Hey you!
I am reading a book. I know. Ah-may-zing, considering I have not even finished Pride and Prejudice (btw, if you would like to write a post about P&P for this blog, please let me know so all our book club members can share in it!)
Anyhoo, back to this other book. It’s called The Happiness Project. Have you read it? Have you heard about it? (You can download podcasts here, if you like!)
I first heard of it via a trail I followed from David Gauntlett over here. (I really like what David has to say about everyday creativity. After I heard his term, I realised THAT is what I am all about. Not so much about making a thing every day, but rather about having a creative approach to things daily and having a dive-in-trial-and-error-wide-eyed-determined-capable-excited daily approach to craft, and life in general. More about having a go, rather than having it perfect. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. )
The reason I have been thinking about all this stuff is that I have been writing a book proposal for a far away book. I want it to be super special and meaningful and fun. And I want it to be super positive. I’ve been thinking about craftiness and making things, for sure, but also I have been thinking about other things that really matter to me, the kinds of things that make people happy in general. I guess because making makes me happy, it’s sort of lead me to Making Is Connecting and The Happiness Project. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear!
So, I’ve been trying to distill all the Things that keep me happy and positive into one Excellent Essence. Things like looking for the interesting and the beautiful and the colourful. Things nostalgic and laced with childhood memories. Things that smell good and taste good and feel good and are good. Things that stretch my brain into happy knots. Things that make me happy-tired. The little everyday things that can keep things peachy.
From a craftier and no less peachy point of view, I have been thinking about craft and community, big parts of my Excellent Essence and happiness. And about craft and family, craft and friendship. I’ve been thinking about how making things together and for each other helps us get to know ourselves and each other better. I have been noticing the benefits of feeling a bit dorky and disarmed, making crafty, happy mistakes in front of strangers (or indeed friends!) in the name of craft and community. I’ve been thrilling at the way sharing crafty skills, times and traditions connects us in really happy ways, just like David says.
Ah happy. Don’t you think that often the simplest, most lo-fi things make us happy? Have you noticed that often unexpected, sometimes mundane things make us happy?
For instance, cleaning up a room and getting rid of crap we don’t really need = happy
Getting up a bit earlier and having quiet cups of tea in a warm room = happy
Taking a walk every day and looking at the neighbourhood = happy
Remembering to stop and chat and laugh with someone you really like = happy
Being a bit more organised = happy
A tray of tea and a biscuit or two = happy
Smelling flowers with a big deep SNIFF = happy
Drinking more water = happy
A clean bathroom or a made bed = happy
So I bought The Happiness Project, which is all about these kinds of simple, happy, excellent moments. I have been reading it in the bath. And nodding. And smiling. And feeling excellent.
What makes you happy? Do you have an Excellent Essence?
xx Pip
Appreciate you sharing, great article post.Much thanks again.
This project looks so inspiring! I've been working on similar goals this whole year. The past few years have been a little tumultuous for me, so whenever I can, I collect little things or memories or whatever that will remind me of how good things are. :))
just came across over your Blog and love love love it! have to have a closer look at this book! might gonna get it, so much truth in it..
are you on Twitter as or Facebook as well? would love to follow and have a tweet/chat! π greets! Cam xoxo
http://twitter.com/somekindofstyle
….
Take a look at my current Giveaway! Still 1 Day to enter… http://some-kind-of-style.blogspot.com/2011/07/win-vintage-original-jewellery-by-vanya.html xoxo Cam
I bought her book a while back, but haven't had time to read it yet. But your post made me pick it up again – and what an amazing book. I even bought it on audio, so I'll be able to listen to it when I'm on my way to work. Thank you for sharing this.
I was reading this blog post in the morning, just after I got in to work (yes, I browse blogs at work!), and it got me thinking that you are so right about how it's the mundane things that makes me really happy, so I began to notice the things that made me happy throughout the day: getting a lift in the morning (as opposed to my usual packed tram rides), made myself a delicious hot Milo, had a workmate come up to me just to share a link of a crafty website (I do not work in a particularly crafty environment, so this is rare), the amazingly SWEET pear I had, making someone laugh out loud, having someone else make me laugh out loud, learning how to play Sudoku for the first time, and signing my name with a smiley face. All of that = happy day.
xo
I think I shall have to read this book Pip! It sounds like it's just what I need at the moment, to remind me that its the little, simple things in life that make you truly happy (and less stressed, lol).
I love her website and been following there for awhile. I've been meaning to get the book so thanks for the reminder. You always give the best links to everything! Much appreciated. xx
Hello lovely lady. Please can I pre-order a copy of your far away book, it is sure to be fabulous and I want to read it. Thankyou. x
I love these sorts of books! Right! I am off to get it now! thanks alot for sharing! x
This sounds really interesting, I'm going to check it out. I hope your ideas come to fruition about your book that has this spin! π x
I happen to be reading this book at the moment too! I'm still thinking about what I'll include in my own happiness project, but just the realisation that I've never sat down and thought about what makes me happy (although I've devoted plenty of energy to dwelling on things that make me UNhappy) has been an eye opener.
I own this book and have read it. Good live music makes me very happy, I think I have discovered buying things only gives me very short happiness.
What a great post! I just went & bought the book too. π
I could do with some inspiration as there are a lot of uncertainties for me at the moment that make enjoying the little things – & being creative – more challenging than they normally are.
Thank you for these timely words!
