Update
The paperback for Life in Five Senses is out now. I really enjoyed writing this book, and now I’m happy to hear that other people enjoy reading it.
Announcement: We’re planning our next Happier Book Club!
Anne Lamott’s Somehow: Thoughts on Love (Amazon, Bookshop) hit the shelves recently. It was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller.
Here’s the official description:
“Love is our only hope,” Anne Lamott writes in this perceptive new book. “It is not always the easiest choice, but it is always the right one, the noble path, the way home to safety, no matter how bleak the future looks.”
In Somehow: Thoughts on Love, Lamott explores the transformative power that love has in our lives: how it surprises us, forces us to confront uncomfortable truths, reminds us of our humanity, and guides us forward. “Love just won’t be pinned down,” she says. “It is in our very atmosphere” and lies at the heart of who we are.
In each chapter of Somehow, Lamott refracts all the colors of the spectrum. She explores the unexpected love for a partner later in life. The bruised (and bruising) love for a child who disappoints, even frightens. The sustaining love among a group of sinners, for a community in transition, in the wider world. The lessons she underscores are that love enlightens as it educates, comforts as it energizes, sustains as it surprises. Full of the compassion and humanity that have made Lamott beloved by millions of readers, Somehow is classic Anne Lamott: funny, warm, and wise.
We mention two other excellent books by Anne Lamott:
- Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life (Amazon, Bookshop)
- Operating Instructions: A Journal of My son’s First Year (Amazon, Bookshop)
We can’t wait to have a wide-ranging discussion with her in an upcoming episode.
Very Special Episode
One thing that makes us happier is having clarity on how to move ahead: how to make a decision, how to size up a problem, how to deal with other people.
We love a hack, and here we feature a special kind of hack—“proverbs of the professions.”
We love these proverbs!
If you want to read an article with the proverbs we highlight in this episode, you can find them here.
If you want to hear our proverbs from teachers, listen to episode 324.
Resource
As a way to say “thank you” to everyone who has supported Life in Five Senses, I’m hosting a free virtual event to discuss the book on May 6, 2024.
Fill out the form, and you’ll receive details for joining the virtual event along with a “secret chapter” from the book.
What We’re Reading
** This transcript is unedited*
480
[music]
Gretchen
Hello and welcome to a happier a podcast where we talk about ways to become happier, healthier, more productive and more creative. This link is a very special episode every time. The episode is a very special episode. And this episode we’ll talk about Hacks for Life in the form of Proverbs of the profession. So these are proverbs from parents, poker players, doctors, ski instructors and many more.
Gretchen
Plus, we have an exciting announcement. I’m Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, good habits, the five senses and Human Nature. I’m in my little home office here in New York City. And joining me today from L.A. is my sister, Elizabeth Craft. And those of you share my love of these proverbs.
Elizabeth
That’s me, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in L.A. And yes, Gretchen, when we’re in Kansas City together, we’ll just sit around the kitchen table and talk about proverbs of the profession.
Gretchen
Which sounds improbable, but is actually true.
Elizabeth
Well, you are the same person who would put words of the week on the refrigerator for me when I was young, so it’s not that surprising to me.
Gretchen
You are not surprised. Before we launched in a few updates, first of all, the paperback for my most recent book, Life in Five Senses, is out now. It was such a joy to write this book, and now I’m happy to hear when other people are reading it, you can get your copy and learn more about it and happier.
Gretchen
Cars.com slash five senses.
Elizabeth
And Gretchen, we have an exciting announcement.
Gretchen
We have an exciting announcement is that we have a book club choice. Yes. We are going to do a special book club episode coming up. And the author we are highlighting is Anne Lamott. Her most recent book, which is her 20th book with a lot of books called Somehow something That’s On Love, hit the shelves recently. It was an instant number one New York Times bestseller.
Gretchen
I have read most of her books. This is her 20th book. I went to an event here in New York City that was a combination celebration of that book and also her 70th birthday. So 70th birthday, 20th book, this huge milestone, which was so much fun.
Elizabeth
Amazing. And gretchen, here is the official description of the book. Love is our only hope. Anne Lamott writes in this perceptive new book. It is not always the easiest choice, but it is always the right one. The noble path, the way home to safety, no matter how bleak the future looks. And somehow her thoughts on love, Lamott explores the transformative power that love has in our lives.
