I’ve been keeping this under my hat for awhile trying to figure out how to talk about it. The Happiness Project is simply a wonderful book
and a wonderful blog. I first saw it in Anthropologie among the giftie stuff and figured it couldn’t be very good. Then I saw it at the library and took it out. Please note that I am not a woo woo or self help book enthusiast so I started The Happiness Project with serious reservations. And then I fell in love. We can all use more happiness in our lives and it’s not that hard when you start to break it down. Which is exactly what Gretchen Rubin did. She set simple goals like cleaning her closets or being nicer. And somewhere along the way, she started getting happier (she wasn’t unhappy to start with).
What makes this whole enterprise (and it is rapidly becoming a happiness enterprise) is that she doesn’t just navel gaze her own life. She researches and shares current happiness research, inspirational quotes from the ages and personal comments from her legions of readers & fans. She offers personal rules like “Be Gretchen” and “Secrets of Adulthood” (i.e. things we’ve learned along life’s way) like:
- The best reading is re-reading.
- By doing a little bit each day, you can get a lot accomplished.
- People don’t notice your mistakes and flaws as much as you think.
- Most decisions don’t require extensive research.
- Try not to let yourself get too hungry.
- Even if you think they’re fake, it’s nice to celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
- If you can’t find something, clean up.
- Someplace, keep an empty shelf.
- Turning the computer on and off a few times often fixes a glitch.
- It’s okay to ask for help.
The book just came out in paperback this week. I’m savoring my copy…I don’t want to finish it. Just knowing it’s in my house makes me feel more centered. More happy!
.
Related Articles
- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (reallyquiteliterally.wordpress.com)
- The Happiness Project — the updated paperback edition (boingboing.net)
NoBlueHair 