finding more happiness

Photo via Flickr Creative Commons, user: tanaise

It's not that I am not happy. I am. But I could be happier.

There are things I let into my life that chip away at the happy I could be. Whether it's little things like when I want Tupperware I have to dig for 10 minutes looking for the corresponding lid or big things like a a bad attitude about my traveling husband, they affect me.

Over the holidays, I read "Happier at Home" by Gretchen Rubin, the Happiness Project guru. (Random sidebar: Rubin grew up three blocks from where we live right now. See? Destiny.) She addresses everything from the decor of her home, celebrating holidays, her attitude about her husband never telling her good job and the "mean face" she gives when her kids interrupt her.  I was super inspired to start my own home happiness project because I have a mean face that I am pretty sure can rival hers.

I've divided out my happiness focus into months but reserving the right to change topics as life changes.I also had to set some ground rules, mostly adopted from Rubin's book but also a few of my own.

The Rules
1. My happiness tasks cannot rely on anyone else but me.
I'd be happier if the hubs cleaned the litter pans twice a week, but I can't really control the success of that task so it's not on the list.

2. The tasks should not turn into a really long to-do list that makes me stressed.
It has to contribute to long-term happiness, not the short-term happiness of having my floors clean. Getting rid of our flea infestation would definitely make me happier for the rest of my life so it counts.

3.  I will give myself grace.
If I vow to not give the mean face, and I do - I'll try harder tomorrow. The happiness project should not send me to a therapist for a guilt complex.

First up in January: Reducing the Chaos!

Oh, hello there

In an effort to be more in the moment, I've neglected this blog, my cell phone charger (leading to much scolding from my husband and mother) and washing my floors.

The last month has thrown me for a loop.

I've battled my stress fracture with happy avoidance leading to unhappy pain. My new year resolutions won't include running a marathon this month, but just figuring out a way to use my crutches so my darned foot will heal. 

I've been haunted, as most of us are, by the events in Newtown. I've been fearful, deeply saddened and motivated to not take my days with H for granted.

I read Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin and have resolved to spend some time at a coffee shop this month mapping out my own happiness project. I'm really motivated about her simple approach.

In fact, I really need to spend more time writing at coffee shops.

I'll be back. But first, there is a little boy who has never played in the snow waiting for me.