Elizabeth
How it surprises us, forces us to confront uncomfortable truths, reminds us of our humanity and guides us forward. Love just won’t be pinned down, she says. It is in our very atmosphere and lies at the heart of who we are. And each chapter of somehow Lamott refracts all the colors of the spectrum. She explores the unexpected love for a partner later in life the bruised and bruising love for a child who disappoints, even frightens the sustaining love among a group of sinners.
Elizabeth
For a community in transition in the wider world. The lessons she underscores are that love enlightens as it educates, comforts, as it energizes, sustains, as it surprises, full of the compassion and humanity that have made Lamott beloved by millions of readers somehow as classic Anne Lamott funny, warm, and wise.
Gretchen
Yeah, I have to say, you know, that sounds a bit solemn. And one of the things I love about any Lamott is that she is so funny. Yes, there are so many great books by Annie Lamott. There’s somehow the book were just discussed. Also, if you are deep in write 24 and 24, you might choose to read her extremely famous book called Bird by Bird, Some instructions on writing and Life.
Gretchen
I mean, I would say this is one of the most popular and influential books of writing in our time.
Elizabeth
Absolutely. Everyone I know has read that book and lives by it. In fact, I have a mug that says Bird by Bird.
Gretchen
It’s a great read, even if you’re not trying to write this. What I always say anything that has lessons in one area probably has lessons for every area. So it’s great if you are thinking about how to just be persistent in your work, even in the face of discouragement or self-doubt, because that’s one of the huge themes of the book.
Gretchen
Anyway, so Bird by Bird is great. Also, we should mention the book that’s probably, I would guess, the book through which most people discovered Annie Lamott. I think that, well, there are so many entry points, but one of them certainly is operating instructions, a journal of my son’s first year. This is such a deeply profound and yet also hilarious book about her first year with her baby son.
Gretchen
And it’s especially interesting to read now because of somehow where her son appears as an adult. So you see the arc of her life, which is always fascinating.
Elizabeth
Yes. So read any of these books or better yet, all of them, as well as other beloved Anne Lamott books. We cannot wait to have a wide ranging discussion with her. We’re going to ask about Bird by Bird, because, of course, how could we not as writers. Yes. And in upcoming episodes. I’m so excited.
Gretchen
Yes. That’s going to be a real treat to have that discussion. And now for the very special episode. So why are proverbs of the profession’s useful to us as we’re trying to live happier lives? I think that one of the things that makes us happier is when we have clarity on how to move ahead, when we have guidance on how to make a decision and how to size up a problem, how to deal with other people.
Gretchen
We all love a hack for everyday life, whether that’s a product to buy or how to handle the everyday dilemmas of life. And the proverbs of the professions are the folk wisdom of people who are facing certain kinds of problems in certain kinds of arenas. But the fact is, if you read books about advice for dealing with a kindergartner, you will find that that advice probably applies to your in-laws.
Gretchen
I mean, if it works in this area, it very often works in another area. Might be metaphorically true. It might be literally true. But I find that these often transcend contexts. They’re particularly funny and memorable because they come from a certain context, but then they often reverberate far past that way.
Elizabeth
Gretchen We’re not saying we necessarily agree with all of these. Yes, but they have been suggested by listeners or you’ve found them in your research. Yes. And they’re all just a delightful.
Gretchen
And they’re very thought provoking because sometimes if somebody says something and you’re like, Wow, I really don’t agree with that, I remember reading something. It was like, decisions can be judged only by their outcomes. And I was like, I exactly disagree with that. I do not think you can judge a decision by its outcome. So it was still a useful proverb to consider because it illuminated my own thoughts for me.
Gretchen
Yes and yes. These are just these are just delightful. I have been asking people about these for years. I love them. I cannot get enough of them. Yeah.
Elizabeth
So we’re going to get through as many as we can. We can’t get to everything because you have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of these. Yeah. And we’ve divided them up into some different categories. And Gretchen, we’ll start with workplace.
Gretchen
Okay, here we go. Share the praise. Accept the blame.
Elizabeth
The mark of a true leader. Gretchen Yes. You can manage for just in time or just in case.
