Hacking Away at Happiness

I read somewhere that the only reason to look back is to see how far we’ve come. But I think there are other reasons too. Especially when we’re feeling lost. Or itchy to discover what’s next.

The challenge of Christmas isn’t believing in Jesus. It’s believing that peace is possible. Peace is within our reach, if only we do the work.

So here we are at Thanksgiving. Appreciating our plenty. Acknowledging the people we love. But it’s also okay to feel a bit afraid.

Whether planning a vacation or deciding where to have dinner, we should take that old rule from journalism and turn it on its head. We should alwasys start with why.

I packed in a hurry because I’m a girl who beats deadlines. And I’m an editor, so I knew I’d have other chances to crystallize my thinking.

For us mere mortals, to stick the landing means to complete a process in an impressive and conclusive manner. So, how can we land squarely the next time we’re lost in space?

We’re all living on borrowed time. Squatting on borrowed land. Eeking out a borrowed existence. So what does safety even mean? And how does it change as we age? 

Thanks to the coffee mishap, ideas are percolating. So here’s what I’m thinking about change.

So here I am again. Thinking things through and putting words on the page. Maybe love is not a project. And I’ve been going about this all wrong.

My whole life I’ve been on a quest for 20/20 vision. Perfect vision, I thought, meant perfect clarity. But of course that isn’t true.

When I got Greta, I imagined she’d be the best dog of my life. But that’s a lot of pressure to put on a dog. And even more to put on myself. 

Conflicting desires make peace of mind seem impossible, especially as we age. But longing is what makes us human. And without our longings, we’d be numb.

Maybe we all need to do things that make our heart pound. Dive deep enough—or climb high enough—that we have to truly focus in order to stay alive.

Last-time meditation is the perfect gratitude practice for our time. Because we have so much. And we never know when things may change.

The brain on praise is a beautiful thing. Giving praise trains your brain to notice positive things in the world. We can’t acknowledge what we don’t see.

This year, I forgot about Halloween. Until a pack of kids and their parents came to the door. I froze. Then, this morning I remembered why Halloween is so hard.

Whether our trips are long or short, to the beach or to the mountains, solo or with others, we’ve got to make time to unpack. And not just the dirty clothes.

It’s mighty powerful when people around us take the time to reflect the good qualities they see in us. We all can be mirrors.

If I’m not not careful—if I’m not aware of what I’m doing—I’ll not only ruin the rest of my time in Solana Beach, I’ll also ruin the imperfectly perfect life I have in Denver.

Serial daters aren’t so bad. Here’s a spoon in cheek guide to recognizing the real culprits. They’re the cereal daters. Perhaps you know a few.

At sundown tonight, our fate for the coming year will be inscribed. And ten days from now that fate will be sealed. So at least until then, I hope to stay curious.

Time is a vortex that sometimes sucks us in. It takes awhile to notice when I’m spending my time on things I know are pointless. But here I am again.

Smart people like to know stuff. We talk a lot. Go many places. Read many things. We write down our thoughts and share them.

Over the past six weeks a lot has changed. Maybe that’s why we all need a puppy. To help us notice change. To help us lose control. And to see it all as growth.

Even when we notice the cues, the real work still lies ahead. As we search for certainty, a sign can only get our attention. It can’t tell us what to do.

Inquiring minds wanted to know: What is true love for yourself? How do you know you have it? What does it look like when you get there? So here’s Part 2.

What if we’ll never find the peace we seek with another until we first understand and love the barely comprehensible human who already lives in our heart?

A trickle charger maintains the perfect balance of power. It puts energy in at the same rate it’s draining out. It’s slow going, but it’s better in the long run for battery health.

My current streak on Wordle is 41 days. So what? How about we take a peek at our streaks? Be sure they’re serving us well.

If we don’t have actual Shabbat candles, we kindle tea lights. Or birthday candles. We hold up Bic lighters. Or nothing at all. We make it up as we go along.