It’s time for the next installment of  “Happier with Gretchen Rubin.”

This is the 30th episode, and every tenth episode we have a Very Special Episode where we do something a little different. Remember episode 10, when I cleaned Elizabeth’s closet?

This Very Special Episode: a very special guest, my sixteen-year-old daughter, Eliza! Yowza.

Update

People sent us great one-word themes for the year: Acceptance, Imperfect, Healthier, Authenticity, Moving. (If you want to read more about this try-this-at-home, I write about it in Happier at Home.)

Try This at Home

Eliza suggests, “Give yourself a mission when you have free time.” Eliza wants to feel like she’s used her precious free time to do something worthwhile. (Poor thing, school started again last week, so she doesn’t have much free time anymore.) Bonus try-this-at-home: “Stalk yourself on Facebook.”

Elizabeth and I interview Eliza

Her phrase for junior year is “Stay afloat.” She talks about how she (and teenagers generally) use social media and photographs. Her happiness stumbling block: college and the future. Some of her favorite podcasts: Comedy Bang Bang, How Did This Get Made?, The Andy Daly Podcast Pilot Project, Old Time Radio Mystery Theater,  and of course… Happier with Gretchen Rubin! Awwww.

Listener Questioner

Instead of answering a listener question, Eliza poses a question for listeners, “What’s your advice for a sixteen-year-old? Do you wish you could go back to your teenage years?”

Eliza’s Demerit

She tends to purchase too many facial products. Much like Elizabeth!

Eliza’s Gold Star

She gives a gold star to everyone who helped convince us to get a dog — which includes many listeners — and even gives a special gold star to me, especially, for be willing to get a dog. She mentions the video Puppy Party.