Podcast 81: Introduce a Specific Conversation Topic, Park in a Far Spot, and Is It OK to Ignore the Olympics?

It’s time for the next installment of  “Happier with Gretchen Rubin.”

Update: In episode 76 , our listener Sarah asked for suggestions for wedding readings. We got so many great suggestions! As promised, I’ve create a PDF with some of the most outstanding choices. Email me if you’d like a copy — just write “wedding readings” in the subject line. As Kristen mentioned, in this episode of “A Little Happier,” I recorded the very short story that was one of my wedding readings.

And if you live near Seattle, please come to our live event! We’ll be recording an episode of the podcast live on stage at Seattle’s Town Hall on October 13, 7:30. Tickets are $25. More info and buy tickets here. Please come, bring your friends.

Try This at Home: Give people something specific to talk about. I mentioned my mother’s game (though it’s not really a game) of TableTopics Family: Questions to Start Great Conversations.

Here’s the photo of the surprise gift that I sent to Elizabeth from http://ift.tt/2bYuiDk.

Happiness Hack from Stacy: Go ahead and park at the far end of the parking lot. It means more exercise, and less annoyance, because you’re not circling around the parking lot looking for a spot close to the door.

Better Than Before Habit Strategy: the Strategy of Clarity.

Listener Question: Rochelle asks, “I find it hardest to reach out to the people closest to me. For these people, a casual check-in won’t do.”

Elizabeth’s Demerit: Elizabeth ignored the Olympics.

Gretchen’s Gold Star: Elizabeth gets a gold star for making the effort to make a quick trip to Kansas City, and my father gets a gold star for his observation “When it comes to family visits, frequency is more important than length.”

Remember,  I’m doing weekly live videos on my Facebook Page about the podcast. To join the conversation, check the schedule. 

As always, thanks to our terrific sponsors

Check out Olive and Cocoa. Surprise someone you love with a meaningful gift today. Go to http://ift.tt/2bYuiDk to see gift options specifically chosen for our listeners.

Also check out Stamps.com. Want to avoid trips to the post office, and buy and print official U.S. postage for any letter or package, right from your own computer and printer? Visit Stamps.com to sign up for a 4-week trial, plus a $110 bonus offer — just enter the promo code HAPPIER.

Sign up for The Great Courses Plus today and you’ll get unlimited access to thousands of fascinating lectures taught by top professors and experts in their fields. Special offer for our listeners: try it for free when you sign up at http://ift.tt/1N925Qp.

We love hearing from listeners:

• Comment below
• Email us: podcast@gretchenrubin.com
• Connect on Twitter: @gretchenrubin and @elizabethcraft
• Call: 77-HAPPY-336
  
• Comment on my Facebook Page
• Sign up to get an email alert whenever we release a new episode

 

To sign up for my free monthly newsletter, text me at 66866 and enter the word (surprise) “happier.“ Or click here.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please tell your friends and give us a rating or review. Click here to tell your friends on Twitter.

Listeners really respect the views of other listeners, so your response helps people find good material. (Not sure how to review? Instructions here; scroll to the bottom.)

How to Subscribe

If you’re like me (until recently) you’re intrigued by podcasts, but you don’t know how to listen or subscribe. It’s very easy, really. Really.  To listen to more than one episode, and to have it all in a handier way, on your phone or tablet, it’s better to subscribe. Really, it’s easy.

Want to know what to expect from other episodes of the podcast, when you listen to “Happier with Gretchen Rubin?” We talk about how to build happier habits into everyday life, as we draw from cutting-edge science, ancient wisdom, lessons from pop culture—and our own experiences (and mistakes).  We’re sisters, so we don’t let each other get away with much.

HAPPIER listening!

The post Podcast 81: Introduce a Specific Conversation Topic, Park in a Far Spot, and Is It OK to Ignore the Olympics? appeared first on Gretchen Rubin.

Self Help Gurus etc