Gretchen
Of a big distinction. Credit doesn’t get smaller when you share it. So true.
Elizabeth
Your email inbox isn’t your to do list. That’s something we’ve talked a lot about. Gretch.
Gretchen
Yes. Don’t let the urgent drive out the important. Something that we’ve also talked about.
Elizabeth
The difference between try and triumph is a little oomph.
Gretchen
Love it. Love it. You pay for your vacation the week before vacation. I find that to be very true.
Elizabeth
Absolutely. Next category is parents, which we count as a job. Yes, because it’s the biggest job in life probably.
Gretchen
And there are many proverbs. Yes. So one is say yes when you can and no when you must. That’s easier said than done, but a good thing to remember.
Elizabeth
Little kids, little problems, Big kids, big problems. Now, that’s not always true. Gretchen But yes, often true.
Gretchen
Yeah. And that’s the proverb. Yeah. Here’s another proverb that people disagree about, but the proverb holds. You’re only as happy as your least happy child. We have debated that question.
Elizabeth
Here’s one that every pregnant woman hears nap when the baby naps.
Gretchen
yeah. And related to that is you wake the baby. You take the baby.
Elizabeth
Nothing worse than someone going in to check on the baby and coming back with a wide awake baby.
Gretchen
So.
Elizabeth
You can have quiet or clean. You can have both.
Gretchen
yeah. Let them go to watch them grow.
Elizabeth
That’s a hard one. Nothing good happens after 1 a.m..
Gretchen
Okay, That’s for big kids.
Elizabeth
That’s spoken to many teenagers. Yeah. Some would say after midnight.
Gretchen
Yes. The more they sleep, the more they sleep. Meaning that children sleep better when they have consistent bedtimes and nap times. And this is one of these proverbs that works just as well for adults. The better you sleep, the better you sleep.
Elizabeth
Nothing changes if nothing changes.
Gretchen
this is a really good one. Don’t try to make a happy baby happier. we’ve all made that mistake. Yeah, it’s.
Elizabeth
If they like that rattle, just let them keep on playing with the rattle. You do not need to change it out for a different toy. You do not need to take them off the swing. How many times did I decide I was tired of the swing? Long before Jack was tired of the swing and he was not happy.
Elizabeth
Right.
Gretchen
You’re like, yeah. Surely it’s time to move on to something else when they’re perfectly satisfied. Yes, we all learned the hard way. And now proverbs from people seeking jobs. These are job seeking proverbs.
Elizabeth
It’s not what you know, it’s who, you know.
Gretchen
Leap and the net will appear.
Elizabeth
Never look for a job without having a job.
Gretchen
Interesting. I think all of these are debatable.
Elizabeth
Yes, but all of them resonate in some way. For sure.
Gretchen
Yes. Thought provoking. And now these are coming from members of the military. So people sent in their proverbs.
Elizabeth
Flexibility is the key to air power.
Gretchen
And to many things. If you aren’t 5 minutes early, you’re 5 minutes late.
Elizabeth
I’ve heard that one so many times. That is one that people will debate about till the end of time. Yup. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Gretchen
Interesting. You can volunteer for an assignment or you can be volun told. I love this word. Volun told. I had never heard it until I heard this proverb. I think it’s I can’t believe people don’t use it all the time. I love volun told.
Elizabeth
Yes, I think we’ve talked about it on the podcast question about how often we’re volun told something.
Gretchen
Yeah.
Elizabeth
If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.
Gretchen
Okay. Okay. Generals tend to fight the last war.
Elizabeth
Meaning the last war that they were in. That’s what the knowledge they’re using now. Yes. Yes. It’s almost always costlier to attack a position than to defend a position.
Gretchen
So I think this is one of these ones where you’re like, how does this metaphorically apply in many contexts? I found that very thought provoking.
Elizabeth
Yeah, I want to think about that. Yeah, that’s interesting.
Gretchen
And Elizabeth, here’s one that will resonate with you. These are some proverbs from actors.
Elizabeth
Yes. You can’t make a living in the theater, but you can make a killing.
Gretchen
The only person more unhappy than an out of work actor is a working actor. Yeah.
Elizabeth
That’s funny. I don’t think actors would agree necessarily.
Gretchen
It’s funny. I do think you can substitute other professions there, too.
