balance. * Those curious about mindfulness, but grounded and practical. * Anyone comfortable with silence and gentle self observation. 🔔 **Practical notes:** * Duration: 60-90 minutes * Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing * No prior experience needed * Group size is limited to keep the space quiet and focused 🧭 **Facilitator:** My name is Partha Sarathi, you can call me PS. I have lived in Berlin for over 12 years. With a background in physics and materials science, my interest in mindfulness grew through personal experience with stress and health challenges. I facilitate the space and structure of the walk, inviting shared exploration rather than instruction. 🤔 **Why Chitta Walks?** Chitta is a Sanskrit word referring to the mind or field of awareness, used here in a practical, non-religious sense. Chitta Walks is about noticing how the mind works by slowing down and walking together. Mindful walking makes thought patterns visible in real time, while moving and sensing in the world. The name points to a simple capacity: noticing what is happening in the mind without immediately trying to fix, judge, or optimize it. 🌿 **Possible effects:** A calmer nervous system. Clearer attention. A felt sense of being more present in your body. Subtle insights into how your mind reacts under everyday conditions. A quieter, more grounded way of moving through the city. **Come as you are. Walk. Notice. Leave with a little more space inside.**

**🎬 Screenwriters' Meetup Invitation 🎬** This meetup is for anyone passionate about storytelling—whether you’re a screenwriter, filmmaker, producer, or someone with a great idea looking for the right collaborators. Whether you’re just starting out or deep into your screenplay, this is the perfect space to create, collaborate, and refine your work. **When You Bring Your Screenplay, Think About Three Key Ingredients:** 1. **Your Main Character** – Who are they? What drives them? 2. **The Central Conflict** – What’s at stake? What’s standing in their way? 3. **The Theme** – What’s the deeper idea that motivates you to tell this story? If you’re struggling to find a theme, define your character, or establish a strong conflict—don’t worry. That’s exactly what this meetup is for. We’re here to help you uncover the core of your story and give you the tools to develop it further. Already have an elaborate story? Great! Reflect on these elements: * **Compelling Characters** – Are they layered, dynamic, and memorable? * **Inner Conflicts, Interpersonal Tensions, and Global Stakes** – Does your story operate on multiple levels? * **A Strong, Personal Theme** – Does your theme resonate with you and give your story purpose? If you can identify these elements, we can dive even deeper and give you focused, constructive feedback to help your screenplay reach its full potential. Bring your ideas, your drafts, and your passion. Let’s collaborate, challenge each other, and create stories that matter. We can’t wait to see you there!

A bookclub meet-up organized by our member Oana. We will meet in this cozy cafe with delicious brunch style food, and talk about what we are currently reading :) and, if we have time, chat in general about books. Please also feel free to read a sample from your book if you wish. Usually we read both fiction and non-fiction (history, philosophy, sociology, and other topics). Bring your Kindle, your tablet, or your paper books. The discussion will be in English, but of course feel free to bring books in any language.

Silent Book Club is a group of book lovers who enjoy reading together in public. All books and all readers are welcome. (Kindly RSVP 'yes' only if you can make it, so we can save a seat for you and our fellow readers on the waitlist!) This page-turning party will unfold in the Café (1st floor) at the Bode Museum. There's no entrance fee, but please order at least one item from the cafe and don't bring any outside drinks :) No quizzes, no pressure, no assigned books - just a group of book-loving souls basking in the beauty of silent reading. **Our thrilling agenda:** 10:30 am - 11:00 am - Arrivals, ordering drinks/food (social time) 11:00 am - 12:00 pm - The Great Quiet Reading Hour (where silence is the star) 12:00 pm - 13:00 pm - Optional socializing, share your reading adventures or just keep exploring the pages Stay for lunch, and who knows? You might just find your next favorite book over a pizza. NB: If you plan to go for lunch, please consider bringing cash, as some restaurants only accept card payments after a certain amount.

