Courtesy of Gretchen Rubin Moment of Happiness
The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.
WILLIAM BLAKE
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
The most congenial social occasions are those ruled by cheerful deference of each for all.
JOHANN W. V. GOETHE
Maxisms and Revelations
Yet occasionally we discover in the folds of an old handkerchief a shell or insignificant stone that had once embodied our happiest of afternoons.
PATTI SMITH
Just Kids
If you ever want to keep up a grudge against someone, don’t see that person alongside beautiful flowers.
JAMAICA KINCAID
My Garden (Book)
I had wanted to come back to Greenwich Village ever since I had left Waverly Place, and since moving to West Eleventh Street, I have never lived anyplace else. I do not want to. That is not because of what the Village is but because of what I have made it, and what I have made it depends on who I am at the time.
MARY CANTWELL
Manhattan, When I Was Young
We tell people to follow their dreams, but you can only dream of what you can imagine, and, depending on where you come from, your imagination can be quite limited.
TREVOR NOAH
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
It’s not easy to start over in a new place,’ he said. ‘Exile is not for everyone. Someone has to stay behind, to receive the letters and greet family members when they come back.
EDWIDGE DANTICAT
Brother, I’m Dying
It isn’t enough to love, we must prove it.
ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX
Story of a Soul
5 things making me happy
ONE
A friend invited me to “The Art of Listening: Underwater,” an immersive, site-specific installation of underwater recordings. Thought-provoking and unlike anything I’d experienced before.
TWO
On my sister Elizabeth’s recommendation, I watched the brilliant documentary Get Back. It shows the Beatles writing their album Let It Be—in just 21 days. I love anything that analyzes the creative process, so I was enthralled by watching the band at work. I feel a real Beatles phase coming on. If you have any books to recommend, send them my way. (I just finished Craig Brown’s One Two Three Four.)
THREE
I felt the need for a little boost, so I watched the opening sequence from the 1997 movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. That sweet, silly little clip always makes me so happy. I’ve been thinking a lot about the Beatles (see above), and the opener has a real Beatlemania vibe.
FOUR
I read some terrific books in January. One was written by Mike Schur, who has written for and created some of my favorite TV shows. (No matter what happens in my life, I can make an allusion to The Office.) Take a look at what I read last month.
FIVE
At the end of each day, I try to organize my home office. It helps me make the transition from work to home, and it makes it more pleasant to start work in the morning. I’ve been drifting away from the habit of doing this “evening closer” (even giving myself a Demerit for it) but recommitted to it last week. Do you have a daily clearing ritual?
5 things making me happy
ONE
I was fascinated by this profile and interview of Millie Knight, the highly decorated British Paralympic skier who lost most of her sight in childhood. “I ski with my ears,” Knight said. The video recreates her experience of racing down a ski slope.
TWO
This week we celebrated Valentine’s Day. Which means our gallery of our annual Valentine’s Day cards are out on display—so festive.
THREE
A thoughtful listener from South Dakota sent me this photo of a flyer from her local store. It was so fun to spot my aphorism quoted at the bottom.
FOUR
I’m fascinated by the phenomenon of pareidolia, which explains why we so often spot faces in the most unexpected locations–because face-like patterns activate the brain’s fusiform face area.
I got a big kick from seeing a collection of such faces on the Twitter account @faceinthings.
FIVE
I’m having a lot of fun developing my “Calendar of Catalysts.” Many listeners have suggested adding the date of May 4, as in “May the Fourth be with you” from Star Wars. Very fun. What would May 4th be a good catalyst for? Is there another date you think I should add?
