My happiness directive for May is “laugh out loud” (literally and figuratively), and I’m cultivating my readiness to be pleased. To be amused, to be interested—it’s easy to suppose that these states are the consequence of others’ behavior, but in fact, we must decide to be amused, to be interested. It takes time, energy, and attention to be pleased.
So I’ve been paying attention to all the little things that engage me, and I realized that I’m particularly tickled by the turn of phrase that “X is the new Y.” So, for no reason other than these observations amuse me, I’ve been noting them down.
Three is the new two (number of children).
Monday is the new Thursday (for making plans after work).
Breakfast is the new lunch.
Halloween is the new Christmas.
May is the new September.
Sleep is the new sex.
Two hours is the new hour and a half (for driving to a country house).
Forties are the new thirties, and eleven is the new thirteen (age).
$200,000/year is the new $100,000/year (according to the New York Times).
Why do I think these are so funny? I have no idea, but just reading the list cheers me up.
