Recommending: A Little Book About Happiness Research

I just finished reading The Little Book of Lykke: Secrets of the World’s Happiest People by Meik Wiking. I won’t hold you in suspense. It was a really great read. For those of us who don’t speak Danish, lykke means happiness and is pronounced loo-ka.  Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute (yes, people actually research happiness and that alone makes me happy). Danes are known as some of the happiest people on the planet, so it should come as no surprise that the Happiness Research Institute is located in Copenhagen, Denmark.. This little book contains tons of happiness related Read More

Making Choices Out of Hope Instead of Fear

I don’t know about you, but it seems everywhere I turn lately, I see a news story or read a Facebook comment or overhear someone talking about something that we all need to be worried about. Maybe even afraid of and probably angry about too. One thing I know for sure, making choices and taking action out of fear, anger, and other negative feelings is a mistake. It is much better to make decisions from a place of optimism, kindness, and love. Making choices out of hope instead of fear can make a big difference in our lives and in Read More

Seeing the World as Family

  Do you see the world as family? Last week, a Facebook memory popped up on my feed. It was something I posted 7 years ago, something my then 5 year-old-son said to me as I drove him home from kindergarten one day. He was talking to me about a family that we often carpooled with and had been friends with for some time. He told me that they were part of our family. I responded “Oh really?” To which he replied, “Yes, because the whole world is our family.”  And he was right, the whole world is family, and Read More

How Can You Make a Difference?

The fourth Saturday of October is Make a Difference Day. It has been celebrated since 1992. That year, it was started to mark the Leap Year in a positive way. It was such a success that the organizers decided not to wait until the next Leap Year. Instead, Make a Difference Day as moved to the fourth Saturday in October. This year it is on October 28. Check out the official website at Makeadifferenceday.com. The website describes the purpose of Make a Difference day as follows: Make A Difference Day shows that anyone, no matter of age or background, can Read More