Ask Better Questions

“Happiness” is one of those weird spelling words – I think it should be “Happyness”, but I get a red squiggly underline, so I’m wrong.  I get a lot of red squiggly underlines.

“Happiness” is something I’ve been thinking about.

I lead a great life.  I have a fantastic wife who I adore, and seems to like me well enough.  Unbelievably wonderful, healthy, wise, outgoing kids who make me proud.  Yeah, they could do the dishes more often, but who’s perfect?

My immediate family is still close – I just spent Christmas with my father and step-mum Lynn – they are so happy and full of life.  My brother lives in town, and he and I still hang out – we’ll be going to a movie today.  My two sisters are close, even though one insists on living in Switzerland.

I am blessed with great friends.  We have a tight group that, frankly, is the closest group of friends my wife and I have ever had.  Yeah, the house is a mess, but Shelly and Ann did the dishes while Joe and I played guitar while Jules sang, so I can whip the kitchen back into shape before the family gets out of bed.

I’m still involved with my friends at Yovia.com – hosts of this blog.  I made an investment of both time and money to help the company over a year ago.  These are great people doing wonderful things, and I am impressed with what a great company they have built.

Now I call the South Central Small Business Development Center home.  I took over directing this non-profit.  I love helping new businesses get started, and helping existing ones grow.  I work with a great team, and am connected with dozens of partner agencies and a large network of people doing good work.

The stock market is back up.  My Apple stock is at an all time high. (I bought 10 shares in 1979, and a bunch more along the way.) It’s nice to see my 401k climb back out of the red.

So, how can I be happier? Fred Wilson blogged about it a few days ago, and he’s a guy I respect. Here’s a quote from Fed’s blog,which is a quote from a book I just ordered.

Second Splendid Truth
One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy;One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself. The Happiness Project Gretchen Rubin

My new years resolution is to be even more happy. Every day I will focus on making other people happy.  How hard can that be?

I will also seek to create Joy – lasting happiness.  Not only fleeting fits of giggles, but the joy of watching a business grow, of having successful kids, of helping your community.

What a great world this would be if everyone made – and kept – this same resolution.

Oh, and I’m going to lose 20 lbs.

Related articles:

• The Happiness Project – A New Year’s Resolution (avc.com)