Plan a Trip
Today is Day 11 of my Happiness Hacks series. Today’s happiness hack was finalizing plans for a trip with two of my best college friends. We’re meeting in early December to celebrate a “significant” birthday milestone we’re all reaching over the next year. We’ve been emailing back and forth for about a month to figure out…
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Finish a Project
Today is Day 10 of my Happiness Hacks series. I don’t know about you, but I tend to have multiple projects going on at once. I’m just not a linear project kind of gal. My computer desktop and open tabs are a dead give-away that I’m not great at sticking with one thing from start…
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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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Hop on The Energy Bus!
One of our treasured camp traditions is reading to campers each evening at bedtime. We adopted the tradition more than a decade ago, because we realized how calming it is and how much even our oldest campers enjoy it. I also know from my own experience how a love of reading comes from being read to…
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7 Reasons to Get Outside
Next to unplugging, one of my favorite things to talk about is spending time outside. In fact, I believe the combination of unplugging AND spending time outside may be the answer to many of life’s ills. I know that combination works for me. During the summer, I spend most of my time outdoors. As a…
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