408: We Reveal Our One-Word Themes, a Gift-Giving Hack, and Have You Ever Had an Uncanny Experience?

Update

The Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast has been nominated for a Signal Award in the Self-Improvement & Self-Help category. Yay!

If you have the time and inclination, please consider voting for us at Vote.signalaward.com. Voting ends December 22nd.


Try This at Home

Choose your one-word or one-phrase theme for the year.

Our words for 2022:

  • Elizabeth: Step
  • Gretchen: Salt


I quote the line, “Sugar cares only about itself, salt brings out the best in others.” Summer, Karl Ove Knausgaard (Amazon, Bookshop)

Listeners had many great ideas for their one-word themes it was fascinating to hear them. 

Our words for 2023:

  • Elizabeth: Scale
  • Gretchen: Wave 


I mention Under the Wave Off Kanagawa, also known as The Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai.

I refer to my biography Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill.

Happiness Hack

Take each child on a solo shopping trip to shop for their other siblings. Siblings are great at choosing gifts for each other, and you also get ideas for what that child would like to receive.

Know Yourself Better

I asked on social media: “Have you ever had an uncanny experience? Where you seemed to see a ghost, leave your body, perceive reality in a different way, hear a divine voice?”

We heard so many interesting answers from listeners and from Elizabeth!

Demerits & Gold Stars

  • Elizabeth’s Demerit: She didn’t join into the frenzy around the World Cup.
  • Gretchen’s Gold Star: I give a gold star to Asha Curran and Giving Tuesday for creating a terrific tradition around giving.

Resources

Starting December 18, 2022, we’re offering a new jump-start in the Happier app around “Keeping a Journal.” You can download the Happier app from the App Store or Google Play Store, or head to thehappierapp.com to learn more. If you’re already a Happier app user, check your home screen on December 18.

What we’re reading

Elizabeth: She hasn’t been reading because she’s so tired!
Gretchen: Trust by Hernan Diaz (Amazon, Bookshop)

Gretchen:
Hello and welcome to Happier, a podcast where we discuss strategies and suggestions for how to make life happier. This week, we will reveal our one-word themes for 2023 and we’ll discuss listeners’ answers to the question, “Have you ever had an uncanny experience?”

[Music]

Gretchen:
I’m Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, the five senses, the Four Tendencies, good habits, and human nature. I’m here in my little home office in New York City. And joining me today from L.A. is my sister, Elizabeth Craft. And Elizabeth, how’s the COVID?

Elizabeth:
That’s me, Elizabeth Craft, a T.V. writer and producer living in L.A. And Gretch, yes, I’m happy to report I think we’re all better from the COVID. So yay.

Gretchen:
Yay. You sounded like you were really raspy for a while.

Elizabeth:
Yeah, I think. I think I’m better now.

Gretchen:
Oh, good. Well, a few updates before we launch in. First of all, Happier has been nominated for a Signal Award. That’s very exciting. The Signal Awards seek to honor and celebrate the people and content that raise the bar for podcasting. And in the first Annual Listeners Choice Award, Happier has been nominated in the Self-Improvement and Self-Help category.

So if you have the time and inclination, yeah, please consider voting for us at vote.signalawards.com. Voting ends December 22nd.

Elizabeth:
All right. And then gradually also had an update from Patricia, who says she’s an Upholder. She said, “In response to her 400th episode, I was amazed that there was no outpouring of affection for the Power Hour. This technique has helped me plan student travel abroad, redecorate my house, and prepare for the holidays in one-hour increments. I don’t use it as much to see how many big errands I can accomplish in an hour, but to chip away at big projects. A year and a half ago, I had a very bad ankle fracture requiring two surgeries. The power hour helped me get going on big projects again when I felt that I didn’t have the strength to spend a whole day painting, for instance. Could I do an hour? Yes.”

Gretchen:
Great. Well, I love Power Hour, so it’s good to hear that. That was episode 400 where we asked people what had resonated the most with them. So that’s great. Throw in Power Hour.

