Gather Around the Table
Today is Day 9 of my Happiness Hacks series. On most days, one of my favorite times is when we sit down to eat dinner together. Our family dinners include lively conversation, usually spurred on by our discussion of “Highs, Lows, and Buffaloes.” My kids claim that we have the longest dinner of any of their…
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Hug Your People
Today is Day 8 of my Happiness Hacks series. My daughter is home from college for fall break, so we have four precious days with her after not seeing her for two months. I’m keeping it simple (so that I can get back to my people). Give hugs. Yep. Hugs are a simple, easy, and super great-feeling…
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Gift an Experience
Today is Day 7 of my Happiness Hacks series. In my gift giving over the past several years, I’ve focused on experiential gifts more than material ones, because, I think, they’re so much more fun to give AND to receive. Today I’m heading on a road trip to a women’s conference. I gave this trip as…
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Send a Card
Today is Day 6 of my Happiness Hacks series. In yesterday’s mail, I received a hand written card from one of my best friends, Karen. It’s not my birthday or any other special occasion, and she lives nearby. The fact that she didn’t have a reason to write, other than letting me know how she feels…
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Say “YES” to a Spontaneous Event
Today is Day 5 of my Happiness Hacks series. This morning I did something out of character and said “yes” to a fun, spontaneous event. My friend Alison had posted on her Facebook page yesterday about a local coffee shop becoming Luke’s Diner for one morning in honor of the 16th anniversary of The Gilmore…
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Volunteer
Today is Day 4 of my Happiness Hacks series. About a year ago, I toured an amazing women and children’s shelter where they help moms retain (or get back) custody of their children. The program provides training and education in parenting, life, and vocational skills for the participants. I was so impressed with the program and facility…
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A Clean Desk
Today is Day 3 of my 31 Days of Happiness Hacks! Today’s a quick one, friends. I’ve learned through my research, reading, and personal experience that cleaning up one counter, drawer or shelf is a great little happiness boost. Gretchen Rubin (of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before – two of my favorite happiness books)…
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Run Happy
Today is Day 2 of my Happiness Hacks series. Today’s Happiness Hack may sound strange to non-runners. I decided to “Run Happy.” A lot of research has shown that exercise can help us feel better – all those endorphins and what not. But for me, exercise, specifically running, became yet another place to strive and achieve.…
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More than “I’m Sorry”
Teaching Kids the RIGHT Way to Apologize An important relationship skill is the ability to resolve conflicts. And resolving conflicts often involves an apology. Most kids are bad at apologizing, and that’s because the adults in their lives are mostly bad at apologizing, too. Apologizing well is a skill not many of us have mastered.…
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No Time for Family Dinner?
Back in 2012, I wrote about how much I treasure our Family Dinner. That was a precious, memorable year for our family, the final one before our oldest daughter left for college.
Now our family dinners include just four of us (myself, my husband, and our two boys), but they are still my favorite part of the day – and often the only time we really talk and connect.
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Google Parenting
In a phone call with a parent this week, she relayed the story of her teenage daughter running away (briefly) and how, even with 25 years of parenting experience (and numerous parenting books, classes, and conversations) behind her, she found herself Googling what to do. Being able to share these challenging parenting experiences (and laughing about them…
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Learning to Enjoy the Little Things
September is my “new year.” The busy summer is over, and I have some time to rest, reflect, and regroup – three things I have never mastered. I’ve been drawn this month to books that continue to give me the same message loud and clear: slow down, savor, be present, be mindful. Those words are…
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