Tag Archives: happiness

Vacations Make Us Happy

  Spain is the kind of country I love to visit, where the medieval European feel is a world away from my own life. Cobblestone streets and trailing geraniums enhance the picture while colorful food markets, street performers and alfresco cafes add to the enchantment. The culture is different from what I know and the sights, smells and tastes are like a wakeup call to the senses. Who doesn’t love a vacation? One reader wrote that she’s the youngest of three girls and their time together this summer gave her “just … Continue reading

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A Lesson in Happiness

Some scientists think happiness is largely determined by genetics and other factors outside our control. Others say we have a set point of happiness and, no matter whether we win the lottery or have a devastating accident, within a year of the event we return to a familiar emotional level. But recent research suggests that we can actually take charge of our happiness and it is within our power to change. On my way home from a recent vacation in Northern Spain, I was reflecting on the trip, thinking about when … Continue reading

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Get Ready to Refresh Your Marriage

If you’re new to this blog, scroll down to Monday and read the post about how to make a good marriage better. There you’ll find practical tips and links to get you off to a good start. And below are a few more ideas that may help: Ask for what you need. No one’s a mind reader. Sometimes, out of frustration or resentment, couples stop talking. Recommit to understanding each other’s anger or disappointment. If you meet halfway, you’ll both get more of what you want. Invest in your own … Continue reading

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Attaining Happiness Without a Winning Lottery Ticket

Is happiness really as simple as a warm puppy? Stopping to smell the flowers? Or as materialistic as a winning lottery ticket? There have been scores of philosophers and theologians over the years attempting to define happiness and to identify its components. But recently Michael J. Fox, living with Parkinson’s for over 20 years put it more plainly: I really love being alive. I really love my family and my work. I love the opportunity I have to do things. That’s what happiness is. If you’re working to increase your … Continue reading

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