Photo by Sarah Brown via Uplash.

In a world that moves at a frantic pace, it’s important to have hobbies that slow you down, nourish your spirit and don’t drain your wallet. Cozy hobbies aren’t just for snowy afternoons or rainy Sundays. They can be part of everyday life, offering a retreat from the stresses of work, school or endless scrolling. Even better, most of them are surprisingly affordable! Here’s a look at some cozy, inexpensive hobbies that can add a little more comfort (and joy) to your days.

1. Reading

Few things are cozier than curling up with a good book. Libraries offer free access to thousands of titles and used bookstores, Little Free Libraries and online resources like Libby make reading accessible—even on a tight budget! Whether you prefer fantasy epics, mystery novels or soft-spoken poetry, there’s something magical about getting lost in another world.

2. Knitting or Crocheting

Yarn crafts are often associated with grandmas, but they’ve become popular across generations—and for good reason. Knitting and crocheting are calming and can produce something tangible and useful. A basic set of needles and some inexpensive yarn are all you need to start. Plus, handmade scarves, hats, and blankets make heartfelt gifts.

3. Journaling

Journaling is both an emotional outlet and a creative hobby. All you need is a notebook and a pen. Whether you’re writing morning pages, recording dreams, making gratitude lists or creating artful bullet journals, journaling invites you to slow down and check in with yourself.

4. Baking

Baking fills your home with warm, delicious smells and gives you something delightful to enjoy (or share). Ingredients for simple recipes, like bread, muffins or cookies, are inexpensive and often already in your pantry. 

5. Puzzle Solving

Puzzles, whether jigsaw puzzles, crosswords or Sudoku, offer hours of cozy, focused entertainment. A single puzzle can be reused, traded with friends or borrowed from libraries. They’re great for chilly evenings when you want something relaxing but mentally engaging.

6. Nature Walks

You don’t have to scale a mountain to enjoy the calming effects of nature. A simple walk through a local park, trail or even a quiet street can do wonders for your peace of mind. Listening to the birds, feeling the breeze and watching the seasons change are free pleasures available to anyone.

7. Drawing or Coloring

Art supplies don’t have to be fancy to be enjoyable. A basic sketchpad and pencils or a coloring book with markers can unlock hours of creativity. Doodling, sketching or even painting simple watercolors is less about making a masterpiece and more about enjoying the act of creating.

8. Listening to Audiobooks or Podcasts

Sometimes, the coziest hobby is simply sitting in a comfy chair with a warm blanket and letting someone else tell you a story. Audiobooks (free from libraries or affordable through apps) and podcasts on every imaginable topic provide endless cozy content for little to no cost.

Closing

In the end, cozy hobbies remind us that comfort doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It’s about creating small rituals that bring peace, beauty and creativity into daily life. 

Photo by Channel 82 via Uplash.

Who Was Pope Francis?

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away Monday, April 21 on Easter Monday—a day rich in symbolism for Christians around the world. 

Originally from Argentina and the first non-European pope in more than a millennium, he leaves behind an indelible legacy within the Catholic Church. And yet, looking back, nothing seemed to predestine Bergoglio to ascend to the highest position in the church. Named after St. Francis of Assisi, his humanist values and simple lifestyle became the cornerstone of his papacy. But what lessons can we draw from his time as pope?

A Reformist Pope?

The choice of the name Francis was far from trivial. A Jesuit by background — an order rooted in education, service and social justice — Pope Francis aligned himself with the ideals of St. Francis of Assisi, who preached humility and poverty. His papacy was marked by a deep concern for the oppressed and for the structural inequalities that divide humanity.

One of his most visible battles was against xenophobia, particularly condemning the actions of western governments toward migrants. These efforts demonstrated his deep commitment to humanitarian causes. In a world increasingly marked by division and fear of the “other,” Pope Francis embodied the belief that love and compassion can still guide us.

He broke long-standing taboos when he famously said, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” Later in his papacy, he went further, authorizing blessings for same-sex couples. These gestures, though modest by some standards, represented significant steps toward a more inclusive church. In this way, Pope Francis sought to break with the past and champion a vision of Christianity rooted in love and acceptance — principles that defined his 12 years at the helm of the Vatican.

