My daughter Eleanor is heading off to college in the fall; we just found out that her drop-off day is August 22nd. This big milestone—having the last child leave the house—has got me thinking about this “Open Door” phase of life. Eleanor took a gap year, so she’s been coming and going already. But I think this time will feel different.
I’ve been talking to people and reading about the “empty nest.” What will my experience be? What are some ways to manage the hard emotions, and to take advantage of the new possibilities?
This curiosity has sparked an idea for a project. I’m not sure of the format yet, but I’m excited to explore this Open Door phase more deeply and to reflect on ways that I might evolve to make the most of this stage of life. It’s part research, part me-search. I’m excited to give myself room to think it through and see where it leads.
It’s such a cliche to say it, but it’s true: It’s hard to believe we’re at this stage. How well I remember the way Eleanor begged to keep piles of picture books in her crib, or the way she created elaborate scenarios with her giant collection of plastic figurines. The days are long, but the years are short.
Onward,
5 Things Making Me Happy
I’m still reflecting on the fun of my sisterly adventure with Elizabeth—the hiking trip we took in England. Over the years, I’ve read a lot of research showing that taking breaks is important for creativity and productivity, but I must say, I’m astonished to realize (yet again) how true that is. Now that I’m back at my desk, I find that new ideas are coming more easily.
I’m thrilled to be joining the board of The Center for Fiction. I admire this organization so much—as a reader, a writer, and a book-lover. It celebrates the creation and enjoyment of fiction, presents terrific programs, has excellent work spaces, houses an irresistible bookstore, and even offers a place to grab coffee. We can all come together around our love for a great story.
I love miniatures, cabinets with many compartments, hidden drawers, and anything beautifully made, so I loved seeing this video showing a beautiful collector’s cabinet with miniature apothecary from 1730.
In the “outer order, inner calm” area, one common happiness challenge is feeling overwhelmed by photographs, both physical and digital—this is a challenge I struggle with, myself. I found this article about “How to clean up your phone’s photo library to free up space” extremely helpful. Am I the only person who didn’t know about the easy way to delete duplicates?
I love finding examples of whimsy in everyday life, and a friend told me a great example. In Boston, a group of transit enthusiasts pitched the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority with the suggestion that the agency put googly eyes on the trains—the group even dropped off some sample googly eyes at the MBTA’s headquarters. The head of the agency thought it was a fun idea, so in 2024, the MBTA installed googly eyes on five trains—that way, riders have the fun of trying to spot the trains with goofy expressions. (Because plastic googly eyes might come loose and fly off, decals were used instead.)
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This week on Happier with Gretchen Rubin
PODCAST EPISODE: 492
In this “Ask Us Anything” episode, we answer listeners’ questions about the podcast, writing, reading, dogs, our personal lives, and more.
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