Well, I have taken my sweet, sweet time in posting this January, but I have been busy trying out a new idea. I recently read a book called, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. She describes it: “ The Happiness Project is the memoir of the year I spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific studies, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier.” In her book she month to month, systematically goes through many of her experiments in finding joy, testing out theories and ultimately gaining happiness. Each month she ups the stakes by adding something new to the mix and I decided to take her format and adapt it in a small way for myself. The idea of New Year’s resolutions have never set particularly well with me since most of the time by the end of January the people I know who made them can barely remember what they resolved to do differently. I decided to start simply.
January: Be Sarah – I am already enough. Smile when you wake up. Keep on top of health, work, finding beauty, activities, exercise, and be grateful.
So far so good. It is surprising what something so little as remembering to smile as soon as you wake up can do for your outlook on the day. I have been setting smaller goals and been happier with the feeling of accomplishing them.
Health: drinking more water, making appointments for checkups, getting enough rest and eating healthier and better sized portions with less snacking.
Work: I have been picking up shifts and sending in applications, re-vamping my resume and putting out feelers for more permanent positions.
Finding beauty: I have intentionally slowed down long enough to notice outdoor beauty, poetry, books, observe artwork, go wine tasting, send a message to a friend, comment on photos, and a million other little things that add up to a better brighter whole.
Activities/Exercise: I am becoming a pro at finding activities that cost little to nothing to enjoy. I bike with my dog, go skiing, snowshoeing, trail hiking, sing in a choir, visit family, play games with friends, salsa dance, write poetry, and I even started running a little. Everything feels just a little bit better when my body and mind have been active.
Most importantly are the first and last parts of this January experiment. First, I am already enough and the last part, be grateful. I naturally push myself to improve and become the best version of myself, but we are all works in progress and remembering that I am already enough gives me a sweet kind of permission to be kinder and gentler in the process of becoming. I have also started a ritual where every night when I am getting ready to sleep I will say out loud some of the things I am grateful for about that day or about my life’s current circumstances.
If you are interested in starting your own version of a happiness project this year I encourage you to visit this website: http://www.happiness-project.com and taste test some of the simple ideas there to grow more happiness for yourself. Margaret Lee Runbeck said, “Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling.” I wish all who read this happy travels and don’t forget to smile in the morning!
See you for the next adventure in February!
“The man is happiest who lives from day to day and asks no more, garnering the simple goodness of life.” – Euripides
