Gretchen Rubin's Blog, page 258

Did Your Parents Make You Take Piano Lessons? If So, Have They Made You Happier?

I've been thinking a lot about my urge to sign up my children for lessons -- piano lessons, Tae Kwon Do, etc. I feel extremely lucky that I can choose to provide lessons for my daughters -- that I can afford to do it. Absolutely! But is it a good idea?

I'd like to hear adults' reflections on their own experiences with lessons. If you have a minute, I'd appreciate it if you'd answer three quick questions. For these purposes, don't consider any lessons that you, as a child, asked to take...

"People Do Best What Comes Naturally."

"A man marries a woman, not a first lady. If he becomes president, she must fit her own personality into her own concept of a first lady's role. People do best what comes naturally."

* A terrific blog, Love That Max, "a blog about kids with special needs and the parents who adore them," is up for a well-deserved "best parenting" award. Vote early and often!

* Want to subscribe to my YouTube channel? Each week, I post a two-minute video suggesting a particular resolution...

Enjoy the Fun of Failure.

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday's post will help you think about your own happiness project.

I'm very competitive, and perfectionist, and also insecure, and I hate, hate, hate the feeling of failure -- but I know that failure is a necessary part of creativity, of risk-taking, of aiming high. I remind myself...

"People Who Knit Are Usually in a Good Mood. People Who Stare into Their iPhones AND Demand Your Attention Aren't as Much Fun."

Happiness interview: Mark Frauenfelder.

I'm a longtime fan BoingBoing, that hugely popular, wonderful website that's "mischievous fun for higher primates," so a few years ago, when I got a link and a nice email from founder Mark Frauenfelder, it was a huge thrill.

Mark has a fascinating book that just came out, Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World. As you can tell from the title alone, this book has a lot to do with happiness, work, DIY, and...handiness, learning to make...

"People Who Knit Are Usually in a Good Mood. People Who Stare into Their iPhones AND Demand Your Atttenion Aren't as Much Fun."

Happiness interview: Mark Frauenfelder.

I'm a longtime fan BoingBoing, that hugely popular, wonderful website that's "mischievous fun for higher primates," so a few years ago, when I got a link and a nice email from founder Mark Frauenfelder, it was a huge thrill.

Mark has a fascinating book that just came out, Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World. As you can tell from the title alone, this book has a lot to do with happiness, work, DIY, and...handiness, learning to make...

Can TV Make You Happy? 9 Tips To Ensure that TV Is Boosting, Not Undermining, Your Happiness.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.

In terms of hours, watching TV is probably the world's most popular pastime. Among Americans, it's the most common free-time activity – for an average of about five hours a day. It's a source of relaxing fun.

But while television is a good servant, it's a bad master. It can swallow up huge amounts of time, without much happiness bang for the buck.

Here are nine tips for keeping TV-watching a source...

Video: Don't Get Organized.

2010 Happiness Challenge: For those of you following the 2010 Happiness Project Challenge, to make 2010 a happier year – and even if you haven't officially signed up for the challenge -- last month's focus was Mindfulness. Last week's resolution was to Keep a food diary. Did you try to follow that resolution? Did it help to boost your happiness?

This month's theme is Order, and this week's resolution is, perhaps counter-intuitively, Don't get organized. That's right, I know the impulse...

"Accepting Oneself Does Not Preclude an Attempt To Become Better."

"Accepting oneself does not preclude an attempt to become better."
Letters of Flannery O'Connor

This reminds me of one of the paradoxes of my happiness project: I want to accept myself, but also expect more from myself.

* A thoughtful reader sent me this link to a video showing an eight-month-old baby hearing his mother's voice after his cochlear implant is turned on.

* I'm getting ready to send out my monthly newsletter. How is it possible that May is over? If you'd like to add your name...

Imitate a Spiritual Master.

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday's post will help you think about your own happiness project.

One of the most universal spiritual practices is the imitation of a spiritual master as a way to gain understanding and discipline. For example, in Christianity, many people study and...

"Cycling, Writing, Walking -- and Living in the Right City."

Happiness interview: Richard Florida.

I became interested in the work of economic development expert Richard Florida when I read his fascinating book, The Rise of the Creative Class. He has a new book, just out, The Great Reset: How New Ways of Living and Working Drive Post-Crash Prosperity.

Richard writes a lot about the how community, place, work, and the economy interact to affect people's happiness and career satisfaction. I was curious about how he thinks about happiness in the context...