Elizabeth:
Yes.

Gretchen:
Okay. I am so excited for this week’s Try This at Home because this is one of our favorite subjects to talk about, Elizabeth. And that is to choose your one-word or one-phrase theme for the year. So for the last several years, we’ve picked our words for the year. And Elizabeth, before we reveal our words for 2023, let’s reflect on our 2022 words. So reminder everybody about… you got a great word this year.

Elizabeth:
So my word was “Step.” And it was very fitting because I thought of it when you and I were taking a walk in Central Park.

Gretchen:
Yes, we were together!

Elizabeth:
That moment I remember still.

Gretchen:
I do, too. I remember exactly where you were when you were, like stepping forward and you were like, “All right, I just had an idea. Yeah, yeah, we texted ourselves it so we wouldn’t forget. Yes.

Elizabeth:
And it’s been a good word. You know, I used it for stepping, literally stepping and taking steps. So just get in my 10,000 steps a day. Also stepping into the future, which is one of my absolute favorite phrases. And I think I did step into the future and I did step a lot. So I think it was a good word. I don’t know if it was my absolute best word I ever had, but it was a good, solid word. How about you?

Gretchen:
So my word was “Salt,” and I was inspired by you because you often had a more metaphorical… like at number six, which was like kind of mysterious. And I had very workman like words, like “Infrastructure.” So I wanted to try something more poetic. So I picked “Salt.” And this turned out to be one of my all-time favorite words.

Partly because, you know, I’m working on a book about the five senses. And so I was thinking a lot about taste and salt is magic. It’s this taste enhancer. Plus, it’s necessary for life. It’s useful for purification, it’s useful for preservation. And it’s the only rock that we eat. So it’s unusual and it plays this almost mystical role in our lives. It just pervades everything.

And in fact, just the other day, Betty wrote and said, “I’m a feng shui consultant and we use salt to absorb the negative energy within our space.” So there’s just all these ways that salt, you know, like I’m all into preserving memories and it is a preservative. And I’m thinking about how to make taste better and a taste enhancer.

And then I would come across it in these odd ways, like in the book “Summer” by Karl Ove Knausgård, he wrote, “Sugar cares only about itself. Salt brings out the best in others.” So I thought, “Well, that’s a good motto for me.” And then Elizabeth, of course, you gave me my salt T-shirt, which is in the wash, or I would be wearing it right now, which I was like, “How did you get a salt T-shit,” and you’re like, “It’s half of a salt and pepper costume.” Okay. So I got my little my visual reminder, too. So I love salt.

Elizabeth:
Well, what’s interesting to me, Gretchen, is in doing your book about the five senses, you were really wanting to enhance your own sense of the senses, right? And I feel like choosing salt is an example of how you have done that. You have brought more spice to your life. So, yeah, it’s a good one. I feel like that’s one that’s going to stick. Like, salt’s just one of your words.

Gretchen:
I really feel that way. I do feel like this special connection, even like a salt shaker, I like feel the special vibe with it. So we asked listeners for their ideas and as always, we got so many great ideas. So let’s go through a lot of them, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth:
Yes, Jackie said, “Choosing fresh as in fresh start, fresh air, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, fresh flowers, fresh eyes.” Love it.

Gretchen:
Beautiful. Tanya said, “Identity. My Rebel self needs to get some things done next year. Hoping that defining my identity (adapted personal trainer, high school girls track and cross-country coach, PCA, PE teacher, nutrition coach, business owner and more) will help me stay on track.” That’s a great idea for Rebels. Identity.

Elizabeth:
Janine says, “I have been doing all the work, so next year my word is Allow.”

Gretchen:
As in “allow others.”

Elizabeth:
Yes.

Gretchen:
Dee Marie says, “Pace. 2022 has been the year of a marathon move as my husband and I are relocating to Spain. And Pace was a reminder to proceed slowly and steadily through the mountain of tasks related to selling our home, moving into temporary housing, navigating the visa application process, and so many other hurdles.”

