There’s a lot we could be talking about right now.
The pandemic.
Vaccination rates.
Earnings.
Markets.
Infrastructure spending bills.
Instead, how about we talk about something nice?
What makes you happy?
What does “happiness” even mean?
Is it a temporary state? Is it a long-term thing?
I’ve heard happiness called being mindful of small moments of joy.
I like that definition because it implies that happiness is a practice that we can cultivate.
Is there a special recipe for achieving happiness?
Maybe.
I’ll start. My personal recipe for happiness might be:
FAMILY + FRIENDS + FULFILLING WORK + NATURE + FAITH + GRATITUDE = happiness
If I can get some of that into each day, I can call it a happy one.
I’ve also found that simple things bring me joy, even when I’m stressed or not feeling my best, such as:
Listening to my son Gabe practice the piano in out living room.
Watching my son Seth prepare for his upcoming bar mitzvah ceremony.
A quick walk on the Appalachian Trail which runs right behind my house here in the Hudson Valley.
What do you think?
What’s your personal recipe for happiness?
What simple things feed your soul?
Has it changed over time? Has it changed over the last year?
Please let me know. I’m excited to hear from you.