**Step right up for a fortune-telling experience that's barely accurate, but definitely unforgettable.** Magdalena, the "fortune teller", combines a crystal ball, questionable predictions and a healthy dose of dark humour in a show that's as absurd as it is entertaining. Described by the 'Scotsman' (top newspaper in the UK) as 'unexpected, clever, ridiculous but great stuff, crystal ball and all', this interactive comedy has left audiences worldwide laughing and wondering what just happened. Some say it's life-changing, others call it pure nonsense-but no one escapes without a few laughs, some spirit summoning and answers you probably didn't want. **Sold out run in Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025** Reserve your seat for just €2, and at the end of the show, you decide what it was worth (suggested contribution: €10-15). Reservations are held until 10 minutes before the show starts. This is a paid show—you just get to choose how much to pay. **Make sure to reserve your ticket [HERE](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/01-accurate-english-comedy-night-tickets-1980718239574?aff=meetup)**

Curious what we do? Check our [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/filmmakersandmovienerds/) ♥️ Would you like to meet some like-minded filmmakers? Start a project? Or do you need help with a movie you are currently working on? Are you new in the city and you'd like to meet people tinkering with movies? **Then you should join us!** We meet every Sunday. It’s important to us that we get to know each other in person. To create a community of connected people, work, learn and grow together. For film making you need a crew of reliable people with a positive can-do-attitude. This is the place to find them. Together, we will talk about these topics: * What you are currently working on * What you need help with * What would you like to help with * What you you would like to learn This is event is great for: * filmmakers * movie nerds * writers * camera operators * editors * actors * sound recorders * composers * gaffers * producers We are limiting the amount of people, so we can have a structured introduction and discussion. After that we get together loosely with some drinks and chats. And then we mostly go for dinner with a couple of us. **Important information**: *To sustain and grow this amazing community, we started a member contribution that is due every month. The money we collect is used solely for the purpose of the community. Of course you can come once or twice without contributing to check us out!*

Bist du bereit für viele positive Veränderungen? Dann kommt der Access Bars® Kurs genau richtig für dich! Jeden Tag erleben knapp eine Million Menschen weltweit die transformative Kraft dieses Körperprozesses. Wissenschaftliche Studien belegen die positiven Wirkungen auf das Gehirn, das Nervensystem und den Körper. Die Access Bars® berühren alle Aspekte des Lebens: Beziehung, Körper, Alterung, Heilung, Selbstliebe, Freude, Trauer, Beziehung und Kommunikation, innerer Frieden ua. Klick auf meine Website und erfahre, was die Bars® bewirken können und welche kraftvollen Werkzeuge du an diesem Kurstag mit nach Hause nimmst. https://www.i-feel-so-good.de/access-consciousness/access-consciousness-einzelsessions/access-bodyprozesse.html Nachdem du den Kurs abgeschlossen hast, erhältst du das Practitioner Zertifikat. Es qualifiziert dich, die Access Bars® anderen zu geben, deinen Familienmitgliedern, deinen Freunden und deinen Klienten. Und natürlich kannst du die Bars® auch bei dir selbst anwenden. Nach dem Kurs kannst du dich mit anderen Praktizierenden zum Austausch treffen. Bist du bereit für ein leichteres Leben? Dann freue ich mich, wenn du mit dabei bist! Kontaktiere mich gerne, wenn du Fragen hast oder eine Kennenlernsession buchen möchtest. PS: Die Anmeldung für den Kurs ist nur telefonisch möglich.

The images are clear and stark. Three times three: Three tasks. Three brothers. Three wishes. The scenes are startling: Violent mothers. Arresting taboos. Brutal punishments. Fairy tales. This is the buried country. The land of shade and silhouette. Yet, there is a purity in this half-light veil. For, the telling of these tales is magical. They come alive inside of us as the words are spoken. Herein lie the archetypes, stripped, and unadorned. For Jungian Analyst Marie Louise von Franz, the fairy tale is, "the purest and simplest expression of collective unconscious psychic processes." We’ll begin with a short overview of von Franz's work on Fairy Tales, focusing on the theory. Then, we'll read a short Fairy Tale: The Girl Without Hands. This will be followed by an open conversation around the themes of the tale, and how we understand them manifesting in psyche and culture.

