Well, I only actually watched the first 10 minutes or so. And then I got interrupted.
(It's the story of my life. If I were the type of person who wanted a headstone, I'd want that headstone to say, "And then I got interrupted.")
But I was really taken with the statistic that happiness is 50% genetic, 10% situational and 40% what you do to get it. And there was a story about a poor guy who lived what looked to be a miserable life but was happy and I realized that maybe I'm kind of a lazy jerk sometimes, and then I got interrupted.
The other day I dropped little kid off and I started thinking about my 40% happy project and feeling kind of guilty even though I think I'm doing pretty well.
Not so much at the exercise part, though -- my personal record last week was a whopping 6500 steps in one day. I had a stomach virus for a few days, and I'm a writer and we don't move a lot, my foot hurts and I have a zillion excuses, but really, I think it's time to recognize that level of inactivity as impressive.
And not so much with writing for fun. You know that whole "Love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life" thing? It's true. I love work so much that it doesn't feel like work. Lately I've been fortunate to be working a lot and if it comes down to love or money, I'll pick love AND money. And naps. If it's writing for fun or naps, naps win. Every time.
I've been back to my meditation practice and that's been great but slower going than I had planned. I even signed Big Kid and I up for a Transcendental Meditation talk, which I'm pretty sure might be a cult, and we're both even more excited to go now that we suspect it might be. I am confident I'll be back into that one way or another soon-ish.
Part of my happiness project is going to be giving ALL OF THE THINGS a chance. I'm even going to a goddess/tarot party with optional belly dancing on Saturday, people.
So anyway, I was thinking about how I'm really only accomplishing the whole "hang out with your friends and do what you want" part of the happiness project and wondered if that was really so notable, even if it felt impressive to my introvert self. Then I remembered that I never did finish that movie and thought maybe I should watch the rest. Then, because I always think weird things alone in the car, I got paranoid that maybe it was a mockumentary or something so obviously ridiculous that my 40% thing isn't even worth believing, and watching it felt pretty urgent.
And I'm so glad I did. It didn't have a very high production value but it added so much value to my life.
Also, and I don't think this is a spoiler at all, the moral of the story strongly implied that it's human connection and the freedom to be our most authentic selves -- all ridiculous and imperfect and bold about it -- that makes us happy. That's exciting because I can do that!
Tonight I went to an art exhibition and barely saw any art because I was busy drinking wine in the courtyard from plastic cups with friends until the incredibly classy staff managed to shoo us into the parking lot so they could close, and then we hung out for another hour or so on the sidewalk and laughed loudly and often.
I am adulting so successfully, even if the laundry will never be caught up and my taxes are never filed without an extension, and folding fitted sheets is voodoo. It's like I don't even have to exercise anymore if I don't want to.
I mean, I will, but only for extra credit.
I'm just going to play with my friends and work for fun and take naps and pet cats and go to the beach until I get interrupted and that's the best life plan ever.
I'm so glad I thought of it.
(I'm a member of the Netflix Stream Team. I'm lying in bed right now wearing a Fuller House shirt that says "I'm Stephanie" on the front and "How Rude!" across the back. I get fun perks and free Netflix, but that doesn't influence my opinion because nothing ever does. I'm super stubborn like that.)
