My Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life

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April 30, 2010
21 Comment

I Was on the Today Show This Morning!

This morning, Ann Curry interviewed me and Dr. Ian Smith on the Today show. Very exciting!

Ann Curry interviewed me back in January, when The Happiness Project first came out (here’s that video). I really enjoyed doing that segment, so I was very happy to be speaking to her again — and a lot more relaxed.

Ian Smith has a new book out, Happy: Simple Steps to Get the Most Out of Life, so he talked about the science of happiness, and I talked about strategies people might try to be happier in their everyday lives. Wow, five minutes goes fast.

I haven’t watched this video, because I can’t stand to watch myself, but here it is:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Note: I have a different view on random acts of kindness from Ian Smith. You can read my analysis here.

I was thrilled to get to appear on Today — and I’m very happy it’s over!

* Interested in starting your own happiness project? If you’d like to take a look at my personal Resolutions Chart, for inspiration, just email me at gretchenrubin1 [at] gmail [.com] — and don’t forget the “1″. (Sorry about writing it in that roundabout way; I’m trying to thwart spammers.) Just write “Resolutions Chart” in the subject line.

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  • amyjokim

    you did great! Nice posture, warm and approachable, telling stories… you should be proud of how you came off on TV. I’m taking notes :)

  • http://wantist.com Brittany Reiff

    Congratulations Gretchen and great job! Happy to see your ideas reaching even more people. I finished your book a couple months ago and continually recommend it to friends and family—too many nuggets of wisdom in there not too ;) Hope more opportunities like this come your way, even if a little nerve-racking.

    • gretchenrubin

      Wonderful! Thanks so much!

  • donnamae9

    I think it was wonderful! It is great to think that the Happiness Project has reached at least one more person.

  • marcella13

    I watched you this morning Gretchen…you were wonderful. You made me happy. Definitely watch yourself – you were great!
    Marcella

  • http://www.aftrlife.com Dale

    Hi Gretchen,

    In the most highlighted passage of all time on kindle, you have an entry at 44.
    http://kindle.amazon.com/popular_highlights/highlights_all/26

    • gretchenrubin

      Crazy! Thanks for letting me know!

      And how astonishing is it that they can TRACK what passages are highlighted
      by Kindle readers. Holy cow.

  • Rose

    Gretchen, I’m really happy for you. I get so much from your blog and while I haven’t started the book (I bought it 2 weeks ago), I am so glad there are people like you who are willing to take the time and make the effort to make life better for the rest of us.

    • gretchenrubin

      Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy the book!

  • http://www.OptimisticJourney.com/ Jarrod @ Optimistic Journey

    I loved the tip about making your bed, Gretchen. I’ve gotten to where I make my bed out of habit but when I slip up and get in the shower and then make my bed I feel like i’m out of place. It’s like putting shoes on before putting on my socks. Theres something about the act of making the bed first thing in the morning for me that put things in order.

    I also love the advice of doing things that make ME happy and not feeling pressured to do things that make others happy or be something that someone else feels I should be. Such great advice. Both you and Dr. Ian had great advice to share. I wish they had more time to feature you guys.

  • http://www.timelessinformation.com Armen Shirvanian

    Hi Gretchen.

    It is good to see you in the mass media. It was not long ago that I just knew you as Gretchen Rubin who had a happiness project in mind, and now that has been completely created and released, and you are in the public eye.

    It’s a nice example of what can be created or achieved.

    Your point about making the bed having such an impact makes sense, and I think I will remember it.

  • http://www.wishfulthinkingworks.wordpress.com Patrice

    Saw you this morning – it was a great segment; so happy people are talking about being happy in so many places.

    Thank you for your comment on my blog, Gretchen. That was a sweet surprise, I appreciate your kindness. You made my week!

    You really have done a good thing with your book – will enjoy talking about it.

    Thanks again.

  • Candace

    I am not a young mother who has realized she is missing much. I am a mother of 5 children, grown and on their own, who now realizes how much life has slipped by – how many missed moments there were. BUT I have also come to the realization that there is a lot of living left to do and another life to discover. You are fortunate to discover your own path to happiness while you’re young but for those of us more mature (although I am still 12 mentally!), this is a great project for all ages. Thanks for that moment in your life, Gretchen, when the veil was lifted and you saw your life clearly. What a blessing it is for us all!

  • smilinsal

    Gretchen, I loved the tip about making your bed. As someone who is not a morning person and was always running late…as well as being a perfectionist…not making my bed was preferable to making it poorly. About a year ago, I started making my bed…not in the way I always thought I had to make it, but to pull the top sheet and comforter bacl over the bed without worrying about tucking in the sheets and making everthing perfect. I can’t tell you what a difference doing that made!

    Btw, nice segment on the Today Show.

  • http://www.traceyjacksononline.com/ Tracey Jackson

    Dear Gretchen:
    Been following you quietly. We share a publisher. But you were great on TV. Loved the bed tip. I can’t leave home without doing it.
    But don’t be afraid to watch yourself, as someone who does a lot of TV I always learn from my last appearance what I want to do next time, like the ball players.
    But you came off really well.
    Best – Tracey

  • http://www.madisonavenuesalesgirl.blogspot.com Jayne Geller

    I want to send my thanks to Gretchen. As a result of reading The Happiness Project I’ve started a blog, something that I’ve always wanted to do. It is the adventurous life of Jayne Geller, a salesgirl who works at the most recognizable and chicest store on the planet, helping her clients — movie stars, rock stars, and socialites. Jayne is also a breast cancer survivor and describes how she overcame her life threatening condition. The blog is about fashion, style, insight and the often funny things she experiences every day. http://www.madisonavenuesalesgirl.blogspot.com

  • http://richardshelmerdine.com/blog/ Richard Shelmerdine

    Wow Gretchen congratulations. I hope one day my blog can come somewhere close to the success that you have had. I can’t wait to get to where you are.

  • http://budurl.com/ynfr Megan Zuniga

    Cool! Congratz! I couldn’t view the video. But this is very exciting news! Good luck and keep up the great work inspiring every to be happy :D

  • Margaret

    Love your blog, bought your book! Wanted to let you know that the video link that showed up in Google Reader was to an interview with General Petraeus… But the link here in the blog went to the right place.

    Margaret

    • gretchenrubin

      Thanks so much! That’s strange about the interview…I’ll see what I can
      figure out. Quite a different clip!

  • http://mom2munchkin.com Tamara Sprenger

    :) Great Job Gretchen! I finished your book last week and have been “singing in the mornings” with my seven year old son…and LOVING it! I wrote on the bathroom mirror with window crayon “sing in the morning” and if he goes in the bathroom before me, I hear him start to sing “Jingle Bells” (the first song that comes to his mind most likely). Also trying to implement so many of your other suggestions into my days. Thanks for the great ideas!

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