Thoughts: The Happiness Project

I’m currently reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Rubin wrote the book after a year of self-reflection, improvement, and dedication to appreciating life more fully. Although she is an NYC inhabitant and lawyer-turned-writer, Rubin is easy to relate to and is humorous about her struggles to remove clutter from the house, not snap at her husband and children, and go to bed earlier. Her creation of her personal Twelve Commandments and list of adult truths made me realize some things I’ve noticed about life and adulthood, which I’ve compiled into the following list (and yes, I realize many of these have been said before, but I think they’re important to remember):

1. Wearing sunscreen on a daily basis may be a pain but it’ll pay off in the long run.
2. It’s never too early for a good anti-wrinkle cream. This is even more applicable if you have children.
3. There’s nothing soap and water can’t clean, so don’t stress if the kids/pets/spouse make a mess.
4. Drinking a glass or two of water when you have a headache can really work wonders.
5. If you’re not enjoying what you do for a living, it’s time to look for something else. Life’s too short to be miserable at work.
6. Go ahead and eat that dessert.
7. If you clean your closets (or bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, basement, etc.) on a regular basis, you’ll be happier than just thinking about cleaning.
8. Adopt a pet. Studies show that we need animals just as much as they need us. If you can give an animal a loving home, why shouldn’t you?
9. Volunteer. Do something good for someone/animals/the planet.
10. Recycle. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Don’t leave the water running when you brush your teeth. Little habits can have a profound effect and make our planet a little nicer for future generations.
11. Read a book. You never know what you’ll learn.
12. Travel. Explore different countries, cultures, and do things that make you uncomfortable. You’ve got to get out and take advantage of everything there is to see.
13. You can learn a lot from your children if you pay attention. Kids are resilient and learn so much from the world around them. Take time to enjoy your food, revel in your favorite movie or television show, try new things, and if you fall down, get up again.
14. Smiling, even if it’s fake, can make your whole attitude change. 
15. Always buy lemonade from a kid’s lemonade stand.