Three times is a charm…RIGHT?!
I know what you’re thinking.
Haven’t you done this before, AURIE?
Isn’t this your third attempt at a full year of The Happiness Project, AURIE?!
The short answer, dear readers, is yes. A resounding and unabashed yes.
I have tried to complete the happiness project twice before. Sadly, both times I lost my mojo about halfway through the year.
Why? Oh, my LOVE BLUNDERS, of course.
I let the men of my (now) past hurtle me into a world of darkness and solitude. I didn’t feel happy, I didn’t feel like celebrating…even when there were plenty of things in my life to celebrate and feel grateful for. I also carried a great deal of shame for not being able to finish what I started. What will my friends/family/readers think of me if I don’t write another Happiness Project post?
I talked myself out of coming back to it, so I tabled the entire project for over six months.
SO! This year, I’m starting fresh. I have a positive spin on my single self-proclaimed spinster life. I’m happy every day, which is huge for me. And I’m excited to wake up and start my day!
Let’s dive in.
A BRIEF REFRESHER
As a quick reminder, I fell hopelessly in love with Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project over ten years ago when I was wandering aimlessly around an airport. What started as a casual ‘plane read’ turned into one of the most impactful and inspiring books I’ve ever read.
Gretchen’s analytical approach to finding joy in an otherwise happy (yet monotonous) life truly touched me. As a planner, I love to organize my day and decide how I want to spend my time. It makes me feel more in control and - you guessed it - HAPPY! So, applying Gretchen’s approach of a happiness calendar seemed like a very logical step to take. So, I took it!
MY ADULT RULES FOR HAPPINESS
Now, readers, this list is something I’ve created for myself. Gretchen’s list is very different from my own, and that’s okay! It’s exciting to dig deep and think about my own happiness rules. Create your own and see what you get!
My Adult Happiness Rules:
Trust Your Intuition
Be brave
Say what you’re feeling when you’re feeling it
Get checkups (especially Covid tests!)
Spend time with people who make you feel like your best self
Share what you create, even when it’s scary
Never settle for less
Love fully and unconditionally
Now that my rules are out of the way, let’s move on to the calendar!
MY HAPPINESS CALENDAR
New year, new goals! This is a complete calendar revamp. I’ve changed (and hopefully grown) quite a bit since my last Happiness Project attempt. So, this time around, I’m starting from scratch and building a calendar based on who I am, now.
January: Openness
February: Love
March: Bravery
April: Creativity
May: Independence
June: Learning
July: Friendships
August: Adventure
September: Mystery
October: Overcoming Obstacles
November: Warmth
December: Joy
FINAL THOUGHTS
So, that’s that. I’m excited to dive back into the journey of…my life! Throughout this year’s many ups (and downs), what’s important to remind myself of is this: Even when life feels gloomy, or I had a bad day/week/month, there is always room to find JOY. There is always something to celebrate and share. And that is what I’m going to use to keep me going.
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