Gretchen Rubin's Blog, page 264

Just Hit my Fourth Anniversary -- Now Off for a Few Days!

I just hit my fourth anniversary of blogging, and perhaps appropriately, to keep my resolutions to Make a break from my routine and Take a vacation, I'm not going to be posting here for a few days. We're going on a family vacation. I'll be doing some writing work, because I've realized that I actually have more fun on this kind of holiday if I do some work – but I'm letting go of the pressure to connect to the internet, write a post every day, etc.

The monthly newsletter will be a few days...

Oh My Goodness! I Forgot My Blog Anniversary -- #4!

It's funny -- all day long, two days ago, I kept having the feeling that the date was significant for some reason, but I couldn't remember why. Well, I knew March 27th was my parents' wedding anniversary, and also my in-laws' wedding anniversary (strange coincidence, right?), but it felt like there was something else special about the day, too.

I just figured it out! It was my fourth anniversary of starting my blog. Four years and two days ago, I posted here for the very first time...

Have You Ever Been Upset by a Well-Intentioned Gift? Acted Ungratefully?

One of my resolutions is to Imitate a spiritual master, and my spiritual master is St. Therese of

St. Therese left behind only one extended record of her views about her "Little Way," in her spiritual memoir, The Story of a Soul. I've read this book at least five times; it's extraordinarily powerful.

Several times, I've been very struck by a passage, but not really understood why it caught my attention. Then, slowly, over time, its meaning unfolds for me.

The other day, I suddenly...

"Something Inexpressibly Pleasing, in the Annual Renovation of the World."

"There is, indeed, something inexpressibly pleasing, in the annual renovation of the world, and the new display of the treasures of nature."

-- Samuel Johnson

* One of the monthly themes for my happiness project is friendship, and many of my resolutions are aimed at building new friendships or strengthening existing ones -- so I got a kick out of checking out the blog MWF Seeking BFF.

* Join the discussion on the Facebook Page. Lots of interesting exchanges there.

Clear a Surface.

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 striking things I've discovered since starting my happiness project is the influence of clutter on mood. For most people, outer order contributes to inner calm; a messy coat closet, for instance, is...

"Talk Rapidly, Learn Something New Every Day, and Contemplate a Fun, Multi-Colored Skull Screensaver."

From time to time, I post short interviews with interesting people about their insights on happiness. During my study of happiness, I've noticed that I often learn more from one person's highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do from sources that detail universal principles or cite up-to-date studies. I'm much more likely to be convinced to try a piece of advice urged by a specific person who tells me that it worked for him or her, than by any other kind of argument.

I'm a huge fan of A.J...

Seven Tips for "Pleasing in Company" -- from 1774.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.

I love reading lists of happiness tips from days of yore -- for example, Sydney Smith's nineteen tips for cheering yourself up, from two hundred years ago.

Lord Chesterfield, a British statesman and man of letters, was very preoccupied with worldly success. In his Letters, he bombards his son with advice about how to succeed in society. Samuel Johnson remarked that these letters "teach the morals of...

"Happiness is a Choice." True or False? Plus the Weekly video.

People often tell me is that "Happiness is a choice." They say this with such emphasis, and such conviction, that I can tell that this is a very meaningful insight for them; it's also one of the most widespread observations about happiness.

I understand what this means. But for me – and I'm just speaking for myself – it's very hard to put that observation into practice. "I wake up every morning and decide to be happy," one person said to me. I can't really do that. It's too…huge.

What works...

Find a Way to Unplug from Technology, or, How to Escape the Cubicle in Your Pocket.

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.

When I talk to people about happiness, one issue comes up over and over: managing technology. I'm a huge believer in the ability of the internet, Facebook, Twitter, email, texting, talking on the phone, and all the...

I Forgot St. Patrick's Day! Note to Self: Remember April Fools' Day.

One of my resolutions is to Invent a tradition (oxymoron acknowledged), and one of my favorite new traditions is the holiday breakfast.

On holidays, I try to make breakfast festive. This is a great tradition because it's fun, easy, and quick. It doesn't take much to dress up breakfast.

Yesterday, however, we were out the door and on the way to school when I caught sight of a man wearing a green shirt and a green tie. I realized I'd forgotten to do a holiday breakfast for St. Patrick's...