, by Gretchen Rubin. I love this book!The last two that I finished (Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine
by Ann Hood, and Beatrice and Virgil
by Yann Martel) were somewhat disappointing...the former was a good read right up until the fizzled ending, but the latter was just strange - and not in a good way. Too bad, as I'd been looking forward to reading them both. (I did enjoy Life of Pi
when I read it a few years ago, and it was written by the same author as Beatrice and Virgil.)Thankfully, The Happiness Project is not only well-written, on a concept that's always intrigued me, but the author has a great combination of right-brain/left-brain going on that is fascinating to me. A former lawyer turned writer, writing a book on how to achieve more happiness in life? Sounds like exactly what I need to be reading right now (says the former Wall-Streeter turned soon-to-be-mother, writing a blog on the changes in my life)!
On Saturday, as I sat outside watching my husband plant our herb garden (yes, it's perfectly understandable to be jealous), I noticed our puppy playing with something in the yard. I think it might have been a mushroom cap. Or a twig. Maybe a dead frog. I can't be sure, but whatever it was, she was having a grand time with it...tossing it in the air, flipping around to try to catch it, pouncing on it when it finally landed...that mushroom/twig/frog was the only thing in the world for her at that moment. And she was as happy as I've ever seen her. What a perfect example, I thought, of how to be in the moment. Puppies and kids have a rare ability to do that, which we "old folks" tend to outgrow. I wonder why?
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| Taylor: "Please throw it...please please please..." |
I'd always considered myself a fairly happy person, but as I started reading this book, I realized that over the years I've fallen into some bad habits. Moving out to the country and away from the city was a good first start. Maybe this "Happiness Challenge" is the just kick I need to get me out of the negativity funk and back on track with following my joy. I'll keep you posted....
Have you read "Eat Pray Love" ? I loved it, but many of the negative comments I've read about it are variations on the theme that a woman (especially a wealthy woman) finding happiness is a self-indulgent pursuit. This may be related to the fact that many people believe happiness is external -- you have it, or you don't, depending on your circumstances. And anyone who is truly happy in today's stressed-out world probably isn't paying attention. I think the pursuit of happiness is not only a worthy pursuit, it is enshrined in our Declaration of Independence!
ReplyDeleteI did read "Eat Pray Love" (loved the concept, not super-impressed with the writing). Books in this genre have appealed to me recently ("Three Cups of Tea", "Stones into Schools", "Leaving Microsoft to Change the World", etc)...I guess because of the stage I'm at in my life.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you...happiness is too under-rated in our society. There's a reason the pursuit of happiness was given such importance in the DoI! The Bhutan concept of "Gross National Happiness" really appeals to me as well. Happy people aren't stupid (or self-indulgent), just as miserable people aren't necessarily more intelligent or tuned-in to the world. I'd like to think there's a balance...and that the happier we are, the more we're able to view the world with an open mind and a generous perspective. Pollyanna, here I come!
"An open mind and a generous perspective" ... well said!
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