The Career Clinic Blog

The Happiness Project is getting a lot of play these days, and I couldn't be happier for author Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen invited readers to help her compile a list of happiness-boosting blogs, and mine made the cut. Okay granted, that's because I added it--but with Gretchen's encouragement. She apparently doesn’t relish asking friends to nominate her for things, either. It's enough to make you (or rather, me) want to stay anonymous.

When I first heard about Gretchen's blog I was enchanted by the title, by the paradox. Though with apologies to my agent, I wouldn't have attempted a project like this. I don't think happiness is the point. I think having a point is the point. Happiness is, to me, a byproduct.

The proof is in the way it just sort of sneaks up on you. You get up, you have your coffee, you try to make something happen. And suddenly you're brushing snow off your car windows and you think, "Oh! This is what happiness feels like!" Enjoy that while it lasts, because right around the bend there's a bus coming straight at you.

Good thing. Easy is boring. Isn't it?

Perhaps the writer EL Konigsburg said it best: "Happiness is excitement that has found a settling-down place, but there's always a little corner that keeps flapping around."