The Happiness Project … Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin, chronicles her pursuit of a more meaningful day-to-day existence.
“The Happiness Project is the memoir of the year I spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific studies, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier – happily, it was a #1 New York Times bestseller. As one of the hundreds of experiments I’ve conducted, I started a blog. Here, I recount my daily adventures in pursuit of happiness.” –Gretchen Rubin
Above is a copy of the book and to the right is a 5-year, one-sentence-a-day journal, that simplifies journal keeping. It only requires that you write down one sentence a night to chronicle your day. Brilliant! To win this book set, all you have to do is tell me what makes YOU the most happy. Is it the bursting flavor of a sweet orange, a blue sky that stretches for miles, or maybe just a good night’s sleep?
Tell me what makes YOU the most happy and I’ll put your name into a hat for StellaJane to dip her hand into. She’ll choose one new home for both the book and the accompanying journal. Going forward, StellaJane and I will do our GIVEAWAYS hat trick always in time for an announcement Sunday morning. Without fail. Coming this Sunday, the winner of the Wild Iris Art. We thought it would make a good Easter present.
See our winner here!
Hmmm, there are many, many things that make me happy. Choosing just one is hard! I guess what makes me happiest is family- yes, knowing I am blessed with a wonderful healthy, family. My husband, son and daughter are what everything else is all about. They are WHY I do what I do- trying to live a simpler life and to teach my children right from wrong and what really matters in life (which in this day and age of technology isnt easy!) So, ultimately, it is my family that keeps me grounded and makes me happiest in life!
Thanks for the opportunity to win such an interesting book and awesome journal! You continue to introduce me to wonderful books, ideas, and a fabulous lifestyle! Thanks MJ!
I have been working as an RN for the past 33 years and raised a family of two girls. My husband recently retired and I hope to do the same in another year or so. As I have been thinking about filling my time in the future, I must admit , it is hard to figure out. Last May I joined the MJF Connection which opened up a whole new world of women doing so many creative endeavors. But, one day I happened upon a Connection entry of a new young entrpreneur and began to sponsor her work where she lives in north Idaho. What a blessing this has been to me because I realized that I had some skills that I could share with her that might make her more successful . Over the past few months, I have been researching home businesses and sharing what I have gathered mixed in with what I already know from working in the corporate world. So now I am thinking maybe there is a way I can do more of this help to young entrepreneurs trying to get their businesses off the ground. I am also aware that this might give me the focus for what my retirement days can look like. This is very exciting to me and making me very , very happy!! For me, I am most happy when I feel like my time and work has meaning.
This book and journal is a wonderful gift idea!! I am learning so much myself about what it means to be older and what a challenge it will be to continue to grow past my years in the workforce in positive and meaningful ways. I thank MJF for leading me down a path to better living and connecting with so many talented and inspiring women!! Thank you MaryJane!
Winnie. aka RedTractorGirl on the Connection
What makes me happy is the soft touch of my kitties fur when they cuddle up to me in the morning. The smile on my boyfriend’s face when he comes through the door at the end of the day. Making something – sewing, crocheting or sketching that never existed before I made it and I brought it to life. Messing around concocting something in the kitchen that ends up being a delicious experiment. Sharing a cup of tea with my friend Bethany who is like the sister I always wanted and understands me so well that we can laugh and cry together. Thinking I am wasting time on the computer – only to discover a great website with wonderful insight and pictures that lift my day. Sleeping the good sleep of a day well spent.
What makes me happy every morning is the DECISION I make to BE happy. I’m up at 5AM to take care of a farm and a slew of housepets, then it’s off to my preschool teaching job. I hear people complain every day about little stuff that is so unimportant I cannot believe they allow it to bother them. So my motto is this: Unless it is something that will still be an issue when I’m on my deathbed then it is not important enough to fret about. I choose to see the beauty in everything and to love everyone who is important to me. And I allow myself to just be.
Waking up every morning to the smell of coffee and to find my obituary is not in the paper.
Happiness: To wake each morning and behold what Jesus Christ has created for us to enjoy and to graciously share His love with everyone! Thank you very much for sharing your time and treasures with us.
Heavenly blessings!
Cathy
Creation makes me soar. It is the time wherein I feel whole and complete and dare I say it? Worthy.
There are so very many things that make me happy, but that one that keeps me consistently smiling is to know that God is with me. Simple as that. Happy.
Spending time with my family is what makes me the happiest! 🙂
What makes me happy is waking up to another glorious day with my cat Carmen and husband Barry so I can get going to help my family and others. What a great idea for a book!
What makes me most happy are the days leading up to getting to see the love of my life again after a deployment, and of course the actual day when I get to wrap my arms around him again! The sweet sounds our puppy makes when she yawns after waking. The feel of warm laundry in my lap. Bubble baths. Bear hugs. A cold Dr. Pepper from a soda fountain. Crushed ice. Candles burning in a dark room. Hot tea anytime of the day. A good book. My quiet time in the morning with God. Talking to my mom on the phone. Rocking babies. Dancing in the rain…. The list goes on and on, but these are just a few. 🙂
My Pugs!!! I am blessed with three beauties and I do know what a blessing they are…as all dogs are. They make me happy in the most purest form. They make other things that are beautiful and happy even more beautiful and happier. I Love them, I love them, I LOVE THEM!!! They are my happiness, my smile, my loves.
Our 6 kitties. Watching them play (and get into trouble) makes me smile and be happy. We would rather watch and play with our kitties any day the the TV.
I love to start the morning with a cup of hot tea and maybe a scone if I got up early enough to make it, and just stare at the mountains range to the east and watch the sun come up over the mountains. Especially in the summer when the sunrise here in Montana is early enough that I have a halfway decent chance of accomplishing it before anyone else wakes up. The rest of the year I don’t actually manage it very often, the children wake up and I need to help them get ready for the day before the sun makes it appearance so I miss it’s arrival. But when I do get the chance to just sit and watch for the half hour or so from the first rays of light appearing over the mountains, to the final rise of the sun itself, it sets the tone for a level of calm and contented “no matter what happens I can handle this without any extra drama” kind of day.
There are lots of things that make me happy. Right now, it’s watching Road to Avonlea, knitting socks and dreaming of living on a farm 🙂 Thanks for hosting such a fun giveaway 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
Many things make me happy, but nature is one. I love the sight of skies, either night or day. I love mountains, oceans, meadows, creeks, flowers, plants, trees, animals. I sit or stand and listen to nature’s sounds and feel at peace. 🙂 Teri
My life makes me happy or should I say I make my life happy. There are just too many wonderful things to list – my husband, my children, my granchildren, my gardens, my animals, my hobbies………………………………….
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