Elizabeth:
Neal says, “Done, as in ‘done is better than perfect.’ In my university’s theater set workshop, there were two competing signs on the wall. One said in very neat printing, ‘Do you want it done now or do you want it done right?’ And underneath, spray painted in huge sloppy letters, ‘Done is good.’ This is my 2023 motto.

Gretchen:
Oh, excellent. Okay, so here is just like a speed round of ideas from people. Decide, savor, share, water, simplify. I had Simplify one year. Flexible, magic, gentle enough, forward.

Elizabeth:
Transition, harvest, flowering, healthy, upgrade, margin, flex. That’s a big word in the teen community. Whole and reflect.

Gretchen:
Yeah, those are so great. Here’s another one that can use a little explanation. Alicia said, “Draw. I was inspired by Gretchen to choose a word that has multiple meanings and my strongest inspiration is to choose a word that’s actionable. I struggle with taking action often.”

And she points out that “draw can mean to illustrate, to gently pull in a specific direction, extract, attract (as in draw attention), select it random so many definitions, and yet they all somehow apply to my vision for 2023.”

Elizabeth:
Oh, that’s great. Okay, Gretch. On social media from @impstrikesback, we got, “Dig. Because I want to get back to gardening, dig deeper into my interests, and dig into complete pending tasks and projects.”

Gretchen:
Amy chose “Peacock, a symbol for power, strength, confidence, and even divinity.” That was Flannery O’Connor’s symbol was Peacock.

Elizabeth:
Oh, Connie said, “Audible. That’s my reminder to listen. Really listen more than speak. And it’s a reminder to listen when I cannot read. Tip: I actually use Libby through my library before checking Audible. And being a football fan, this word reminds me it’s helpful to ‘call an audible’ when life demands it. Learning to adjust to life’s curveballs is a constant challenge. But when I successfully adapt to life’s changing circumstances, I become more resilient, wiser, and stronger. Call an audible.”

Gretchen:
And Elizabeth, when I saw that I had to look up what “call an audible” is because I’d heard that phrase but I was like, “I don’t know, 100% know that I know what it means.” And that is when you decide what to do at the last second, after seeing all possible options and obstacles that come up, it’s a phrase that comes from football.

So. Elizabeth, drumroll.

Elizabeth:
Yes.

Gretchen:
What is your word for 2023?

Elizabeth:
Okay, Gretch, my word is “Scale.” Okay?

Gretchen:
Lots of meaning.

Elizabeth:
Lots of meanings. I like a word that applies to different things. I’ve mentioned, I believe, on the podcast that I’m now weighing myself every day, and that’s an important part of my type one diabetes health journey. I’m using it for that in a very literal way, stepping on the scale, but also, you know, scaling. It means growing bigger, like especially if you’re an entrepreneur, which I sort of am.

Elizabeth:
So I want to scale my business, meaning I would love this year to get another show on the air. Then there’s also like scaling a summit which is climbing a hill. It’s a reminder to myself that I can scale a summit, a metaphor summit. Probably won’t be scaling any actual large mountains, although I guess I scaled the hills of Fryman Canyon.

Gretchen:
Yeah, there you go. There you.

Elizabeth:
And then, Gretch, you and I were talking about the scales, like on a creature, are protection and keep people from hurting you. Right? So there’s a lot there. And then finally, garage, of course, the scale is balance. And I ordered myself a pin inspired by you of a scale. You know, the old fashioned scale…

Gretchen:
That you would use to measure something like in a grocery store where it’s like the two balance scales.

Elizabeth:
Yes. Because of course, it’s all the balance, right, of trying to… I don’t like to say a work life balance because I think that’s hard. I think sometimes you focus on work and sometimes you focus on life. But hopefully I can keep it all going.

Gretchen:
Right. Keep both sides of the scale full.

