Clik here to view.
Be Gretchen. Make Strange Lists, For Fun.
One of my idiosyncrasies is my love of taking notes, copying quotations, making odd lists, gathering examples in various categories, and the like. I used to fight this impulse, because I considered it...
View ArticleHappiness Booster: Take Time for Projects.
2011 Happiness Challenge: For those of you following the 2011 Happiness Project Challenge, to make 2011 a happier year — and even if you haven’t officially signed up for the challenge — welcome! This...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“There Are In Fact Very Few Activities Which Cannot Be Classed Either As Work...
“But what is work and what is not work? Is it work to dig, to carpenter, to plant trees, to fell trees, to ride, to fish, to hunt, to feed chickens, to play the piano, to take photographs, to build a...
View ArticlePigeon of Discontent: “I Waste Time on Mindless Things.”
Each week, I post a video about some Pigeon of Discontent raised by a reader. Because, as much as we try to find the Bluebird of Happiness, we’re also plagued by the Pigeons of Discontent. This week’s...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do You Make Time to “Treat” Yourself? You Should.
Last week, I posted a question: What are the small treats you give yourself? I was very interested to see the range of “treats” people identified in the comments, and I got some good ideas for myself....
View Article“I Want to Make Time for Fun.”
Each week, I post a video about some Pigeon of Discontent raised by a reader. Because, as much as we try to find the Bluebird of Happiness, we’re also plagued by the Pigeons of Discontent. This week’s...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Man Is So Made That He Can Only Find Relaxation From One Kind of Labour By...
“Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labour by taking up another.” – Anatole France, The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard Agree, disagree? What kind of labour do you take up, in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Secret of Adulthood: Achieve More By Working Less.
Further Secrets of Adulthood: Agree, disagree? It took me a long time to come around to believing this. But now I’m convinced. * The book give-away continues. If you’d like to win a free copy of...
View ArticlePigeon of Discontent: “I Spend Too Much Time on TV and the Internet.”
Each week, I post a video about some Pigeon of Discontent raised by a reader. Because, as much as we try to find the Bluebird of Happiness, we’re also plagued by those small but pesky Pigeons of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Agree, Disagree? Often It Takes Discipline To Take Pleasure.
One of the mysteries of human nature is: Why do we sometimes have to force ourselves to do the things we enjoy? —even the things we yearn to do? A friend exemplified this perfectly when she said, “I...
View ArticleStory: Sometimes I Work the Hardest When I Seem To Work the Least.
For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully. This week’s story: This...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Don’t Assume That Everything Is So Different These Days.
I’m a fanatical reader of children’s literature, and one of my favorite authors is Laura Ingalls Wilder. In fact, Happier at Home’s conclusion–which I think, in all modesty, is one of the best things...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Secret of Adulthood: What’s Fun for Other People May Not Be Fun for You–and...
Further Secrets of Adulthood: This sounds so obvious, but it was a huge revelation for me. Even now, I have to remind myself that people go skiing because they honestly want to go skiing, not because...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How Will You Make Your Own Summer? I Plan To Read for Pleasure.
Yesterday was the last day of school for my two daughters. They wore special outfits, I took pictures, lots of excitement. The last day of school is always bittersweet to me; it’s fun to head into the...
View Article“I Want to Make Time for Fun.”
Each week, I post a video about some Pigeon of Discontent raised by a reader. Because, as much as we try to find the Bluebird of Happiness, we’re also plagued by the Pigeons of Discontent. This week’s...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Man Is So Made That He Can Only Find Relaxation From One Kind of Labour By...
“Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labour by taking up another.” – Anatole France, The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard Agree, disagree? What kind of labour do you take up, in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Secret of Adulthood: Achieve More By Working Less.
Further Secrets of Adulthood: Agree, disagree? It took me a long time to come around to believing this. But now I’m convinced. * The book give-away continues. If you’d like to win a free copy of...
View ArticlePigeon of Discontent: “I Spend Too Much Time on TV and the Internet.”
Each week, I post a video about some Pigeon of Discontent raised by a reader. Because, as much as we try to find the Bluebird of Happiness, we’re also plagued by those small but pesky Pigeons of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Agree, Disagree? Often It Takes Discipline To Take Pleasure.
One of the mysteries of human nature is: Why do we sometimes have to force ourselves to do the things we enjoy? —even the things we yearn to do? A friend exemplified this perfectly when she said, “I...
View ArticleStory: Sometimes I Work the Hardest When I Seem To Work the Least.
For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully. This week’s story: This...
View Article