**Come together. Write. Support each other.** • Du schreibst einfach gern – egal ob Buch, Blog, Poesie oder Tagebuch? • Du vermisst Gespräche über das Schreiben und das, was dabei entsteht? • Du wünschst dir mehr Zeit zum Schreiben – und Menschen, die ähnlich ticken? Kreativ sein verbindet. Und genau dafür ist dieser Social Writing Club da. Dieser Club ist für Menschen, die gerne schreiben und Lust haben, das nicht immer allein zu tun: gemeinsam Zeit verbringen, schreiben, sich austauschen und ganz nebenbei neue Menschen kennenlernen – in einem entspannten, offenen Rahmen. Ganz gleich, wo du gerade mit dem Schreiben stehst: Du bist willkommen. Wir treffen uns einmal im Monat in einem Café am Platz der Luftbrücke in Kreuzberg. **Es gibt kein Thema, keinen Input, kein Feedback.** Jede\*r schreibt für sich, an dem, was gerade da ist – im eigenen Tempo, auf die eigene Art. Zwischendurch und danach gibt es Raum für Gespräche: über das Schreiben selbst oder einfach über das Leben. **So läuft ein Treffen ab:** Wir kommen entspannt an, bestellen etwas und richten uns ein. Der Vormittag besteht aus zwei Schreibeinheiten, mit einer lockeren Pause dazwischen. Wir schreiben in Stille – nebeneinander, konzentriert, jede\*r für sich. Zum Abschluss gibt es Zeit zum Ankommen miteinander: Kennenlernen, Austauschen, Zuhören. Alles darf, nichts muss. **ℹ️ Wir treffen uns in einem Café und sind dort normale Gäste – plane bitte ein, etwas zu bestellen.** Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos und erfordert keine Vorbereitung. Alles, was du brauchst, ist das, woran du schreiben willst – handschriftlich oder digital. **Kleiner Hinweis: Die Treffen finden auf Deutsch statt. 🇩🇪** . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 🗓️ **Agenda** **11:00 Uhr** Ankommen, Einrichten & etwas bestellen **11:15 – 12:45 Uhr** Stille Schreibeinheit (konzentriertes Schreiben, jede\*r für sich – gerne Kopfhörer mitbringen, falls es im Café etwas voller wird) **12:45 – 13:30 Uhr** Austausch & Ausklang

**Silent Reading Book Club** A new way to enjoy reading! Ditch the old book club, where everyone has to read the same book…this is better! It works like this: Bring your own book. Come chat, have some tea or coffee, get to know your neighbors. Then we quietly read together, side by side, for about one hour, each one reading their own book, and afterwards we talk with each other about what we are reading. You may read in any language, you may read any book. We are a group of international residents of Berlin from many different countries, of all ages, and we converse in English. We welcome you! no registration needed- the event is donation based

Welcome to Sunday Tech Coffee. This is a **networking** event for those in the tech industry in Berlin. We are usually inside and to the right. Ask the barista/bartender if you can't find us.

Let's read together on another Sunday morning. Agenda: 10:30-11:00 Arrival, ordering drinks, getting to know each other 11:00-12:00 Reading together 12:00-13:00 Share reading experience There is no books assigned. Just bring whatever you are reading for now. Please sign up only when you can join the event. Hope you will enjoy it there!

We are inviting you to our next Evening of Meditation on **Sunday, the 8th of February**. These gatherings are not just about meditating on your own, but a step inward that we take together regarding a particular topic. This time we explore **Love in communication**. Even in the most beautiful relationships - with a friend, partner or family member - we can find ourselves in misunderstandings, arguments, and conflict. In trying to reach a compromise, we often end up feeling not fully satisfied with the outcome. Let’s explore together how Love in communication can transform our relationships into a more beautiful and fulfilling experience. 📍Where: [Yoga Sky](https://maps.app.goo.gl/kBxUvZrqo5yzRNe88?g_st=ipc), Am Tempelhofer Berg 7d, 10965 Berlin Follow the Yoga Sky signs in the yard, and take the elevator to the top floor. 🗓 When: Sunday, 8th of February, 19:00 - 20:30 Please arrive 5-10 min earlier to settle down. 🎟️ Entry: € 5, just to pay for the space (in cash or PayPal) For more info go to: [https://onenessberlin.com/](https://onenessberlin.com/) You’re welcome, no matter your background or experience. This is what has worked for us over many years and we love to share it with you. Looking forward to see you, Oneness Berlin Florian, Jazgul, Carla & Abhi

