HAPPINESS IS //
– enjoying a cup of morning coffee…
– siting outside with my pup
– having friends over for dinner on a whim {hooray for cookouts!}
– giving myself permission to sit back + breathe
– wearing glossy red wedges on Sunday
– feeling thankful I don’t have to mow the lawn
– joining the #SheReadsTruth community every single day :)
– wearing sassy lipstick {giggle giggle}
– going to bed early
* * *
I’m almost finished reading The Happiness Project and let me just blurt this out: WHAT A FANTASTIC BOOK! Have you read it yet? No? Go to your local library and get on the wait list, right now! :) It’s a beautiful mix of psychology + the author’s personal experiences of learning how to become a happier person — or seeing if it’s possible. For me, reading page after page has helped me to relax a bit more, and I find myself having happier thoughts.
I mentioned recently on Instagram {from one of last week’s daily devotionals} that someone dear to me once made a comment about one of my interests, and how she could never to have that interest because it meant sitting down. Reading The Happiness Project has been a enlightening read, yes, but it’s also validated that my interests are “good enough” a hundred times over — and I’m not even done with the book. In fact, everyone’s unique interests are good enough! It’s not that I needed a book to tell me any of this… But reading more on this subject has taught me {and I will paraphrase} that “only YOU can like what YOU like to do”. And so it feels good to officially brush off that comment once + for all.
So — let’s toast to happiness tonight!
Do you have a book you’re currently reading {or have read} that you just LOVE? Share the title with me below, I’m looking for something to read next. And if you have an extra minute, share with me your little list of happiness. xoxo
i’m currently in the game of thrones book series (on book 3) and i can’t put it down. i can’t decide if i love it or i’m bored with it, but yet i can’t stop reading…who knows what that means! :)
happiness for us is having a full week of activities together with our playgroup of little 2 year old girls. they’re so much fun together!
My little but of happiness today is tht me and my two best friends made a safe trip to the beach today and get to enjoy this beautiful place :)
@Sarah, ohhhh! yes that is SO FUN! have a great time together! :)
I read that book too a few years ago… I think when it first came out. I was having a hard time at that time & it was really helpful to me as well. Actually come to think about it, I think it actually really changed a lot of my outlook on life in general. I got it from the library too, so I don’t have it to refer back to, maybe I’ll have to check it out again (LOVE the library by the way… such a great place :)
King’s Cross by Timothy Keller is an amazing book!! It’s the story of the world in the life of Jesus. You will love it!
I wandered into Chapters not knowing what I was going to buy, and I found the happiness project! Today on the bus, the girl beside me was reading the same book, and she was on almost the exact same page as me! (I peeked!!) Just more evidence that it speaks on so many levels in so many lives!
I really want to read that book!! It’s on my wish list! :) I’m working through Emily Freeman’s book right now and bending over almost every page. Amazing stuff. Thanks for the happy post! :)
@Laura, I’m reading Grace for the Good Girl too – and loving it! Are you in the book club?
I SUPER DUPER LOVE Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist (Bill Hybels daughter). She is an AMAZING writer…full of wit, fun, depth, honesty, and truth. LOVE her! I highly recommend them both if you haven’t read it yet.
I also just read A Million Miles In a Thousand Years by Donald Miller for book club and it was amazing…such an inspiring book about how we should live our lives with the purpose of making it better…seriously great.
If you just want something fun, I just finished The Night Circus a couple of weeks ago and absolutely loved it. That book reads like a movie…the imagery is so clear you can see yourself in the world the author created. It’s a novel full of magic, love, and fate. :) I heart reading.
@Sarah, Thanks Sarah! I’ve reserved a couple of the books you suggested! :)
Hmmm…well, my all-time favorite book is “Stepping Heavenward” by: E. Prentiss – I relate sooo much with the main character that it hurts! Right now I’m reading, “The Right Brain Business Plan,” “A Victorian Flower Dictionary,” “HTML and CSS | Design and Build Websites,” “Creative, Inc.,” and “Bringing Up Boys.”
My little happiness list would consist of:
1. A new baby coming in September!
2. Figuring out the details for our Kickstarter project to release our EP this fall!
3. A fun day at the zoo with my little guy!
4. Getting back into my online community – spurred on by the #shereadstruth gals!
5. My husband who makes me laugh even when I don’t feel good!
Love and miss you, girl!
@Alle, OHHHH, all books related to what you’re going through right now ;D
Currently reading The $100 Startup…almost half way through the book and I LOVE it. I love reading about all of the individuals the book talks about who have started their own businesses and enjoy what they are doing. It makes me think of you and the inspiration your blog has had on me since I found it.
I am reading a book called What Women Fear. It, like your book has encouraged me time and time again and I’m not done either.
@Cathy, Angie’s one of my favorite authors :)
Last month I read A Thousand Gifts and it is still haunting me in such a beautiful way. I’ve bought copies for all of my friends. It’s incredible.
@Sarah, I think it would do my soul well to re-read that :) Thanks for reminding me it’s already on my bookshelf!
