5 Things Making Me Happy This Week (3/28)

Each Friday, I send a newsletter that includes "5 Things" that made me happy that week. Today, I'm sharing last week's list here as well. If you'd like to receive future 5 Things in your inbox, sign up here.

Hello,

I’ve been working on a Calendar of Catalysts—a suggestion of dates we might use as catalysts for reflection. Perfect for people who don’t like New Year’s resolutions! For people who like to use a date tied to the natural calendar, the spring equinox on March 20 was a good reminder to think about aims related to renewal and growth.

If you missed the spring equinox, the summer solstice comes on June 21. That day always reminds me of one of my favorite passages from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (Bookshop, Amazon), when Daisy says, “'Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it.’”

For me, the beginning of a new season always brings a fresh sense of determination, in one way or another. How about you?

Onward,

Gretchen Rubin

5 things making me happy

1. Celebrating personal anniversaries makes me happy, and last week was the sixth anniversary of my “Little Happiers.” I release these very short (2-4 minute) episodes every Monday as part of the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast feed. Writing these “Littles” is one of my favorite things to do.
2. As I mentioned on episode 369 of Happier, I love to work on a hooky book (a hooky project is what you work on as a break from your main project). I used to worry that I was procrasti-creating — after all, working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination — but I came to realize the creative value of allowing myself to goof off. My “hooky book” is my Book of Aphorisms. Do you have a hooky project? (And did you notice the aphorism I just slipped in?)
3. This beautiful sunrise reminded me of the cover of my book Outer Order, Inner Calm.

4. A thoughtful listener told me about the Unexplainable series from Vox that is currently covering the five senses. I’m researching the five senses, so they’re always on my mind. Also on my mind: the many powers of dogs. So it made me unexpectedly happy to have the “Making sense: no one nose” episode cover possible ways that dogs can advance scent science and cancer research.

5. A thoughtful reader sent me this article—it was interesting to see the mention of the “empty shelf” from my book “The Happiness Project” in this piece about the margin of safety in finance.

Updates

• We’re in the early days of spring! If spring cleaning is on your to-do list this season, I’ve created a set of tools to help you jump-start a habit of clearing clutter—for most people, outer order leads to inner calm.

Happier Podcast

370: A Very Special Episode! Get Hacks and Suggestions for Getting More Rest

Listen >>

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