Elizabeth:
Right? Yes.

Gretchen:
Well, I love this for you because I think like, again, it has all those meanings and it’s very action. But then there’s also the visual, because you do love a visual. I’ve learned that from you.

Elizabeth:
Yes.

Gretchen:
A listener just sent me like a sweatshirt cover with lightning bolts being like, “Oh, this made me think of Elizabeth” because it’s like, it’s great to have that visual. It’s fun.

Elizabeth:
Yes.

Gretchen:
But Elizabeth, I have to say, when you mention the scales on a creature, I did remind me of the Ped-Egg…

Elizabeth:
Oh, my God. A Ped-Egg is good for sloughing off the scales.

Gretchen:
Yes. Yeah, maybe that’s not the most poetic way to invoke the idea of scale for year 2023. But I must say it did come into my mind. But I love scale. That’s a great word.

Elizabeth:
Yes. Feels poetic to me. I think because I feel like it goes way back because of the old-fashioned scale.

Gretchen:
I picture you with, like an ice pick in your hand tackling all these things. Scaling, scaling.

Elizabeth:
Yes, scaling, scaling. Okay, Gretch, what is your word?

Gretchen:
Okay, I’m so excited about this word. So this word is “Wave.” And that has so many meanings. So back to the five senses. Of course, waves are something that come up again and again in the senses because there are sound waves, there are light waves. There is the feeling of the waves covering your body. You know, that’s one of the most intense sensations is like being in the ocean.

And I like the idea of with a wave is that it can be a calming wave or it can be like an exciting and crashing wave. It can like carry you forward suddenly, or it can gently loft you through the water and, you know, I have my book coming out, and so I’m going to be going on a book tour and kind of engaging with people in this intense way.

And so I will be waving to many people and like saying hello and so I feel like there’s that kind of wave. So it’s sort of the scientific meaning, the noun, the verb. And here’s the thing, great visual, right? So I go to the MET every day, and if you go to the MET every day and you go to the gift shop, you will know that there are certain works that appear in more things for whatever reason. These are the things you can buy many, many examples of it in the gift shop.

And one artwork that I love that is all over the gift shop is a very famous print called “Under the Wave Off Kanagawa,” which is also known as the “Great Wave.” That’s probably the name most people know by and that’s by Katsushika Hokusai.

It’s one of the most famous artworks in the world. It’s from about 1830, and this particular image is especially important to me because it was part of a series of prints called “36 Views of Mount Fuji.” And when I wrote my book, “40 Ways to Look at Winston Churchill,” this is one of the examples that I used of artwork, where it was about the idea of looking at the same thing from many different directions.

So that’s also part of what I want from wave is this idea of multiple looks at the same thing, kind of like the five senses. So I’ve got a postcard that I’m holding up of it that I’m going to put on my corkboard. I had salt just written, but I think it’s more fun to have a visual image.

And I got a little… Eliza and Eleanor really got me into these enamel pins that you can put on a backpack or jacket or whatever. So I drag my backpack with me everywhere, so I can put the way, I’m going to use the sketchbook for my ideas as I’m like, working towards the publication date of my book and I’ll put the postcard in my corkboard, I’ll put the enamel pin on my backpack, and so I will be able to keep this idea of wave and like this forward motion in this engagement with my senses.

Elizabeth:
And riding the wave.

Gretchen:
Yes.

Elizabeth:
Yeah. I love this, Gretchen, I think it’s a beautiful word. I think it’s a great image. I mean, again, I love that you’re moving from words like delegate and infrastructure to salt and wave. I feel like this is a good sign in your evolution.

Gretchen:
Yes.

Elizabeth:
As a human being.

Gretchen:
Well, this is my sister this sage, because you were doing that. And I’m like, I got to take a different attitude towards these words. So let us know if you do Try This at Home and what word you’re planning on choosing for 2023. We love these words. We cannot get enough. They’re also thought-provoking. Let us know on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Drop us an email at podcast@gretchenrubin.com or as always, go to the show notes. This is happiercast.com/408 for everything related to this episode.

