I’m a big believer in celebrating milestones, because otherwise I have a tendency to look at my “to-do” list and overlook my “ta-da” list. Ta-da! The Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast just hit its 500th original weekly episode. When my sister Elizabeth and I started the podcast, I had no idea what a huge engine of happiness it would become for me. Thank you, listeners, for your support and enthusiasm. What a joy it is to work on that podcast! We’ve never missed an episode, and people sometimes ask, “Don’t you need to take breaks? Isn’t it hard to keep up that pace for work and creativity?” In many respects, I’m an all-or-nothing person, and I find it easier to do the work of creating a podcast week after week, rather than turning that work on and off. I’m lucky that my co-host Elizabeth feels the same way.
Onward,
5 Things Making Me Happy
I’m a huge fan of the TV show Game of Thrones, so I was interested to hear about a 900-lot auction where fans can bid on items such as Jaime Lannister’s golden hand, a baby dragon, or Arya Stark’s sword, Needle. Some people love these kinds of fandom collectibles, and while I don’t have the urge to acquire them myself, it’s fun to see what’s offered. What item will command the highest price, I wonder, and for how much money? I bet it will be a high number.
The MindBodyGreen piece “A trick to help you make connections when you enter a room solo” discusses one of my favorite hacks for beginning a friendly conversation with a stranger—a challenge most of us face often.
I love all things Dolly Parton, and I came across this 1987 video from Dolly Parton’s variety show, “Dolly,” where Patti LaBelle and Dolly Parton “play” their acrylic nails to start singing a song together. Dolly Parton’s joyful energy, and her open delight in her own musicality, always makes me happy.
As I work on my next project on the open door/empty nest, I’m fascinated to hear about other people’s experiences. I just listened to a thought-provoking episode of the Mel Robbins Podcast where she relates her own recent experience after dropping off her son at college. She shares the advice she’s giving to herself and others about managing this big transition. One of her rules: “Get out of the house once a day.” Good idea!
Lawyer, politician, and food writer Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote, “The discovery of a new dish confers more happiness on humanity, than the discovery of a new star.” I’m no foodie, but for myself, I feel the same way about the discovery a new perfume. The other night at a friend’s party, I had to ask a fellow guest, “What perfume are you wearing?” I bought a small bottle of Alfred Sung perfume the next day.
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New! The Moment of Happiness Calendar
For my whole life, I’ve collected memorable quotations on the subjects of happiness and human nature from authors, artists, and great minds. In this page-a-day calendar, I share my favorites. Every day, you’ll find a brief observation that’s profound, thought-provoking, or amusing, with room to add your own notes and reminders.
This week on Happier with Gretchen Rubin
PODCAST EPISODE: 500
In celebration of our 500th original weekly episode (without one break!), we share our Podcast Manifesto and use it to reminisce and reflect on this big milestone. In work and in life, it’s easy to focus on the “To-do”; today we stop for a “Ta-da!”
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