The Happiness Project: How To Be Happier

Life, the Musical: Strangers in a Train Station Sing and Dance

My mother-in-law has never before e-mailed me a link to YouTube—that's not at all her style—but when I watched this clip, I understood why she sent this one. She loves musicals, and this scene from the Central Station in Antwerp is a musical erupting in everyday life.

I’ll say no more; don’t want to be a spoiler—but this video made me very happy.

Or if you can't see the clip above, click here.

* My brilliant friend Marci Alboher writes about Working the New Economy, and she talked to me for a post she did about networking, Networking tips for the shy or introverted. Figuring out ways to do a better job of networking was a big part of my happiness project, and Marci was one of the people who taught me the most.

* Considering doing your own happiness project? Join the discussions on the Facebook Page to swap ideas, strategies, and experiences.

Happiness Fix: Watching Susan Boyle's Performance on YouTube

I was at dinner on Saturday night, and three people—very different from one another—told me that the minute I got home, I had to watch the clip showing contestant Susan Boyle’s appearance on Britain's Got Talent (the British version of American Idol).

“I got tears in my eyes.” “I watched it five times.” “I e-mailed all my friends to tell them to watch.”

I know, I’m a little late posting about this—a thoughtful reader had e-mailed me the link, and I’d seen the clip mentioned many times on Twitter and elsewhere, but I hadn’t yet bothered to take a look myself.

I think it’s more fun to be surprised, so I’m not going to describe what happens—other than to say that it has made a lot of people happy. According to Visible Measures, Boyle’s performance has been viewed more than 47 million times.

I can’t embed the clip, but you can watch it here.

As I watched, I had a nagging thought: that this ugly-duckling-to-swan transformation had been orchestrated by the makers of the show. Then I thought—well, I don't really care. If people love it, and are exhilarated by it, then accept the happiness.

* Great material at Work Happy Now.

* Interested in starting your own happiness project? If you’d like to take a look at my personal Resolutions Chart, for inspiration, just e-mail me at grubin, then the “at” sign, then gretchenrubin dot com. (Sorry about writing it in that roundabout way; I’m trying to thwart spammers.) Just write “Resolutions Chart” in the subject line.