Some Things Never Change

Despite his progressive image marked by strong advocacy for human dignity and condemnation of growing inequalities, Pope Francis faced serious criticism for his handling of sexual abuse scandals within the Church. This deep-rooted issue, which continues to tarnish the institution, was not met with the decisive action many had hoped for. Although he issued some condemnations and initiated reforms, his response was often seen as tepid and inconsistent.

The recent revelations surrounding Abbé Pierre only reinforced this perception. While Pope Francis claimed that the Vatican became aware of Abbé Pierre’s misconduct years after his death, multiple sources indicate the Vatican had knowledge of his Abbé Pierre’s wrongdoings  as early as 1955. ​​Pope Francis’ approach to the issue underscored the complex institutional dynamics and longstanding patterns in how the Church has addressed abuse allegations in the past.

Despite this scandal, Pope Francis nonetheless leaves behind a vision of hope and compassion. But now, the question turns to the future: What comes next?

What Can We Expect From the Upcoming Conclave?

According to church tradition, a new pope is elected within 15 to 20 days of the previous pope’s death. A conclave — a gathering of cardinals tasked with electing the next pope — will soon convene. As dramatized in Edward Berger’s recent film Conclave this process is often full of intrigue and unpredictability. While there may be favorites, the final choice frequently defies expectations.

This election carries significant weight. Pope Francis expanded the church’s global reach by appointing numerous cardinals from Africa and Southeast Asia and championing a more inclusive worldview. But with democratic institutions retreating and nationalist movements gaining momentum across Europe and the United States, the progressive momentum he initiated now hangs in the balance.

The next pope will have enormous influence over the church’s direction. With more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, his voice will matter. Beyond theological and social priorities, he will also face the urgent task of reforming the Vatican’s finances and, most critically, addressing the institutional failures that have allowed sexual abuse to persist.

Photo by William Jewell College via LinkedIn.

Over the weekend of March 14, the William Jewell Speech and Debate team competed at the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence  (NPTE)and became the new national champions. Third years, Patrick Terry and Trent Dixon, spent the academic year competing against some of the most renowned debate teams in the country. For Terry and Dixon, their previous summer was filled with preparing to compete against the country’s best and they walked away as the first William Jewell National Champions since 2007. Both will be returning to the team next year as seniors and are hoping to look at an undefeated season. 

“We are hoping to maintain our NPTE championship,” Terry said.

They are wanting to make the community of debate more welcoming . Parliamentary is an impromptu style of debate that gives the competitor 30 minutes to prepare for the entire round. Once the round begins, the teams aren’t allowed to engage in research or search through their files. Therefore, the competitors have to be prepared for any possible outcome. This skill set can take months to years to master, and many debaters can still struggle with this version of the event. As stressful as this may seem for those just starting, Terry explained that the upperclassmen are always ready to help. 

“We love coaching just as much as competing,” Terry said. “It helps build a spirit of success.” 

With the season now at a close, the duo is now looking forward and focusing on what is to come. They have already started to concentrate more effort into the team building and structuring it for next year. William Jewell is continuing to find ways to support its students with the resources they need but the team’s passion has never stemmed from obtaining money. Terry described their feelings for debate as a “love for the game” and something that he wants to grow more in the upcoming months. 

“We have a dedicated team and a great staff,” Terry said.“It’s a great way to build a community.” 

As the team known as Jewell DT, or team Dixon and Terry, goes into its last year at the college, debate teams all across the country are ready to see what they accomplish next. With a winning streak hot on their heels, Terry and Dixon are excited to see what comes next for their debate careers. 

“We are hoping for an undefeated season next year,” Terry reiterated “That would be the dream.” 
The team plans to hold on to their coveted title earned with unwavering dedication in the year to come. With this spotlight being shone on the William Jewell Debate Team, the hope is that they can continue to grow and high school students will continue to come after hearing about the program. Head coach, Mason Remaley, will continue to lead the team next year and, through the dedication of Terry and Dixon, the college is able to add another national championship under its belt and expand its horizons once again.

Photo by Briana Tozour via Uplash.

