“Order is Heaven’s first law,” wrote Alexander Pope, and one thing that has surprised me is the significance of clutter to happiness. While positive-psychology researchers rarely address

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, Laura Vanderkam

The true secret of happiness lies in the taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.

The Relationship Cure,

We are happy when we are growing.” Research supports his observation: It’s not goal attainment, but the process of striving after goals—that is, growth—that brings happiness.

If I want my marriage to be tender and romantic, I must be tender and romantic.

When I acknowledged my true likes and dislikes, instead of being distracted by what I wished I liked or thought I ought to like, I started a children’s literature reading group. This kidlit group proved so popular, and grew so large, that I had to start another group, and then still another group. And I’d believed I was the only adult who loved the

September’s efforts had proved to me that happiness is not having less; happiness is not having more; happiness is wanting what I have.

Here was a shelf of nothing but Harry Potter, here, my worn copies of the Narnia books, there, my beloved Little House books (Santa Claus brought me one volume each Christmas for nine years). The Elizabeth Enright and Edward Eager books I’d read so many times. Mary Stoltz, who didn’t get the attention she deserved. Streatfield, Barrie, Canfield, Co