Thank you so much for this post. It came at a time of feeling down for me and so I am taking it as a sign to pick myself up and remember what does make me happy. I also love lists a lot because of the pleasure of ticking off little achievements daily. The thing that makes me happy in a big way is looking at all the happy colours in my floss box and then making something with them. Doing embroidery is very relaxing I find, almost like a meditation, and crochet has the same effect. Oh and you have to have a cup of tea to go with that!
gosh i really want to read this book! i totally agree with you though – cleaning up a space and seeing it clutter free – really makes me happy these days! AND
cups of tea really are the best!
p.s. i hope you have recovered from your G+ debarcle! π *HUGS***
i read this book and really enjoyed it! i've yet to employ all of gretchen's ideas and methods, but i have gained a most positive perspective from the things I did take away. it's most definitely worth a second read.
Ooh yes I agree with all your happy things, and some of mine are:
*getting into a bed with fresh clean sheets and reading a great book.
*Hearing the family of Willy Wagtail birds in the backyard.
*Hot buttered cinnamon toast and a cup of tea.
Happy happy happy. Perhaps the older we get the simpler life's pleasures are?
It's taken me 2 babies, 31 years and a healthy dose of PTSD to realise that happiness really is the journey, not the end point. Happiness is finding the things you can do EVERY.SINGLE.DAY to be happy. Happiness is getting on top of the washing, cooking biccies with little people, eating baked beans on toast because you were too busy playing to cook a meal.
To me, happiness is doing all the things you need to do in a day – good, bad or otherwise – in a way that makes you enjoy it! And on the making thing, I'd love to make something everyday but sometimes I have to be content with accepting that crafting my life with love, happiness and acceptance is all the craft I'll manage some days. Because after all, the folding of washing, the mopping of floors, the buying of food is the glue that holds everything else together! π
xo, Pip!
Totally agree!
When I feel like I'm getting a bit negative I go and watch the video of the baby laughing at ripping paper – it's not only terribly amusing but it reminds me to be happy about the smaller things! And who can't smile at a baby laughing?
Your "you can do it" attitude is one of your best qualities.
Loved this post.
wow Pip – I have been thinking a bit about happiness, and finding our own ways of being happy, in the last little while.
I've realised that making things beautiful, or making things funny, and injecting humour or imagination into otherwise mundane situations (like giving our meals crazy names) makes me happy.
Thank you for some inspiring links, and happy writing!
thanks so much for sharing this great book and blog.
clearing space on my desk makes me happy, it feels like i'm dusting my brain and also losing myself in the moments of making something are a joy!
X maree
Oh yes, I'm a BIG fan of this book. It's the aceness. xx
A beautiful reminder that crafting and making and sharing = happiness
Last year I set up a lot of free workshops where people could learn to sew, crochet, and create a handmade gift for christmas. My heart was so happy doing this. I love sharing my passion for handmade, especially with children. Thanks PIP- a joy to read as always x
Me too lists all the way, in fact I sometimes have lists within lists!
But I want to say this about happiness – it is pursued hotly as a "holy grail" kind of acquisition…people become devastated when they can't achieve this strange achievement. I work in mental health and alcohol and other drug rehab areas, i work with folk who bravely challenge themselves each day, each hour of each day and from them I have learn that happiness is a moment, if you are lucky you will have more happy moments than less…I agree heartily with the bloggers above, life is all the better when we can find a bit of happy in the simple and smaller things rather than pursuing the big ticket items and wierdly we often can't state exactly what those big item are!
I must check out this book.
Hello,
Firstly fantastic post! I love reading inspirational pieces on blogs etc…I have had a bit of a rollercoaster ride over the past year but positive thinking has definately got me through! I am a true believer in thinking happy thoughts and it's the little things that I find so pleasing. I am thankful for what I have got rather than what I haven't! I love to buy myself flowers for my hallway to instantly make me smile when I am coming or going and I am a true colour lover…so always on the hunt for bright things for my home and I love nothing more than being creative and see others create..I am very thankful for the internet as it has helped me be in touch with like minded people and to realise my worth in what I do..there is sooo much to be happy about I could go on forever!
How funny, I picked this very book up today in a local bookstore. I think it wants to come home with me? Or at least is telling me to get out my pencils …
Your post made me happy π Really the simple things in life do make me happy. Baking bread, having a neat house, trying out a new recipe, adding to my toy collection, seeing my kids giggle, laughing hystericaily at something my husband said, seeing friends and family. I saw this book on a morning show here in the states, I had forgot about it, now I'm excited to put it on my list to read! Thank you!
Terrific book! Something that puts a smile on my face is stopping and looking up at the sky, at the tree tops and have a different view instead of the usual eye level & down on the ground.
I'm another 'list' person. Being able to tick off even small things gives me a sense of achievement. The sun and warm weather also play a big part in my happiness – unfortunately I've recently moved to a country that has minimal amounts of both of these, so I've quickly learned to make the most of the good weather when it actually turns up!
"The days are long, but the years are short", the happiness project lady summed up in one short sentence what I've been trying to explain to the spouse for years now.
I don't have "a job" and would probably have gone completely mad by now if it were not for little bits of daily creativity that make a house a home, even if it's just chocolate cookies on a lazy afternoon.
hey Pip!
Love the book! For me, finding her blog coincided with finding other blogs, like yours, and i now have a daily fill of positive reinforcement that 'happiness' and 'creativity' are important. Yes, daily doses, and doing the little lo-fi things that boost happiness, or at least being aware of what makes me happier and implementing that. Loving it!
I have really struggled with "happy" over the past 2 years. Everything has been so hard and hurtful, so instead I have attempted to cultivate moments of "cheerful"
I have a teapot I love to use because it doesn't widdle all over the paper. That makes me cheery. Other cheery stuff includes : late night crumpets, tucking the kids in, cups of tea, crocheting.
I can't have my old life back but that doesnt mean my new life has to be so sad. xxx
The thing that gives me great joy is ticking something off a list. Even if it is just 'Change out of pyjamas' or 'Replace loo paper roll'. I like to make lists of really tiny boring little jobs so that I can tick them all off and then feel a glow of satisfaction afterwards.