**This event is supposed to be a fun way to meet new people whilst walking and talking on the topic of shame, and emotions.** Sometimes it’s easier to tell a stranger something we are ashamed about, instead of someone we know. This is a no-judgment space open to all. I ask you to come with an open mind and heart and a willingness to share of yourself and hold space for other peoples stories. **We’ll meet at the corner of the Lietzensee Park on Sunday 8th February at 10.30am. I'll be standing by the statue / flower bed holding a Swedish flag.** English and German language are both welcome. I host in English. **What to Expect:** **Our first walks of shame have been really powerful and I've been honoured to host two hours of connection, vulnerability and creating a space where people feel safe to unshame and come as themselves.** The intention for this event is for you to practice talking about the topics you feel are taboo, get over your shyness, and/or things that happened in your life that you feel ashamed about. Shame holds a power over you when you don’t speak it and feel it. It stops you from being able to be your true self. After a short introduction we’ll spend about 1 hour together walking through the Lietzensee Park and weather permitting we’ll also find a nice spot outside to do a circle sharing, or go to a local cafe, for those who would like to join. I like to close our time together by doing some embodiment practices / reflection exercises / answering any questions, so that you leave with tools you can use in your day to day life. If you already feel a little embarrassed about the idea of sharing then this is DEFINITELY for you. I’ve learnt that sharing of those taboo and shameful topics actually makes you realise that you were the only one making them a big thing. When you tell it, people respect and admire that you dared to share or that you overcame something difficult. People think you are brave and resilient. This forms real connection and cuts through the superficial bull-shit we all feel we have to aspire to. I’ll break the ice by sharing something I feel shame about and then we’ll pair up as we walk. There is no strict agenda, but I instigate a number of partner changes so that you have the opportunity to share individually with at least 3 other guests. With each share I hope that feeling shame in a negative sense might be dispelled and despite being out of your comfort zone, you will feel good for sharing. **What to Bring** Wrap up warm, Perhaps a small blanket to sit on and your morning drink of choice. But really nothing other than yourself. **About the Organiser** Hi I’m Kim! I’m a fun, open and energetic Swede who grew up in England and landed in Berlin 17 years ago. After a 20+ year career in design I realised I could not suppress my calling to work with people on a deeper more spiritual level. I have since retrained as a Transformative Life Coach and Emotional Release facilitator and now work predominantly in this field. I take a very holistic approach to life and work and hope that my own stories and candidness may inspire others to overcome their limiting ‘stories’ too. Other than my 1:1 work, I love to host talks, am just starting a conversational podcast interviewing men, who share powerful stories of coming out, shame, relationship troubles, addiction, late adhd diagnosis and much more. I speak at events, host mind-body connection and lifestyle workshops, all with a purpose of helping people connect to themselves on a deeper level. On a final note, beyond my career change these last years I also left an unhappy marriage after 14 years, reversed my chronic pain and many other niggling health problems through working with my emotions and nervous system, I've understood what it means to feel my feelings, regained my energy and self worth and started to co-parent my 2 kids. Do feel free to reach out and ask questions. Insta: @kimklelund and @hausoflund