Elizabeth
100%. We always say the only thing worse than having too much work is not having enough work. Or the only thing worse than not having enough work is having too much work. yeah. And then finally, acting is reacting.
Gretchen
Yeah, even I know that one. That’s a very famous proverb for the profession.
Elizabeth
All right, gretch. Coming up, we’ll hear proverbs of the profession from photographers, musicians, chefs and more. But first, this break.
[music]
Gretchen
Okay we got some proverbs from photographers.
Elizabeth
The best camera is the one you have with you.
Gretchen
So true. Zoom with your feet. Meaning if you can get closer to a subject rather than zooming onto it. I think about that all the time. Now, when I’m taking pictures of my phone, I have to say.
Elizabeth
You can take a photo or make a photo.
Gretchen
Interest in. Here are some proverbs for musicians. Practice makes permanent.
Elizabeth
Perfect practice makes perfect.
Gretchen
It’s never the fault of the audience. That’s a good one.
Elizabeth
Hard work beats talent if talent won’t work.
Gretchen
Interesting. Again, very applicable to other areas of life. I think hard work beats talent of talent will work. And here are some from chefs. One is make it nice or do it twice.
Elizabeth
And another is use your head or use your feet. And that’s about prep, meaning you can either get everything done and have it all there for you, or you’re going to have to keep walking around the kitchen constantly.
Gretchen
And here’s one If you have time to lean, you have time to clean. Meaning if someone’s hanging around and they’re not busy, they should just clean because that’s something that always needs to get done in the kitchen. Useful.
Elizabeth
Okay, now we have some fun ones. Gretchen We have poker players. Proverbs of the profession. Yes. Okay. You can’t win the hands. You don’t play.
Gretchen
That’s a rule for life. If you can’t support the patsy at the table, you’re the patsy.
Elizabeth
That is so harsh, and I absolutely love it.
Gretchen
Yes.
Elizabeth
Play the hand. You’re dealt. Of course, that’s one of the most famous proverbs ever.
Gretchen
Yes. Well, I’m kind of related. You can win with the worst hand and you can lose with the best hand.
Elizabeth
The house always wins.
Gretchen
Play the opponent, not the cards.
Elizabeth
That applies to many things in life as well.
Gretchen
Yes, it does.
Elizabeth
Big raises make big pots interesting.
Gretchen
Okay. And here’s some from hikers. Elizabeth, I hope that these are useful to you as a person who hikes often. Yeah. One is don’t sit for too long. Okay. That’s so simple. It’s probably not even really a proverb, but a good reminder. Yes.
Elizabeth
Very practical. The last person to reach the top of the hill needs time to rest, too.
Gretchen
I’m often the last person to reach the top of the hill. So I think that’s a very useful proverb. There’s no bad weather just bad clothing choices. We talked about this proverb a lot when we were doing Go Outside.
Elizabeth
No one ever promised you warm and dry.
Gretchen
You, this is a good one. Don’t step on anything you can step over. Don’t step over anything. You can walk around. And good advice.
Elizabeth
Yes, I will use that frame in Canyon. Gretchen Yeah, because I often have to stop over or around things.
Gretchen
And I guess this is because that’s how you’re more likely to get injured, right? You snap your ankle or you fall down. Okay, good advice.
Elizabeth
Or you don’t realize that rock is actually a rattlesnake. I don’t know. Anything can happen.
Gretchen
Anything can happen.
Elizabeth
great. Gretchen here, proverbs from veterinarians. We’ve been talking about veterinarians a lot lately. Yes. First of all, bleeding must stop.
Gretchen
Okay, If you’ve got nothing left, try steroids,
Elizabeth
Every pet comes with a person. Meaning you need to be able to communicate with people as well as have animal skills.
Gretchen
I love that one. And I love this one. Never name a dog. Lucky.
Elizabeth
That is so funny. And finally, there’s no such thing as a free horse.
Gretchen
That is hilarious. And now from ski instructors, these are fun. The first turn is the hardest. True, in many areas.
Elizabeth
If you don’t go, you don’t know.
Gretchen
Yeah, move your feet, not your skis.
Elizabeth
See the line, not the trees.
Gretchen
The best skier is the one having the most fun.
