Hello, This Sunday is July 2, which is “Halfway Day”—we’re halfway through 2023. In the tumult of everyday life, it can be hard to step back and reflect, so I like using calendar dates as reminders. I had the idea for Halfway Day when reading the thought-provoking essay collection Stranger Than Fiction by Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club). Palahniuk describes the lives of a navy crew: Before departure, the family of each man on board gives Chief of Boat Ken Biller a shoe-box-sized package, and on the night that marks the halfway point in the patrol, called Halfway Night, Biller distributes the boxes. Smith’s wife sends photos and beef jerky and a toy motorcycle to remind him of his own bike on shore. Greg Stone gets a pillowcase printed with a photograph of his wife, Kelley. In episode 436 of the Happier podcast, Elizabeth and I both reported on how we’re doing on Halfway Day with our 23 for 2023 Trifecta: our one-word themes, our 23 for ‘23 lists, and our Go Outside 23 in ’23 challenge. I have to admit, I was surprised by how few items I’ve crossed of my list of 23—just four. And I call myself an Upholder! Well, I have six months to get more items accomplished. (I’m doing much better with my theme of “Wave” and with going outside.) | | 5 Things Making Me Happy 
My dog Barnaby just had his eighth birthday. To mark the occasion, I had a great time creating his Five-Senses Portrait. I remind myself how easy it is to forget; his Abominable Snowman toy may be rapidly disintegrating, but now I have it memorialized forever.
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Speaking of Barnaby, something that makes me happy is seeing how absolutely astonished and joyful he is when he spots a member of our family out on the street. Yesterday evening, I was walking him when my husband Jamie rounded the corner, and Barnaby went wild with excitement. “Daily life may seem trivial and routine, but in fact it contains a multitude of incidents, at once rich, expansive, and touching.” Yu Hua, China in Ten Words. | |
In my study of the five senses, I was particularly interested in learning about the power of music. Surprising new research shows that when a supermarket plays music, shoppers boost their spending by more than 10%—but only Monday through Thursday. The same thing isn’t true on the weekend! | |
On my recent trip to Aspen, I was delighted to encounter a lilac bush in full blossom; where I live, they’re no longer in bloom. This fragrance is one of my favorites. (Before I wrote Life in Five Senses, I’m sure I wouldn’t have noticed the smell as I walked down the street, even though I love it.)
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Double reminder: Boredom is good for kids—and it’s also good for adults. This fascinating article from the New York Times argues “Let Children Get Bored. It’s Good for Them”; I’ve found that boredom is important for me, too. One benefit I get from my daily visits to the Metropolitan Museum is the opportunity to be bored. | | Updates -
- It’s important to celebrate our successes, however small they seem. Whether you’ve managed to go outside for 23 minutes every day this year, or you’re just starting a new aim today, I want to give you a big gold star! Share the progress with me on Instagram—I’ll be replying to your success stories all week long so you can get inspired and inspire others.
| | This week on Happier with Gretchen Rubin PODCAST EPISODE: 436 We use Halfway Day as a catalyst to reflect on how we’re doing with our aims for 2023. Each year, we choose a one-word theme, make a list of “23 in 2023” things we want to accomplish, and give ourselves an annual challenge, such as “Go Outside 23 in ’23”—a trifold approach that we’ve now dubbed the “Happier Trifecta.” Listen now > | | | | ARTICLE The Practical High-School Commencement Address I Didn’t Give | | PODCAST More Happier: Two Pleasures of Summer, Breaking in My Feet (Not My Shoes), and Benefits of Going “On Pause” | | | | |
