Happiness Strategies | How to be Happy

I turn 40 on September 28.

I don’t look or act 40 (a canny combination of good genes and sustained immaturity), so when I reminded my Mum of this minor milestone, she looked shaken. I could see her doing the calculations in her head (unlike me, she can do this sans fingers). Her eyes darted as she desperately tried to verify my maths, hoping to find me out by a factor of ten or so (wouldn’t be the first time). Alas, on this occasion I was right.

I’m planning to celebrate the fact that the earth has rotated 364.25 x 40 = 14,570 times since I was born in a number of ways:

1. A family party at my parents’ place. Guests to include my husband, my parents, my two brothers, and their wives and kids (sadly for me, my sister is living in Minnesota with her husband and kids at the mo). The menu will be pizza, Pepsi Max, and Paddle Pops (chocolate). I’m looking for a Wonder Woman to lead us in party games, but she has to be Lynda Carter hot. After all, that was part of her hero quality when I was growing up - sure she saved the world, but she looked amazing doing it. (Check out the vodpod at the bottom of the sidebar to see her in action.) I’m still working on how I ask the party heroes company about the aesthetics of their Wonder Woman.

2. My friends are adamant I should have a party for them. This is great in theory, but it sounds like a lot of work for what is, essentially, a cosmological excuse to get presents. Still, presents are an excellent reason to do most things, so I might be swayed.

3. I have a small list of goals I’d like to reach by the time I turn 40. They’re nothing monumental, but if I don’t achieve them by this age, I fear I never will.

I’ll keep you posted on the celebrations and the goals.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=JnylM1hI2jc]

The short film In My Language (8:35 minutes) is touching, profound and confronting.

From about 3.10 seconds the actions seen in the first part are ‘translated’. It makes me re-think how I perceive communication, language, intelligence - and happiness.

iPac (named Xac)
I take this everywhere. It’s my diary, to-do list, address book and post-it pad. It’s old now and no longer available, but I’m waiting for HP to bring out a mobile PDA using Windows on a 3G network (Optus?) before I upgrade. I’ve added SPB Pocket Plus, which makes it look way pretty and allows one-handed navigation. I’ve also set it up for one-click to record audio memos (which, although a great idea, I never seem to do) and another to open a new note (which I do all the time - think I’ll do one now: another goal list, perhaps?). I feel like producto-Girl. Just need a geeky cape.

iPod (named Xiggy)
I have a black 30G video. I rarely use the video, but I’m pretty much at capacity with music and podcasts. I listen to podcasts whenever I’m doing brainless stuff - making the bed, brushing my teeth, loading/unloading the dishwasher, doing errands. I feel like I learn heaps without taking any time out of my day.

Laptop (named Xander)
I’ve had my XPS for about a year. It helped me write my thesis on happiness last year and it’s helping me turn that into a book this year. It’s like the perfect amanuensis - assisting me to plan, executive and review all my projects. Apart from Microsoft Office (love 2007), Word (so don’t love2007 - have they dummified it?) and OneNote, I use iTunes for music and podcasts, LeechGet for downloads, SPSS & AMOS for stats analysis and I have a mindmap program that I won’t mention because I think it’s overpriced and overfunctioned.

These are my 3 amigos. Just looking at them and thinking of all the good times we’ve shared makes me smile. Now where’s that cape?

Last month I attended the Happiness & its Causes conference at Darling Harbour, Sydney. Laid low by the flu since then, I’ve been pondering the experience - the speakers, the content, and even some of the little happenings that peppered the 4-day happ-stravaganza.

One such tidbit was my ‘psyching in’ for the experience on Day 1. I was on a peak-hour train overcrowded with serious-looking people, many of whom were coughing, sneezing and otherwise being overgenerous with their snotular fluids. It was bad enough that I couldn’t avoid their germs (no doubt where I picked up my bug), but I figured I didn’t have to let their morose vibe infect me too - I was headed to a happiness conference for goodness sake.

So I did what any child of the 80s does when mood management is called for - I got out my iPod, found my 80s playlist (OK, one of many such), and immersed myself in “Theme from Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)” by Joey Scarbury. I was immediately smiling, head-nodding, lipsyncing (a particular and significant talent of mine) and garnering disturbed looks from my snotular campadres. What larks. I was happiness-ready!