Happy People

I've been putting off grading these finals for a week and a half now. I've started grading several times, but I just haven't been able to get through them.

Today, my family banished me to the Public Library so that I would actually get them done. I sat at my desk for about an hour and was actually doing pretty well staying focused. Then, my gum started losing it's flavor, my laptop was gasping for breath and my back hurt from bending over. I decided to take a walk.

I made it as far as a desk across the hall way. When I pulled the chair out to take my seat, a book on the table next to me caught my attention.

"The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People."

I've read a few books like this, I think the best ones being the scriptures and Conference editions of the Ensign, but what intrigued me about this book was the subtitle: "What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use it."

Science? I thought to myself, What does science have to do with being happy?

I picked up the book and returned to my desk in the corner. As I flipped through the table of contents, I was surprised to see exactly 100 chapters listed. Each "simple secret" had it's own title. These were some of my favorites:

(forgive me, this list might get long :)

1. Your Life Has Purpose and Meaning

3. You Don't Have to Win Every Time

6. Cultivate Friendships

7. Turn Off the TV

8. Accept Yourself--Unconditionally

14. Share with Others How Important They Are to You

22. Pay Attention. You May Have What You Want

24. Do What You Say You Are Going to Do

25. Don't Be Aggressive with Your Friends and Family

33. Little Things Have Big Meanings

34. It's Not What Happened, It's How You Think About What Happened

36. Laugh

39. Busy is Better Than Bored

40. Satisfaction is Relative

50. Cherish Animals

51. Make Your Work a Calling

52. Never Trade Your Morals for Your Goals

58. Events Are Temporary

61. Be Positive

70. Smile

72. You Always Have a Choice

75. Listen to Music

81. Be Conscientious

83. Enjoy the Ordinary

86. Envying Other People's Relationships is Pointless

88. Focus on What Really Matters to You

91. Don't Let Others Set Your Goals

92. You Are a Person, Not a Stereotype

100. What Does It All Mean? You Decide

(David Niven, PH.D.)

I know that my happiness comes from the gospel and the peace I find within it's truths, but I love to find little things that I can do to increase my happiness and the happiness of others.

Having said this, I have a little challenge for you.

Pick one thing, one little itty baby thing, that you can do to make your life happier. It can be something off this list, something you come up with yourself or something that your old Gramma Dorothy told you fifteen years ago. Pick that one thing, and Do It. Today.