I read an article that talked about ways to be happier. The piece said happiness can be learned, and recommended practicing these habits, most of which I've written about in my book and/or here: Performing acts of kindness, Increasing social connections, including initiating conversations with people you don’t know, Savoring…
Like many other people, my favorite tennis player ever is Roger Federer. Since his 2022 retirement, I have read a couple of interviews with him. As each interview made clear, he is spending a lot of time with his kids. I am glad I prioritized spending time with my kids.…
A friend of mine was telling me her car windshield cracked as a result of a pebble that got kicked up by a truck in front of her on the highway. She had to pay to have it repaired, and it also cost her time. Soon after, it happened again.…
As I wrote last month, the same week I was about to publish my prior month’s blog, my daughter Cara sent me something she wrote on the same subject. She said she didn’t have any particular plans for it, she just wanted to get her feelings down on paper, though…
The same week I was about to publish my blog last month, my daughter Cara sent me the following. She said she didn’t have any particular plans for it, she just wanted to get her feelings down on paper, though she thought perhaps at some time she would post it…
If you have read my book or blog posts, you know healthy habits are a key part of my life. I eat well and I exercise a lot. My goal is many healthy years – a long healthspan. My mom passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2022 after an 8-year battle…
A slightly early happy and healthy New Year! As I have done for quite a few years, here are some of the experiences I enjoyed this past year: what I listened to, what I read, what I watched, and more. Reading The best books I read this year: Non-Fiction The…
I loved reading this brief article last year, which told about research showing staying optimistic and maintaining a positive outlook can directly extend the length of your life. The 30-year study followed 1,200 elderly people who were born in 1920 or 1921. The researchers analyzed their health, ability to function,…
I’ve written before about Arthur Brooks – articles of his I’ve read, the time I saw him as an event speaker, and episodes of his “How to Build a Happy Life” podcast. I very much enjoyed this podcast episode of his, featuring Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist and a Professor of…
A slightly early happy and healthy New Year! As I have done for quite a few years, here are some of the experiences I enjoyed this past year: what I listened to, what I read, what I watched, and more. Reading The best books I read this year: Fiction: The…
My brother-in-law is one of the all-time great people. For almost as long as people have been doing it, he has sent around emails with jokes, stories, wisdom, and more to a long list of people. I don’t read all of them, and it’s easy enough to delete ones I…
I’ve written a few posts about the power of smiling and how it helps our happiness. When I present to groups, I always have them do this simple exercise: I ask them to smile. I then explain: When we smile, chemicals are released in our brains that make us think…