Here is my Joyful Story: Shortly after becoming a successful CEO, I realized I had completed most of the goals I set out to achieve. I had success, money, and status — but I still wasn’t happy. In fact, I found that I was more miserable than I had ever been before. It didn’t make…
Here is my Joyful Story: Not long ago, I attended a seminar on strategies to introduce new clients to basic financial planning. I’ve been to several of these seminars before. So, when I was greeted at the door by someone holding a balloon in my face, I wasn’t surprised that there was going to be…
The doctor’s appointment was then, and this is now. Which, quite honestly, could be going better. The goddamn drive-thru at DeLuck’s Burger has been under construction for nearly a month. Usually, I’d go to another drive-thru, but for whatever reason, I’m craving a burger from this place, the home of the Golden Arch. A single…
In a short article about compassion and happiness, I mentioned that happiness is a process. Part of the process, I think, is finding how little things can make you happier. We must consider happiness as something that should (and will) happen throughout the day. If we’re pushing ourselves with the belief that happiness comes at the…
I had to see my physician, Dr. Macleod, the other day. He is a good doctor, a bit younger than me, but not by much. At least he’s not straight out of medical school. He has the experience necessary to give a proper diagnosis. Dr. Macleod is a Scotsman through and through — crew-cut red…
Last Words Is it true? Smiling makes you happy and healthy? It can lower stress, boost your immune system, and prolong your life? Scientists like Dr. Isha Gupta claim smiling can do all of these things. According to Dr. Gupta, smiling triggers a series of chemical reactions in the brain that make a person happy….
At the risk of sounding rancorous, the best word to describe the various social circles among school staff is cliques. Not only for its denotative meaning of being an exclusive group; I also mean it in the etymological sense, cliquer, to make a noise. That’s what these pedagogues do, create a constant din in the background. In many ways,…
Models of Happiness When I ask myself, what is happiness, I’m not sure I can answer the question. I figure it probably has something to do with my general satisfaction with life. Am I looking for tips and tricks to make me happier? Are tips and tricks a way to become happier? Am I trying to…
The last time I told someone I was a history teacher, I couldn’t decide what the expression on his face meant. With his head tilted back, an embarrassed grin stretched thin like an elastic band between his ears. In his eyes, I thought I could see the words, “Those who can’t, teach.” Maybe it was…
Let’s Start Here I started thinking about the joyful project a little over a year ago. The idea began while teaching a philosophy class. The thought of re-reading Camus’ Myth of Sysyphus cast gloom across my horizon. I knew I needed something else, something more uplifting. Jump to the Table of Contents After poking around for a…