Happiness...

I'm reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. It's not that I'm an unhappy person, I just have a curiosity for what drives my joy. It seems that others around me don't always have the capacity to pick up on the simple pleasures that I do. Am I easy? Am I oblivious? Am I weird?

Do you notice the flowers growing through the cracks in the sidewalk? Do you notice the moon each night? Do you smile when you see a stranger walking their dog at 6 am? Do you hear the birds? Do you listen to music... really... hear it?

Why is it that some people just seem happier than others? Are you as happy as you can possibly be? Could you learn to be more appreciative... and if so... would it lead to a happier you?

Do you go after what makes you happy, or does happy just seem to fall upon you? Do you seek to improve yourself in ways that you think will make you happy, or in ways that you perceive to be more socially accepted?

I have a lot of questions. I don't expect that Gretchen will have all of MY answers. I hope that she found hers. I suppose it's the optimist in me... the one who wishes all people can have an appreciation for life. The kind of appreciation that comes from little things others let slip past unnoticed. Life goes by too quickly. I don't want to regret a step.

expanding the mind

I bought a Kindle this winter, in an effort to expand my reading, and spend less time rotting my brain in front of the tv. Not that I wanted to quit watching television, I could never do that. It's just that since graduating from Cal Poly six years ago, I've done very little (short of the occasional crossword puzzle) to exercise my mind. The Kindle has proven very handy. It's easy to transport, syncs up with my iPhone, and a new book can be downloaded the instant I finish the previous story.

I'm the kind of person who enjoys reality. NOT reality tv... which I'm certain has absolutely no basis in reality. I appreciate a good movie, and sitcoms to make me laugh, but when it comes to reading, I tend to spend my time with biographical material.

I began my Kindle experience with a story I had run across finding humorous banter for work. The story is about a cat, Oscar, who predicts patient deaths at a senior care center in Providence. I know this doesn't sound like anything the least bit funny, but a creepy kitty messenger of death? I had to read it. The book, though not comedic, was well written and very enjoyable. "Making Rounds With Oscar" by Dr. David Dosa. Pick it up sometime.

My next venture was "Three Weeks With My Brother", the autobiography of renowned romance writer, Nicholas Sparks. The story was engaging, and though a tad depressing, made me appreciate life.

After blasting through the two life appreciation books, I thought I would try something "less heavy" for the next go 'round. "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin was my next choice. I knew after reading the first page, that this was the perfect choice for me. Gretchen had crept into my head in a mere two paragraphs. I'm only up to chapter three, which involves blogging... soooooo... the guilt sank in a bit, as well as the satisfaction I feel in completing a blog... and here I sit.

Since taking the long way around what was to be a short introduction to today's topic "The Happiness Project"........ if you feel the need to read on... I'll close out this little number, and begin again with a new post. Two posts in one day! Is that a good thing, or does it imply that I lack focus? Hmmmmmm....