Something Making Us More Happier 

• Elizabeth: The ocean view from her hotel room in Puerto Rico, where she’s working on Season 2 of Fantasy Island.
• Gretchen: Elizabeth gave me a “Salt” t-shirt, because “Salt” is my one-word theme for 2022,  plus the space heater that warms up my cold office.

I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You

Elizabeth and I continue to think and talk about the Get Back documentary about the Beatles.

In an earlier conversation, we talked about how the Beatles wished they had a boss. Elizabeth has decided that she wishes she had a governess. I was reminded of Happier episodes where we talked about why you might “Treat yourself like a toddler” and “Treat yourself like a puppy.” It’s an interesting know-yourself-better question: a person might want a boss, a person might want a governess, a person might want a…what? Camp counselor? We talk about the Four Tendencies personality framework. To find out if you’re an Upholder, Questioner, Rebel, or — like Elizabeth — an Obliger, take the free, quick quiz here.

Spotlight on a Tool

I’m creating a series of free “Jump Starts” for people who need a little boost to keep going on an aim.

The first one? A Jump-Start for movement — because many people want to include more movement in their 2022 by walking, running, practicing yoga, stretching, strength-training, gardening, using a treadmill desk, and more.

Each jump-start will offer several tools, so you can choose what works for you – or use them all:

• a free SMS challenge – for seven days, you’ll get a prompt to remind you to move and to reflect on ways to build movement into your daily routine
• a free PDF worksheet to help you know yourself better and customize your routine so it works for you
• tips for using the Happier app to keep your habits more easily and effectively
• conversations on Instagram Live to discuss questions, swap tips, and get encouragement
• suggestions for beautiful tools that could make your habit easier or more pleasant to keep

Happiness Lesson from the Real Housewives

On the podcast Heather Dubrow’s World, when her daughter admired Heather Dubrow’s engagement and wedding rings that were stored in a safe, her mother told her daughter to wear them.

We talked about “Spend out,” one of my Twelve Personal Commandments.

Quotation

From Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God (Amazon, Bookshop):

Here was peace. She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see.