Ta-da! Here’s the one-minute video for my new book, Happier at Home, on “Ten ways to be happier at home.” Some of the “ways” are serious; some are a bit goofy.
If seeing this book trailer made you think, “Goodness, Gretchen, I want to pre-order Happier at Homeright this minute,” then here are the links you need! Pre-orders are a big help to me, so thanks for pre-ordering.
For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully.
This week’s story: Tell me what you want for dinner.
This story highlights one of the aspects of happiness that I find most fascinating: when do we add to the happiness of others by asking, taking, and receiving?
Does this story strike a chord with you? Or do you disagree — do you think that making requests like that seems demanding or selfish?
If you want to read more along these lines, check out…
For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully.
This week’s story: People do best what comes naturally.
Agree, disagree? It’s not that people can’t do what doesn’t come naturally, or can’t enjoy what doesn’t come naturally, or can’t train themselves to do well what doesn’t come naturally–but in the end, I do believe, people do best what comes naturally.
At least, this has been very true for me. During the course of my life, I’ve worked very hard, and often with success, at things that didn’t come naturally. But in the end, I do best–and certainly most enjoy–what comes naturally. By the way, the fact that something “comes naturally” doesn’t mean that it’s easy or doesn’t require tremendous amounts of practice.
For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully.
This week’s story (courtesy of my husband, many years ago): You may not be the best; you’re probably not the worst.
Check out the little Christmas tree behind me. It’s hard to tell, but it’s decorated with bluebirds, a symbol of happiness. My mother loves a collection! She gives me a bluebird ornament each year.
If you want to read more along these lines, check out…
How about you? Do you have a similar way to give yourself encouragement? This story reminds me of one of my Secrets of Adulthood: You know as much as most people.
For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully.
This week’s story: Sometimes words only diminish what you want to convey. I’ve never forgotten this story, ever since I came across it while doing research for 40 Ways To Look at Winston Churchill. I love it so much; I get choked up whenever I think about Eisenhower’s message.
If you’d like to see a photo of the actual document sent by Eisenhower, with its single sentence, it’s here.
If you want to read more along these lines, check out…
For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully.
This week’s story: People don’t always get what they deserve. This story–about something my mother said to me–is reassuring, because it’s true. You don’t always get what you deserve, even when you work hard, and my mother’s observation has been very comforting to me in other circumstances, when things didn’t go my way.
If you want to read more along these lines, check out…