Elizabeth:
Coming up, we have a holiday shopping Happiness Hack. But first, this break.

[Music]

Gretchen:
Okay, Elizabeth, it’s holiday time and this is a very helpful holiday shopping hack.

Elizabeth:
Yes, this comes from Jordan. “I have to share this hack I started years ago that my kids, nine and thirteen now, still love. Shopping for siblings. I schedule a date to go out with each kid alone. We start by going to get lunch or dinner, their choice. Then you go to a store with toys. On the way in, you remind them, ‘We are getting something for your sibling. It’s okay to look for you, but think about something they would like.’ First, there hasn’t been a Christmas go by that the gifts from siblings haven’t been the favorite gift. And despite the fact that they get older and spend less time together, they still pick out the most thoughtful things.

“But there is a secret bonus hack here during the shopping trip. Watch your kids wandering eyes to the toys they want. I will often snap photos on my phone of what they’re looking at as grandparents/extended family asks for gift ideas. Having a photo of it makes sending them to family easy or even to pick things up for them yourselves.”

Gretchen:
Well Elizabeth, this caught my eye when it came in because I had just been nagging you to give me ideas for Jack because you want to give them something they really want. It’s hard to know from the outside, but then that puts so much pressure on you as a parent to like, you’ve got to think of gifts and generate all these ideas for other people.

So I thought, “Well, this is a great idea. If there’s a sibling handy, ask them. They probably know very well.” So I thought this was this was a great, great solution.

Elizabeth:
And what I also love about it is that it’s teaching the sibling how you go about going out and being thoughtful and thinking about gifts, because it’s kind a ritual that you have to practice. It doesn’t just come out of nowhere. So I thought that was another added bonus.

Gretchen:
And it’s a lovely time to spend time with your child by himself or herself. And we’ve heard from a lot of people who say that’s something that they want to do more of, but it can be hard to fit it in. So this is another way to create a little tradition around generosity and thoughtfulness that’s also getting a little bit of tasks crossed off the list. So perfect. Great hack. Thank you.

Elizabeth:
Yes. Okay, Gretchen, it is time for a Know Yourself Better question.

Gretchen:
Okay. This is a little bit about like, “Have you ever saved someone’s life or had your life changed?” I can’t say that this gives you deep insight into something like how to change your habits. But it’s interesting to think about and it’s interesting to talk about.

So maybe this is the kind of thing where it’s a Know Yourself Better question that’s great if you’re like trying to have a deeper conversation with a friend or a family member because it is absolutely fascinating to read people’s answers. When I asked on social media, “Have you ever had an uncanny experience where you seem to see a ghost, leave your body, perceive reality in a different way, hear a divine voice.”

It’s an interesting question to think about that sort of gets you focused on transcendent matters and experiences. But Elizabeth, I have to say, I’ve never had an uncanny experience, and I don’t think you have either, unless you had one who didn’t tell me.

Elizabeth:
No, I have, Gretch.

Gretchen:
What?! What?! What?!

Elizabeth:
One time when Mom and Dad were out of wood…

Gretchen:
How is this possible? Well, see, this is why people should have this conversation. Okay.

Elizabeth:
I was in high school. Mom and dad were out of town. I was sleeping in their bed for some reason very early in the morning. You were in college, so you were away. I heard footsteps coming down the hall and coming into the room. And I mean, I was terrified, but I got up. No one was there. I checked the whole house, but, I mean, I was so freaked out, Gretch, that I called Sarah, who’s now my writing partner, and she came over at like 7:30 in the morning because I was like, “I don’t know if this was a ghost or what, but I am so scared.”

And she came over, which was very nice of her. So that’s the only maybe it was a dream. But boy, I mean, I was pinching myself, you know, I was very awake. By the way, my mother-in-law, Ramona, her mom called her twice from the beyond, she says.

