I was very sorry to learn of the death of actor, comedian, and author Leslie Jordan. In episode 322 of the Happier podcast, Elizabeth and I talked to him about his new book How Y’all Doing? —and Elizabeth even went on to cast him as a guest on Fantasy Island, where he gave a terrific performance in the episode “Dia de los Vivos.”
I’ve never spoken to anyone who instantly communicated such a level of humor, warmth, and fun. I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotations, from G. K. Chesterton: “It is easy to be heavy; hard to be light.” Leslie Jordan was a rare spirit.
Onward,
5 things making me happy
It makes me happy that my new website has upgraded accessibility features. Click the blue person-shaped logo in the lower left corner to toggle on/off features that make the pages more accessible. Even if you don’t need adjustments, consider taking a look. My research on the five senses has made me much more aware of just how much visual presentation affects our ability to take information in. For instance, I like the “Big Black Cursor”—which is exactly as described.
Because I visit the Met every day, it’s a big deal when a new exhibit opens. I love “The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England.” One fascinating little detail: in a famous portrait of King Henry VIII, he wears a chain of linked gold “H”s around his neck. Somehow that seems very modern to me.
As someone who loves to read, and who studies the five senses, I was enthralled by this description of an exhibit that highlights “the sensorial splendor of books.” I want to plan a trip to Oxford to visit it myself.
Speaking of books, I love beautiful cover designs. I was intrigued by the collection of award-winning covers featured in this article from “Eye on Design.”
Have you ever bought a book just because you loved the cover? I certainly have.
During our morning walk, Barnaby and I stumbled across this mannequin in a trash can. I found it strange and funny, Barnaby was not amused.
Updates
We’ve redesigned the Happier™ app’s “Explore” tab. It now includes new content that refreshes more frequently, offers more audio content, and makes it easier to find information about your Tendency. Don’t have the Happier app? Download it for free and get your personalized tools for happiness and habits.
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Every Friday, Gretchen Rubin shares 5 things that are making her happier, asks readers and listeners questions, and includes exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes material.