If you’re looking for a good sports city and atmosphere, Kansas City is your place to be. It’s host to four major professional sports teams across three different sports: baseball, football and soccer. This article aims to be a survey of Kansas City sports, highlighting each team and providing a little history for each.

Chiefs Kingdom: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are the oldest professional sports team in Kansas City, although they weren’t established in Kansas City. Our beloved Chiefs were established in 1960 as the Dallas Texans by then-American Football League (AFL) founder Lamar Hunt.

A minor tangent about the AFL: The AFL was created as an alternative to the NFL by Lamar Hunt. To avoid a talent war, the AFL merged with the NFL to create one league in June 1966. The AFL became the American Football Conference (AFC), whose title still bears Mr. Hunt’s name. The first AFL-NFL championship in 1967, amusingly called the World Championship, kicked off what would become the Super Bowl era.

In 1963, the Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City and rebranded as the Kansas City Chiefs. Since then, they’ve won six league titles (four Super Bowls and two AFL championships, before the AFL and the NFL merged) and are currently one of the best teams in the league. Under the leadership of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes II and head coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs have won their division for nine straight years, the AFC championship game for five of the last six years, and three Super Bowls.

On first arrival in Kansas City, they played at the Municipal Stadium on E. 22nd Street and Brooklyn Avenue. In 1972, the team moved to Arrowhead Stadium in Jackson County, where they have played for the last fifty years.

Across from Arrowhead is the second team we’ll encounter on this tour of KC sports: Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals.

The Boys Are Playing Some Ball: Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals inhabit Kauffman Stadium (in the same sports complex as Arrowhead), named after entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing M. Kauffman. (His family foundation also contributed significantly to Kauffman Gardens and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, both located in downtown KC.) Like the Chiefs, the Royals also played in Municipal Stadium until 1972.

The Kansas City Royals are currently in-season. As of the time of writing, they place third in the American League Central, trailing the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers. The Royals haven’t seen as much success as the Chiefs. They’ve only won the World Series twice, in 1985 and 2015. Since that win in 2015, the Royals have only made the playoffs once.

That said, the Royals are looking to turn things around this year and build on their AL playoff appearance last season. Stars like Bobby Witt Jr. (#7) have garnered significant attention; Witt Jr. was selected as a starting shortstop on the US national baseball team. Last year, KC Royals ace Cole Ragans (#55) was named to an All-Star team, and the Royals hope he can continue to deliver.

The Other Midwestern Football: Sporting KC

Sporting KC came to Kansas City in 1996 as the Kansas City Wiz, creating electric football from the second they landed in Kansas City. A decade and a half of KC Wiz brought an MLS Cup (2000), a US Open Cup (2004), and a dramatic victory against Manchester United in 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium; Man Utd. would go on to win the English Premier League that year.

In late 2010, the Wizards rebranded as Sporting KC and opened their own stadium, Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, although they’ve kept elements of the Wiz heritage ever since. Six years of MLS playoff appearances through 2017 have been followed by what the Sporting website politely calls a “dip in form.” Although the team is third last in Major League Soccer, they’ve won two of their last three matches against St. Louis and San José.

Making a Splash: KC Current

The Kansas City Current are KC’s newest addition to professional sports, playing in the NWSL – the National Women’s Soccer League. In Dec. 2020, the NWSL awarded an expansion franchise to Kansas City, and the city was up for the challenge. KC Current owners constructed CPKC Stadium for the club, the first stadium in the world specifically created for a women’s professional sports team.

While some may be tempted to write off the Current due to a rocky start in 2021-23 (where they had two seasons placing in the bottom three), the Current have made waves in the league ever since. They qualified for the 2024 playoffs as the #4 seed and made it to the semifinals, losing to top-seed and eventual NWSL champions Orlando Pride.

The Current have substantial talent on their side, including 2024 Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga (#6), whose 20 goals last year set an all-time NWSL record. This year, the Current have only allowed one goal this season and won their first five regular season matches, the only team in the league to do so. Their only loss came to the North Carolina Courage on Apr. 26, 3-2.

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Whether you prefer watching boys in blue or exploring #TealTown, Kansas City knows how to bring the energy to its local sports teams. At home, away, and at the stadium, there is always a KC sports team for you to discover.