Gretchen:
How?

Elizabeth:
And she’s still, to this day, regretful because when her mom called the first time, I don’t remember what happened the second time, Ramona was so startled to hear her mother’s voice, she hung up, and then she’s been regretting it ever since.

Gretchen:
But she heard her mother’s voice on the phone?

Elizabeth:
Yes. Saying, “Ramona.” And that she absolutely lost. My father-in-law was there, you know, in the room when this all went down. So he verifies, that’s all I can tell you. That was her experience, that her mom called her twice, who she misses very much.

Gretchen:
Wow. What an intense experience. Okay, so here’s some from listeners. Shaz said, “My uncle had recently died. I placed his funeral pamphlet on the chair beside my bed and it fell to the floor. I retrieved it and placed it on the chair. The pamphlet fell to the floor between my bed and the chair two more times. The third time my hand felt the heat of a very, very hot extension cord plug that had just in that moment started to smoke. I was very tired that night and knew I would have slept heavily. I believe he saved my life.”

Elizabeth:
Sasha says, “Yes, I saw what I believe was my dad’s spirit the night before he was taken off life support. A beautiful electric blue orb floating in front of my window, a window that had no view or access to anything electrical. I was just a kid, so I had no idea the decision was being made or anything like that.”

Wow. That gives me the chills.

Gretchen:
Wendy said, “I was 16 in high school, my mom and I were very close. My mom was in the last stages of cancer. I got a feeling I still cannot describe it. I had a strong sense to leave early. I for some reason noted the time. I was informed later that day of her passing. It was the same time.”

Elizabeth:
Janine says, “I lost my dad in 2019 and twice in the first few months after his passing, I just felt him there with me for a minute. I wasn’t even thinking about him or doing anything that reminded me of him in the moment. But then I had this overwhelming sense of his presence and it was very comforting. And I was not/am not spiritual all at all.”

Gretchen:
Lori said, “I was sitting with my elderly mom in the hospital a few months before she passed. Suddenly I could smell my dad’s aftershave. He had been gone more than 20 years at that time.” Oh, there’s that scent memory.

Elizabeth:
Pat said, “Yes, ‘I do give visions, but I can’t control them. I call it the voice. The voice has said, ‘Look up so and so on the Internet.’ And I found news that helped a custody case. It said, ‘The police are here.’ And I went downstairs to find them walking up my driveway. Long story why I felt hopeless and the voice saying ‘Amazing Grace’ to me. I know this sounds nuts, but it all really happened and more.”

Gretchen:
Wow. Gosh. And then I love this one, Amanda said, “As my now husband walked down my sidewalk to pick me up for our first date, I saw a flash of light and a voice said to me, ‘You could marry this guy.’ 22 years of marriage later, I am very happy I paid attention.” Oh, that’s nice.

That’s so fascinating, and Elizabeth, I learned something about you. I mean, I cannot believe I never knew that.

Elizabeth:
Yeah, Gretch, there’s always something new to uncover. We think we’ve covered it all, but we haven’t. All right. Coming up, I give myself a soccer-related Demerit. But first, this break.

[Music]

Gretchen:
Okay, Elizabeth. It’s time for Demerits and Gold Stars. This is an even-numbered episode which means it’s your turn to talk about a Demerit.

Elizabeth:
Yes Gretchen, I am giving myself a Demerit for not getting into the World Cup frenzy. Everyone got so much joy out of watching the U.S. in the World Cup, and the World Cup in general, and I just failed to get into it.

Gretchen:
Well, you and me both. This Demerit covers both of us.

Elizabeth:
Yep. And I think this could have been a fun family activity. I could have learned. It could have just had that feeling of sort of Olympics kind of feeling. But I did not do it, so I missed out on that bit of happiness.

Gretchen:
Yeah, me too. I mean, first of all, I would have had to learn the rules of soccer, though. I guess I get it, the ball goes in the goal.

Elizabeth:
It’s pretty simple.

