Five Things Making Me Happy (A book that’s not a book / The NBA's “addiction”)

Hello,

This year, my daughter Eleanor is a senior in high school, so we just went on our final family high-school spring-break trip (sniff). We visited Vienna and Prague. Such beautiful cities! The weather was great, the food was terrific, the museums and historical sites were spectacular and fascinating. So much history.

Of everything we visited, my favorite was the beautiful Strahov Library in Prague. It combined so many things I love: wooden globes; a secret staircase (to get to the upper floors); a Restricted Section, complete with grill and lock; a beautiful device that allows you to rotate among a dozen open volumes (I wish I could fit something like this in my office); gorgeous murals filled with allusions and symbols; and rows and rows of old books.

Of everything I saw, however, my favorite item was one Cabinet of Curiosity, which was labeled “Xylotéka 1825.” (Xylon=“wood”; theque=“repository”) At first glance, the shelves appeared to hold rows of books named after trees, with unusually bark-y spines. But on closer inspection, each “book” was revealed to be a book-shaped box made of the wood and bark of the tree described, which opened to reveal samples of that tree’s leaves, roots, flowers, and fruits.

“That’s just your kind of thing,” Jamie observed to me. Yes! Now I want to try to make something like this myself.

Onward,

5 Things Making Me Happy

In Vienna, inside St. Stephen’s Cathedral—which is the symbol of Vienna—I immediately noticed the large image of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, right at the entrance. Ever since I read her spiritual memoir, Story of a Soul (which I’ve now read many times), Saint Thérèse has been one of my spiritual teachers, so coming upon this famous portrait made me very happy.

My daughter Eliza told me to watch Kevin Nealon’s TikTok account where he goes for hikes with famous people. It’s so fun. There are more videos on YouTube, too.

Because of my interest in the five senses, I’m always looking for surprising sense-related stories, and I was intrigued by this ESPN article about “The NBA’s Secret Addiction.” That addiction may not be what you imagine! Apparently professional basketball players prize their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Related: April 2nd is PB&J Day.

I go to the Metropolitan Museum every day, and it has been fascinating to tune in to my sense of smell during these visits—for instance, the Met’s hand sanitizer has a very distinctive scent. A thoughtful listener let me know that the fragrance company Pura is doing a collaboration with the Met “to celebrate culture and history through the art of fragrance.” I can’t wait to experience it.

Speaking of the Met, I didn’t learn about this 1826-style “purse” in time for Valentine’s Day 2023, but I’m sure I can think of another reason to make and give one as a gift. I recently made a fortune-teller from a piece of paper, so I know how fun this type of touch-activity can be.

Updates

Join me for an Instagram Live with relationship expert Lori Gottlieb on Thursday, April 6 at 7pm ET. We’ll be delving into the connection between our senses and our sweethearts, and also giving away copies of our books, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, and Life in Five Senses.

This week on Happier with Gretchen Rubin

PODCAST EPISODE: 423

We talk about why you might indulge in a “nostalgia smell,” share listeners’ suggestions for simple, fun April Fool’s Day pranks, and discuss an easy way to resist the temptation of snacking.

Listen now>