Elizabeth
A bad day on the slopes. It’s a good day at work.
Gretchen
You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a lift ticket.
Elizabeth
Gretchen, that feels like something you would have said in one of your books.
Gretchen
Money can’t buy happiness, but money can buy many things that contribute to happiness.
Elizabeth
Yes. If you’re not falling, you’re not learning.
Gretchen
No friends on a powder day.
Elizabeth
Ski good or eat wood.
Gretchen
I have to say this on some of these? I don’t understand. I like. I think that I understand them, but I don’t know enough about skiing to 100% understand them. I feel like I can make them work for me, even if I’m not exactly right from the ski perspective. And then the final one is, if you choose not to find joy in the snow, you’ll have less joy in your life.
Gretchen
But just as much snow. True.
Elizabeth
That reminds me of something you like to say, Gretchen, which is if you can’t get out of it, get into it.
Gretchen
Yes, yes, yes. Now, from dog trainers, we have dogs. This is one that I say a lot. It’s never the dog’s fault.
Elizabeth
So true. If you don’t wipe muddy paws at the door, you’ll be cleaning a mud tract over the whole house.
Gretchen
That’s true. That’s kind of the stitch in time. Saves nine proverb a tired dog is a happy dog. That’s very true. A Barnaby?
Elizabeth
Yes. Often also a tired dog is a much more well-behaved dog.
Gretchen
Yes.
Elizabeth
The only thing two dog trainers can agree on is what the third trainer is doing. Wrong impression. I cracked me up so much because there are so many different opinions on dog training. Yes, that just cracks me up.
Gretchen
You can also substitute like economists. You know what else?
Elizabeth
Writers. I mean, you could say the only thing to TV writers agree on is what the third TV writer did wrong. 100%.
Gretchen
Exactly. Okay. And proverbs from therapists. There are a lot.
Elizabeth
Yes, we love therapists. It’s never about what it’s about.
Gretchen
Act different to feel different.
Elizabeth
No is a complete sentence under stress.
Gretchen
We regress.
Elizabeth
Clear is kind.
Gretchen
If you don’t reveal it, you can’t heal it.
Elizabeth
That’s very profound. These all are very profound. They are what you resist persists.
Gretchen
And I have to note that because many of them include rhymes, they’re more memorable. That’s the fluency heuristic, that ideas feel more powerful if we can remember them better, and rhyming helps us to remember them. So it’s good to have rhymes. People go to therapy because of the people in their lives who don’t go to therapy.
Elizabeth
That cracked me up. What we permit, we promote.
Gretchen
Acceptance that precedes change.
Elizabeth
Tell me what you’re afraid of and I’ll tell you what’s happened to you.
Gretchen
There’s no settling down without settling for now.
Elizabeth
That’s one I think people might disagree with. Scratch.
Gretchen
Interesting. Interesting.
Elizabeth
People who are unavailable attract people who are unavailable.
Gretchen
Hurt people. Hurt people.
Elizabeth
You spot it. You got it.
Gretchen
I say that one all the time. Yeah. Intimacy means in to me. See.
Elizabeth
I love that.
Gretchen
One. I like it when there’s plays on the word yes.
Elizabeth
Don’t just do something. Sit there. Now you got to think about with that one for a second. I’m going to say it again. It’s perfect for a therapist. Don’t just do something. Sit there.
Gretchen
Easier said than done. All behavior makes sense in context.
Elizabeth
You can’t change the people around you, but you can change the people around you.
Gretchen
Again, you kind of have to think about that. Yes. Name it to tame it.
Elizabeth
If you’re tired of the battles, lay down your weapons.
Gretchen
Your vibe attracts your tribe.
Elizabeth
Feeling is healing.
Gretchen
It’s not an excuse, but it is a reason.
Elizabeth
Don’t get furious, get curious.
Gretchen
That’s a really good one.
Elizabeth
Those are all so great. Great. I feel like I want to just have that list on my wall because in terms of emotional health.
Gretchen
Yes.
Elizabeth
Feels like these really nail it.
Gretchen
I feel like there could be a mug collection.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth could. Yes, the therapist mug collection. my gosh.
Gretchen
So that you could just have them in front of you reminding you all the time. Don’t get furious. Get curious.