(2024) by Christof Koch, 288 pages [Psychology] • Hardcover • Kindle • Audiobook • Library: https://fcplcat.fairfaxcounty.gov/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1&pos=1&cn=613100 Check the How To Find Us section for Zoom Link **(Remember, the Zoom Link is different each month, do not bookmark)** ### Review "A wonderful book."―Sam Harris, Making Sense with Sam Harris “a fun introduction to a number of debates… Mr. Koch’s book provokes questions… and counterarguments, but that’s what gives it life.” ―The Wall Street Journal “Easily the most current, thorough, and helpful exploration of consciousness available. Koch’s light, simple, yet authoritative writing style will appeal to general audiences as well as scientists and researchers. An essential, highly recommended purchase.”―Library Journal “magisterial… charming, sometimes beautiful, and almost always illuminating” ―Science Magazine “an impressive and sometimes exuberant work, showcasing decades of [Koch’s] research”―New Scientist “Koch’s adept use of analogies and entertaining anecdotes — complete with his own near-death experience and psychedelic drug trips — make the book a compelling and surprisingly light read.” ―Science News “undeniably compelling… a smoothly written must-read for anyone interested in a detailed introduction to the relationship between the brain, consciousness, and transformative experiences” ―Ars Technica “Expertly weaving in personal experience with science that few, if any, can speak more authoritatively about, Koch leads us on an amazing journey of consciousness—from birth to death. Deeply personal and infinitely digestible, Then I Am Myself the World is a remarkable must read for anyone interested in knowing their mind.”―Judson Brewer MD, PhD, New York Times–bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety “Koch’s latest book brilliantly navigates the intricate landscape of our mind and our brain, offering insightful perspectives on the nature of conscious experiences, both ordinary as well as extraordinary ones.”―Hartmut Neven, founder and lead of Google’s quantum AI lab “Then I Am Myself the World is the new record of note for the scientific understanding of consciousness. This is an elegant tableau, a travelogue of subjective experience grounded in the latest neuroscience and philosophy traversing religion, science, and a life dedicated to the biggest questions. Filled with crystalline prose, lucid explanation, and revelatory honesty, this book will continue to be read centuries from now.”―Patrick House, author of Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness “What would happen if a hardcore neuroscientist, with encyclopedic knowledge and four decades of experience in his field, were personally confronted with transformative mystical experiences carrying inevitable metaphysical implications? What would happen if the neuroscientist in question were open-minded, humble, but remained rigorously grounded in reason, evidence, and his hard-earned understanding of how consciousness relates to brain structures and function? What would he, the most preeminent professional of his generation, make of his extraordinary experiences? And what if, in addition, the neuroscientist was a modern renaissance man versed in physics, philosophy, the arts, the classics, and could pluck irresistibly evocative metaphors from the Western literary and artistic canon as if leisurely picking apples in early fall? This is what you will find in this treasured book, a whirlwind ride of insight after insight—so many they can’t possibly be all documented in footnotes—that will surprise and delight you from the get-go. ‘Primacy goes to consciousness, not to the objective world,’ he boldly states already on page two, in a prelude of things to come. ‘Everything else follows from there, including the realist assumption of the existence of objects, out ‘there,’ independent of my experiencing them.’ The book embodies the ever-evolving wisdom of a man whose intellectual prowess is only matched by his intellectual honesty. And this man, in the seventh decade of his scintillatingly productive life, has a lifetime of learning to share with you.”―Bernardo Kastrup, executive director, Essentia Foundation “Koch’s first book was entitled The Quest for Consciousness. And such has been Koch’s life, an adventurer’s pursuit of a distant goal, undeterred by the prevailing winds. The reader will learn where this quest has led and, like the author, will be enriched by it. Koch, one of the most accomplished scientists of our time, a mind singularly open to learning and changing, here opens his soul, revealing his vast, scintillating appreciation of nature in all its forms. It is a touching, profound book. Which is as it should be, since consciousness touches everything and is everything we touch.”―Giulio Tononi, University of Wisconsin-Madison ### About the Author Christof Koch is a neuroscientist at the Allen Institute and at the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, the former president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and a former professor at the California Institute of Technology. Author of four previous titles, Koch writes regularly for a range of media, including Scientific American. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Come connect with founders across the DC startup community at our monthly Startup Grind DC Founders Dinner. This month, we’re spotlighting HealthTech & Wellness founders—but all founders are welcome to join us for complimentary appetizers and great conversation. Quick heads-up: Your ticket includes event access and appetizers. Entrées and drinks will be on individual tabs. We’re also looking for sponsors who want to support the DC founder community. Whether that’s hosting the event, covering food, or contributing financially, sponsors get the opportunity to connect directly with founders, receive shoutouts in our promotions, speak at events, and reach our 10,000+ pre-seed to Series A founders across the DMV. Agenda --- Hosted By Mia Orantes, Chapter Director I'm a dynamic speaker, angel investor, serial entrepreneur, the host of the celebrated Founders Only podcast, and the CEO & founder of the award-winning agency that automates online growth and profitability engines, Creative Analytics. As a lifelong entrepreneur, I am devoted to serving founders by showing them the road map for rapid online growth and helping them navigate that journey. A native Washingtonian, I hold several designations, including a PMI-certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, an MBA & MS in Information Technology with a concentration in Project Management, and an in-progress certificate in Digital Transformation & AI from Cornell University. --- Global Partner Carta (http://www.carta.com/launch?utm_campaign=20240423-nam-general-smb-startup_grind_partnership&utm_medium=social&utm_source=startup_grind) Carta helps people manage equity, build businesses, and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Carta Launch is the only free cap table product, helping new founders get started. The company is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 7,000 funds and SPVs, and over two million equity holders to manage cap tables, compensation, valuations, liquidity, and more. For more information, visit carta.com. Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-washington-dc-presents-february-2026-founders-dinner/.