Gretchen:
That’s good. Yeah. Maybe next time.

Elizabeth:
Maybe next time. Okay, Gretch, what’s your Gold Star?

Gretchen:
Okay, I’m giving a double Gold Star for Asha Curran and GivingTuesday. Okay, so I was at a conference, and I met a woman, Asha Curran, and she is the CEO of something called GivingTuesday. Now, we often talk about catalysts for reflection and action. And Black Friday here in the United States is the traditional start of holiday shopping. So there’s sort of a frenzy of shopping on Black Friday. Then they introduce Cyber Monday, which is the online version. So that came about with the internet.

Elizabeth:
And then Gretchen, there’s also Small Business Saturday.

Gretchen:
Yes, right. Another prompt for a certain kind of action. And so GivingTuesday is a day to remember to give. So all these days you know you’ve got Friday, Saturday, Monday and then Tuesday is the day to give. And on November 29th, 2022 in the U.S., more than $3.1 billion was raised in 24 hours for causes, communities, and nonprofits.

Now, people do it across the world. It’s been going for ten years. It was started at the 92nd Street Y here in New York, which is a great organization. I love a catalyst. It’s a day for the Calendar of Catalysts, and I give Asha Curran and GivingTuesday a Gold Star for just reminding everybody to remember to be generous when we’re getting a lot of reminders to spend.

Elizabeth:
That’s great—GivingTuesday.

Gretchen:
And then the resources for this week. Okay we’re offering a new jumpstart in the app. If you are using the Happier app, it’s all around keeping a journal. It will start on December 18th and the content will refresh every day. And it’s about how to help you start and keep the habit of keeping a journal, which is something that many people talk about wanting to do and can be a great tool in a variety of different ways to help you keep a habit.

There are seven days of concrete prompts so you can download the Happier app from the App Store or Google Play. You can go to thehappierapp.com if you want to learn more. And if you’re already using Happier on December 18th, check your home screen and all will be revealed.

Elizabeth:
Nice.

Gretchen:
Yeah. So what are we reading? Elizabeth? What are you reading?

Elizabeth:
Gretch, I have not been reading the last week. I have been exhausted. Next week I will have something I am reading. How about you?

Gretchen:
I am reading Trust by Hernandez. And that’s it for this episode of Happier. Remember to Try This at Home. Choose your one-word theme for the year. Let us know if you tried it and if it works for you and what your one-word theme or phrase is.

Elizabeth:
Thanks to our executive producer Chuck Reed and everyone at Cadence 13. Get in touch. Gretchen’s on Instagram @gretchenrubin and I’m @lizcraft. Our email address is podcast@gretchenrubin.com.

Gretchen:
And as always, here it comes. If you like this show, please be sure to tell a friend. Text them the link, the episode. If you think that they would be interested in hearing about one-word themes, uncanny experiences, holiday hacks or anything, because that is how most people discover our show.

Elizabeth:
And so next week, I’m Elizabeth Craft.

Gretchen:
And I’m Gretchen Rubin. Thanks for joining us. Onward and upward.

[Music]

Elizabeth:
Gretch, I can’t believe I didn’t mention my other uncanny experience, which was, well, remember Amy, who cleaned my apartments once a week for years and years? She said that she could see dead people and had a whole other life in that way. And don’t you remember? She kept telling me I was sick. She said, ‘Liz you’re very sick. You’re very sick. You need to go to the doctor.”

And every week she just kept grilling me about had I gone to the doctor and I finally went and that’s when I was diagnosed with type one diabetes. And the doctor was like, “Wow, I can’t believe you’re not in the hospital right now. You know, I can’t believe you’re just walking around living your life.”

So she was right.

Gretchen:
Well, I remember that she had said to you, “I think you need to go to the doctor,” but I didn’t realize all that back story. Wow, that’s intense.

Elizabeth:
Yeah.

[Music]

Gretchen:
From the Onward Project.

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