My Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life

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YOUR Happiness Project: Go to the drug store. Or the hardware store. Or wherever.

ThumbtacksI’m working on my Happiness Project, and you should have one, too! Everyone’s project will look different, but it’s the rare person who can’t benefit. Join in — no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday’s post will help you think about your own happiness project.

One sure way to give yourself a jolt of well-being is to cross some nagging task off your list. The more dreaded the task, the bigger the happiness bump – but even taking care of something insignificant can give you a boost.

Neither the Big Man nor I like running errands, so our household is often in need of little things – not vital things, but the things that annoy you when they’re missing. Right now, for example, we need AA batteries, thumbtacks, Kleenex, spray sunscreen, and envelopes.

Samuel Johnson pointed out that “To live in perpetual want of little things is a state, not indeed of torture, but of constant vexation.” By making the effort to stay on top of the little things, you can keep the vexation to a minimum.

After I post this, I’m going to the drug store with my list. Oh right, one more thing, it helps to keep a list.

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