My Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life

Want to get the "Moment of Happiness"? A daily happiness quotation in your inbox.   Sign up here close daily quote

Tag Archives: "food"



Do You Want the Tenth Bite of Ice Cream More than the First Bite, or Less?

I’ve been continuing to ponder the abstainers vs. moderators distinction. In case you haven’t been breathlessly following this line of argument: in a nutshell, when facing a temptation, abstainers do better if they abstain altogether, while moderators do better if they indulge a little bit, or from time to time. The other day, a friend who is a true moderator …


Abstainers and Moderators, I’d Love To Hear Your Answers to a Few Questions.

Last week, I posted Want to be free from French fries? Or, why abstaining may be easier than you think. The comments were so fascinating that I want to post some follow-up questions to you Abstainers and Moderators out there. (If you need to catch up on the whole abstainer/moderator split, or figure out what category you’re in, read here.) …


Back by Popular Demand: Are You an Abstainer or a Moderator?

Every Wednesday is Tip Day,  or Quiz Day. This Wednesday: Quiz–Are you an abstainer or a moderator? For the last week and a half, I’ve been traveling on my book tour for Happier at Home. I love getting the chance to talk to so many people about happiness. When I gave my talks, the issue of abstainers and moderators came …


Want a Great Meal? Try One of These Three Combinations for “Perfection.”

Even though I don’t like to cook, and I’m no foodie, I nevertheless enjoy the food writing of M.F.K. Fisher. Several of her classic books are collected in The Art of Eating, which includes the essay “From A to Z: The Perfect Dinner,” from An Alphabet for Gourmets. In it, Fisher outlines three combinations of people that can reach “gastronomical …


To Boost Your Self-Control, Ask Yourself Whether You’re an “Abstainer” or a “Moderator.”

2011 Happiness Challenge: For those of you following the 2011 Happiness Project Challenge, to make 2011 a happier year — and even if you haven’t officially signed up for the challenge — welcome! This month’s theme is Self-control. Last week’s resolution was To increase your self-control, boost your energy level. Did you try that resolution? Did it boost your happiness? …