Elizabeth
All right, Gretch. Coming up, we’ll hear from physical therapists, fitness trainers, doctors, nurses and more. But first, this break.
[music]
Gretchen
I love these proverbs from physical therapists, fitness trainers, and other people working in that arena.
Elizabeth
Motion is the lotion.
Gretchen
Of so true, right? The issue isn’t always the tissue.
Elizabeth
Here’s one of the most famous proverbs ever. Use it or lose it.
Gretchen
It’s so true, right? Use it or lose it. Pair your scrolling with your strolling. So this is a good proverb for people using the strategy of pairing, which I will now include whenever I talk about the strategy of pairing.
Elizabeth
We should say, though, that’s only on a treadmill. You don’t want to be scrolling when you’re walking down the street.
Gretchen
That’s true. You get quite good safety tips there. Yep.
Elizabeth
If you want to do it later, you’d better be doing it now.
Gretchen
That’s good advice. Sometimes quit beats grit, meaning don’t push yourself if you’re injured or sick.
Elizabeth
Exercise for sanity, not vanity.
Gretchen
Movement is medicine.
Elizabeth
Only move the muscles you want to keep.
Gretchen
This is like the dentist you like. Only brush the teeth you want to keep. Yes. A little movement is better than no movement. Very true.
Elizabeth
No pain, no gain is a lie.
Gretchen
Exercise adds 20 degrees to the weather. Meaning it’ll feel 20 degrees warmer when you’re exercising.
Elizabeth
It’s better to be patient than to be a patient.
Gretchen
Like, I like the wordplay.
Elizabeth
Yes, I love it.
Gretchen
Okay. And here’s from doctors and nurses.
Elizabeth
When you hear hoof beats, don’t look for a zebra.
Gretchen
I have to say, whenever I ask for proverbs, the professions, that is one of the ones that I get the most. That must be a very, very popular proverb among health care professionals. Well, and this is an ancient one. First, do no harm.
Elizabeth
Start low and go slow. And that’s when setting a dose of a medication.
Gretchen
Yeah. If the gut works, use it. Meaning that it’s usually safer and less expensive to administer nutrition or medication by mouth or feeding tube rather than intravenously. That’s one where it’s very specific. But I also feel like there’s a metaphorical meaning to if the gut works, use it.
Elizabeth
Yes, sometimes the best medicine is the tincture of time.
Gretchen
True, There’s no such thing as a good tan.
Elizabeth
Sadly true.
Gretchen
Elizabeth
If you don’t make time for your wellness, you’ll be forced to take time for your illness.
Gretchen
Good. Good advice. Care for the caregiver? That’s good advice. Yes.
Elizabeth
A dog can have ticks and fleas, Meaning your patient can have two conditions. You don’t always find a unifying diagnosis.
Gretchen
Interesting. If it’s not documented, it’s not done. That’s about record keeping.
Elizabeth
Your actions today will change someone’s tomorrow.
Gretchen
that’s a beautiful thought. From the sublime to the very practical. If your patient isn’t pooping, your patient isn’t doing anything else either. Interesting.
Elizabeth
The shift will always end.
Gretchen
Get advice. Write legibly. Save a life.
Elizabeth
Doctors are notorious for their bad handwriting. And finally, civility saves lives. And that means an unpleasant encounter may distract you or influence how you see your next patient. Or make it hard to work with a specialist or someone from a different department.
Gretchen
Interesting. That’s good advice. Here are some proverbs from librarians we love librarians. We love libraries. The first one is a great library. Contains something to offend everyone.
Elizabeth
Books are both mirrors and windows.
Gretchen
So true. A book for every person and a person for every book.
Elizabeth
You don’t have to know all the answers. You just need to know where to find them.
Gretchen
Great.
Elizabeth
Well, great. You are the ultimate researcher. You love researching. So that very much applies to you.
Gretchen
Yes. And I love a library. And then finally, here are some great proverbs from the world of martial arts. First, your strength is in your stance.
Elizabeth
Your greatest opportunity for influence comes from your willingness to yield. That’s profound.
Gretchen
Yeah. Every block is a strike. Every strike is a grab. Every grab can be a throw.
Elizabeth
One does not stay safe by controlling others, but by controlling oneself.
Gretchen
Okay, now that I feel like is huge.
