Seven Simple Steps to Happiness

"Happiness depends upon ourselves." —Aristotle

Greek philosopher Aristotle (c. 384 B.C. to 322 B.C.) searched for many things in his day: wisdom, philosophy, logic, criticism, rhetoric, physics, biology, psychology. He found everything except for the one quest that eluded him in the end: a last name.

But he was wise enough to tell us that we have to make our own kind of music and find happiness where we can. It's true that very few of us have known the pleasure that comes from some stranger knocking on the front door, offering to bring happiness to our hearth and home if we will just let him or her inside to share the latest copy of  The New American magazine, the semi-monthly magazine of the John Birch Society.

Just don't answer the doorbell.

But there is something I found to share from author Minda Zetlin, and she wants to share these 7 Small Joys You Should Make Sure to Add to Your Daily Routine.

Let's take a look at the list!

1. Savor your favorite morning beverage.

So many of us guzzle that morning cup o' Joe like it's the only way to jumpstart our heart.  A lot of us also take some fruit juice, maybe some water too, but the advice here is to taste it! As I sip my morning tea, I like to think about the people in Asia bringing in the crop of Camellia sinensis to fill my Lipton teabag, and send thoughtful appreciation to whoever works the stapler that keeps all the tealeaves inside of the bag. And by the time I'm finished that reverie, here it is, almost 10 AM!

2. Get outdoors.

As a dedicated indoorsman, I realize that until I find a way to get the trash collectors and letter carriers and UPS men and women to back up their trucks to my garage, I will need to go outside from time to time, and that's the least I can do in the spirit of getting outdoors.

3. Talk with someone you care about.

It's true that being alone will drive you out of your noodle, especially if you have two-way conversations with your mirror while shaving, or brushing your teeth, or shaving your toothbrush. Even if you live alone, you need to talk to someone you like, who likes you back, to bring joy to your world. The very fact that you like them is proof that they add something to your life...and don't forget that they like you too! So they get a boot out of talking to you, too, as soon as you finish shaving and brushing your choppers.

4. Take a nap.

Now we're in my sweet spot! I like to go to bed late and get up early, so a little midday nod sweetens the day a good bit. And no one says you need to make like a log for 4 hours, but as Ms Zetlin says, a little catnap "can improve your mental function, memory, and problem-solving ability, as well as improve your mood."

President John F. Kennedy was said to be a fan of a fifteen-minute power nap in the middle of his busy Camelot days. At least, that's what everyone thought he was doing.

5. Read a good book.

Everyone knows that "Reading maketh a full man," as Francis Bacon said, and he certainly would have said "a full PERSON" if he thought about it.

Now all I can think about is bacon.

But books are full of fun and information and challenges to the mind, and there is reason to believe that the habit of reading good books will bring joy.  And the good news is, the libraries are open again, so you can borrow books from there and it won't cost you a daggone cent.

I will admit that as a younger man, I thought that once I started reading a book, I had to finish it, no matter how turgid the writing. But now, in addition to the pleasure I get from reading a great book (I heartily recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society) I also get immense joy from not reading anything by John Grisham!

6. Laugh.

Mark Twain was fond of saying, "The human race has only one effective weapon, and that is laughter.” Sure, Twain overlooked a well-placed punch in the nose, but he wasn't wrong about laughter being good for the soul and the spirit. 

But just be sure that your jokes are funny before you unleash them (unless you are a teacher or doctor or boss, in which cases everything you say is a laugh riot) because, as Norm MacDonald said, "Comedy is surprises, so if you're intending to make somebody laugh and they don’t laugh, that’s funny."

Google "Norm MacDonald moth joke" to see something funny.

7. Spend a little time doing nothing.

Take this simple test: ask your browser for other words that mean "brain surgeon" or "petroleum engineer" or "rocket designer," and you'll find maybe two or three synonyms at most for these hi-class professions. But Google "do nothing" and the words will come spilling onto your screen like when you hit the slot machine that time.  

It's because of what Abe Lincoln said that one time when he said "I just want to sit home tonight and play with the cat. I don't feel like going to the theater."

Don't make the same mistake! Goof off now before there's no time to!