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Some great optional questions for discussion are below.
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Suggested Questions: Life Stages & Transitions
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1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?
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Suggested Questions: Identity After the Roles
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4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?
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Suggested Questions: AI & Being Human
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7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?
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Suggested Questions: Belief & Meaning
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10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?
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Suggested Questions: The Modern Psyche
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13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?
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Suggested Questions: Work & Purpose
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16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?
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Suggested Questions: Relationships & Connection
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19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?
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Suggested Questions: Time & Mortality
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22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?
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Suggested Questions: Society & Culture
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25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?
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Suggested Questions: Personal Philosophy
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28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Love and Monsters,”** on the inescapable bond between romance and horror, with Joshua Barton, scholar of horror and lecturer in English at Virginia Commonwealth University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters) .] Romance and horror might seem like opposite genres, but they share a deep emotional core, and the combination of them has captivated audiences across time and culture. Put even your worst Valentine’s Day in perspective by hearing this strange relationship discussed by Joshua Barton, who has earned a big following among Profs and Pints fans with his past talks on cryptids, American horror, and Christmas ghosts. He’ll explore the undeniable and unsettling intersection of romance and horror and examine how and why love and fear intensify each other and combined to create tension, drive narratives, and explore human vulnerability. We’ll look at works that have blended passion and terror, including Gothic literature like the vampire novella *Carmilla* and modern films like *Spring* and *Crimson Peak*. We’ll study the fine line between obsession and adoration running through Stephen King’s “I Know What You Need,” Adrian Lyne’s *Fatal Attraction*, and the timeless *The Phantom of the Opera.* We’ll discuss the seeds of monstrous love that were planted with *Beauty and the Beast* and *Creature from the Black Lagoon* and bloom ferociously in works like *Twilight* and *The Shape of Water*. Through it all, we’ll find the threads of otherness and the taboo that intertwine horror, love, and reflections on identity. Join us for a journey through storytelling that combines the grotesque and the scintillating as we uncover why romance and horror are a match made in the dark. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From the original 1954 advertising poster for *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (Artist: Reynold Brown / Public Domain).

Join our partners Watermark Woods Native Plants, Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL), and Birch Tree Bookstore for the Read! Plant! Grow! Book Club, which focuses on native plants, sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and LCPL. At this meeting we’ll discuss the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Both memoir and journalistic investigation, this book explores how the Kingsolver family took on a new challenge: to spend a year on a locally -produced diet, paying close attention to the provenance of all they consume. Concerned about the environmental, social, and physical costs of American food culture, they hoped to recover what Kingsolver considers our nation’’s lost appreciation for farms and the natural processes of food production. You can either buy the book from Birch Tree Bookstore or contact Allison Forbes at [Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov](mailto:Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov) to borrow a copy of the book at the library. There are two ways to participate: attend the event online via the library website or [sign up to participate in person at Birch Tree Bookstore](https://www.birchtreebookstore.com/event-details/read-plant-grow-2026-02-24-18-30). ***Questions:*** *Contact [info@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:info@loudounwildlife.org)*.

**Looking for a group you can write with *whilst sipping your fave coffee*?** ☕✍️ Then come join **Shut Up & Write!** on **Saturday, February 14th from 1:30pm to 4:00pm** at **Ridgetop Coffee & Tea**! Whether you're cranking out a novel, journaling, looking for new friends, or just trying to get that stubborn paragraph right—we’ve got a cozy seat and a supportive group waiting for you! **No critiques, no peer review, no pressure—just a chill space to get words on the page.** 📝 **What to expect:** 1:30–2:00pm – Grab your coffee or tea, find your seat, and meet your fellow writers. 2:00pm–3:30pm – Silent, focused writing time 3:30–4:00pm – Debrief, celebrate any writing wins, commiserate on any obstacles, and head out feeling accomplished. **RSVP Info:** The room seats only 8 people comfortably! RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot!! If you are unable to attend, please cancel your reservation **ASAP** so those on the wait list are able to RSVP and attend!!! **Meeting Room:** Enter the coffee shop, walk straight towards the play area and on your left you will see a meeting room just past the bathrooms. The room has a TV, white board, and walls are painted green. **What to Bring:** Whatever helps you focus, and be productive. There is a wall outlet at each end of the room, so you're able to bring your laptop to write. You're welcome to bring headphones if you enjoy listening to music while working. **Parking & Accessibility:** there is a large parking lot out front and it is free! There are no stair cases when entering the coffee shop or when inside. This coffee shop is incredibly spacious with many seating options. If you have any questions, please message me through MeetUp. I'm happy to help. **Dietary Information:** many GF, Vegan, and SF options. Just ask your barista when ordering for specifics! Can’t wait to see you there! 🎉