Elizabeth
Yes. That applies to everybody. Everywhere, in every circumstance. Yes. Of life.
Gretchen
It’s going in the leg collection. There’s nothing but basics. That’s interesting. Mastering the basics will get you where you need to go and will be the challenge of your lifetime. There’s nothing but basics.
Elizabeth
It’s funny because Sarah and I say we learn the same writing lesson every single time we write anything, we have to learn the same thing over and over. We marvel at that. We’re like, How did we not learn this? Yes, in the last 20 years.
Gretchen
But maybe that’s comforting to realize that is the way it is. There is nothing but basics. It is the same lesson over and over. Okay, that’s profound. And then if you do it correctly, it will feel true in your body. And I think of this when you see great athletes, they just make it look so easy and so effortless.
Gretchen
They’re like not using any effort because they’re just doing it so correctly.
Elizabeth
They’re in the flow.
Gretchen
They’re in the flow. They feel it in their body.
Elizabeth
These are all so great. Yes. I just want to take them in and just go around saying them to people.
Gretchen
These are our favorites. I got a whole other thing of favorites, too. So great.
Elizabeth
Now, we also Gretchen did a whole big segment on proverbs of the profession from teachers. So if you want to hear our teacher Proverbs, we talk about them in episode 324 or you can read them on Gretchen’s website.
Gretchen
Yeah. And we may dip into that again and highlight some other specific proverbs because it just does feel so helpful. So let us know if you do try this at home and how you’ve used these proverbs of the professions. How do they apply in your context? Anything you’d add? I am still collecting these. No surprise. Let us know on Instagram threads Tik-tok Facebook Drop us an email Add podcast at Gretchen Rubin dot com.
Gretchen
As always, you can go to the shownotes. This is a very special episode, so you know it ends when a zero go to happier cars.com slash 480. Everything related to this episode.
Elizabeth
And what is our resource this week?
Gretchen
Gretch Well, to say thank you to everyone who has supported life in five senses because, as I said, my paperback is coming out. I am going to host a free virtual event about the book on May six, 2024. And so if you want the details, go to have your cars.com slash virtual event, one word hyper cars.com slash virtual event, and you’ll get the details about how to join.
Gretchen
And you will also get my secret chapter, which I’ve mentioned, which is, you know, the chapter that I cut out of the final book. But it’s kind of surprising if you know me. I think it’s it’s not something you would have expected me to try as I was writing this book. I certainly didn’t expect to do it, but I did.
Gretchen
But it didn’t make the cut. So that’s hyper cars.com slash virtual event. And Iliza, speaking of virtual book clubs, real book clubs, any kind of book club, just reading. What are you reading?
Elizabeth
I am reading The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine.
Gretchen
And I am reading The Book of Circles by Manuel Lima. And that’s it for this episode of Happier The Proverbs of the Professions. Let us know what we missed, what you tried, what you think. We cannot get enough about the proverbs of the professions.
Elizabeth
Thank you to our executive producer Chuck Reed and everyone at Odyssey Get in Touch. Questions on Instagram threads Facebook and Tik-tok at Gretchen Rubin. And I’m on Instagram and threads at Liz Craft and Elizabeth.
Gretchen
I think we need to make a proverb out of why we ask people sign up, to read, to review, to follow, to recommend this to a friend. Okay, we’re going to think of some kind of rhyming proverb to invoke. So we would very much appreciate it if you did it. So we will try to come up with a proverb to some that.
Elizabeth
Something like if you like the show, suggest a follow up that doesn’t quite rhyme, but I’m getting there.
Gretchen
Okay, We Need to wordsmith this a little bit, Elizabeth. Maybe the next time we’re together we’ll come up with the Proverbs for ourselves.
Elizabeth
Until next week. I’m Elizabeth Craft.
Gretchen
And I’m Gretchen Rubin. Thanks for joining us. Onward and upward.
Chuck
I have a proverb from the martial arts world.
Gretchen
Chuck, what is it?
Elizabeth
what is it?
Chuck
Well, it’s in relation to obtaining a black belt. It’s martial arts is a journey, not a destination.
Gretchen
That’s good.
Elizabeth
And also applies to so much in life.
Gretchen
Like all the proverbs from the onward project.