Hello! I love your blog, your words always inspire me and I’m so thankful for you! Last night I was literally thinking that I should start reading The Happiness Project but I couldn’t recall the name of the book and hadn’t looked into it much more. I’m so glad you mentioned it!
I’m reading the second book in The Game Of Thrones (super addicting), 52 Weekend Garden Projects, and slowly reading Maya Angelou’s Letter To My Daughter.
I’m reading the Game of Thrones books as well. I love the series on HBO and since have made it my goal to stay one book ahead of each season. I’m on book three right now! Super addicting. And it’s so well written!
By the way Gussy!! I love your blog and your shop! You are so super duper inspiring! I’m thinking of starting my own blog and hopefully sticking to it because of you!! :) Just want to get through my upcoming move and wedding first!
OH!!! And I got my Gussy Headband in the mail yesterday and I absolutely LOVE it!!! :) <3
Thank you!!!
@Melinda, OH MY GOODNESS Melinda, thank you for all the compliments!!!!! Good luck with everything, too — getting married is so fun! ;D
Good Morning! I Love Gretchen Rubin too. I haven’t read The Happiness Project yet but she writes a column on happipness in Good Housekeeping every month and it has been such an inspiration!
Happiness for me is a day at home where I can drink coffee and read the Word for as long as I want, piddle around on house projects, cook a hearty meal, go for a walk and spend time with my hubby! Feeling happier just writing it!
Good morning,
Thank you so much for sharing, going to have a look into buying that book…
One of my favourite books is, “Three weeks with my brother” by Nicholas Sparks, The story follows two brothers and their journey to becoming the best husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and friends that they can be… It’s really moving and inspirational too,..
A would be happy to send you my copy :) let me know
Have a lovely day
Claire x
@Claire, Claire, we should do a book swap. I’ll send you my favorite, you send me that book. I’ll email you ♥
@Gussy Sews, I would love that :) โค
If you haven’t read “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp yet, that should be your next read. It’s totally life changing, in the best way. I wrote a review on it here: http://plumfieldshop.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-report.html
Also, I LOVED Stephanie Nielson’s book “Heaven is Here”. I absolutely could not put it down and it totally changed my perspective on trials. Here’s my review on that one, if you want to know more :) http://plumfieldshop.blogspot.com/2012/04/heaven-is-here-book-review.html
I LOVED The Happiness Project!! Have you signed up for her daily happiness quotes that are sent to your e-mail?? You can subscribe on her blog.
I just finished a book called The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. I couldn’t put it down!
I think I need to read that book, it sounds fantastic!! I’m currently reading kind of a dark apocolyptic type story ala The Hunger Games, so I think that I’ll need something uplifting when I finish it!
Things making me happy today –
~A fun night with friends on a gorgeous patio on a beautiful summer evening last night
~Getting to see an old friend who has moved back to town tonight
~My dad and husband spending time together without my prompting them to do so
~My cats, they just always make me smile
I totally blogged about these things today before I came here too – coincidence? LOL
@Beth, That book totally freaks me out. And the movie. I don’t think I can do it… How are you liking it, though?
i’m in the same boat you are: looking for the next good book. I listen to audio books during my commute (which is definitely on my list of happinesses!). Recently, I finished Jenny Lawson’s (The Bloggess) book, and I laughed until I cried. Now, I’m finishing up Tina Fey’s book, Bossypants. But, I have to say that it is not what I’d hoped for. I’m adding The Happiness Project and A Thousand Gifts to my list!
my list of happinesses: Eddie Veder on pandora. cuddling with the pups. cooking for my husband. a glass of wine on the porch. a quality documentary (on pretty much any subject). long runs.
thanks for the inspiring post!
wish I were brave enough to wear sassy red lipstick! ;)
have a lovely, happy day, Maggie!
@Jacky {The Sweetest Petunia}, hehe — YOU ARE! :)
Ooh! I’ve been wanting to read The Happiness Project for awhile now. I’ve actually had it on hold at the library for the last 6 weeks, it says I’m next on the list, so fingers crossed that I get it soon!
I’ve been reading a lot of Young Adult fiction lately, and one of the best I’ve read this year is a book called Divergent. It would fall in the post-apocolyptic/dystopian category. So good!!
My little list of happiness –
~spending the summer loving on my two kiddos.
~having the dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer going. Ah, productivity!
~drinking a soy chai latte while perusing my favorite blogs.
~coffee (or sushi) nights with my best girlfriends.
~being married to my very best friend!!
We just got back from vacationing at the Oregon coast, and I actually had time to read! I read The Language of Flowers (Vanessa Diffenbaugh) and 7 (Jen Hatmaker)–loved them both–and am now finishing Unbroken (Laura Hillenbrand). I’m really enjoying that one as well even though I’ve never been a big biography reader.
In the queue: Any thing (Jennie Allen), What Alice Forgot (Liane Moriarty), and The God Hater (Bill Myers).
a little happiness list:
~ donut date with my kiddos
~ Etsy shop sales and great convos with customers
~ listening to all sorts of patriotic songs and discussions on our local MBI station and feeling so grateful for our country and freedom
~ new fabric
~ Kari Jobe music
~ sweet just-because texts from my hubby