Book Review: The Happiness Project

This book started my summer purely because the title contained 'happiness' and I was not disappointed. Gretchen Rubin decided to experiment with different ways to make her life happier and broke the year-long experiment into monthly focuses such as "February: Remember Love", "April: Lighten Up", and "October: Pay Attention". She ended the year with a December Happiness Boot Camp where she realized that, "I could change my life without changing my life. When I made the effort to reach out for them, I found that the ruby slippers had been on my feet all along; the bluebird was singing outside my kitchen window." We all have the ability to lead lifestyles where we are mindful of others, where we sometimes leave negativity unsaid, where we try new activities, where we bring people together, where we clean out clutter, and actually show up to/in our lives. But many people don't take advantage of the energy it takes or think about their lives enough to accomplish these. I enjoyed reading this book because I, like Rubin, see the benefits of self-reflection/self-awareness, of setting resolutions to constantly work on rather than just setting goals, and of being grateful for what I have (although I don't always show it). She often discussed living in an atmosphere of growth and how that is generally better and "happier" than the final result or achievement. This struck a cord with me. Sometimes the journey to get somewhere or accomplish something is sweeter than the end reward itself. I also found the vast amount of outside readings she discussed from Tolstoy, Samuel Johnson, and Saint Therese to name a few, the incorporation of her personal experiences and experiences of those who commented on her blog, as well as her candid accounts of "failures" to be useful in applying her resolutions to my own life.

While there were times Rubin discussed behaviors which I already try to do, for example - Buy needful things, Stimulate the mind in new ways, Use good manners - it helped to know someone else thinks these are important and necessary to live a balanced lifestyle. So what did I really get out of reading this novel? Mostly it was a question: What is necessary for me to feel like I lead a happy, balanced life while also making those closest to me happy at the same time? We often project emotions or attitudes which we don't mean to and this book helped me think about how others might interpret the way I act or react. It helped me think about what I could do to make my attitude, openness, and overall self a little better. And as a result I hope to find that "One of the best ways to make myself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy myself" just as Rubin did.

If you are interested in learning more about The Happiness Project, you can visit Rubin's blog or pick up the book! Rubin says, "The days are long but the years are short" so what are you waiting for? Join me and try a happiness project of your own!

Take me to the Theater

Shakespeare said "All the world's a stage" and he was right; people are always watching, judging us. But some places make for a better stage than others. The article titled "Play House Move to Rebuilt Allen Theatre will Further Boost PlayhouseSquare" by Lee Chilcote clearly illustrates the renovation of the Allen Theather for the collaboration of PlayhouseSquare, Cleveland Play House, and CSU's theater department. My favorite quote from the article: "Today, PlayhouseSquare comprises the second-largest performing arts complex in the country, behind New York's Lincoln Center". That's pretty remarkable!

Theater is a unique art form in which there really is something for everyone. Whether you fancy realism, fantasy, or a mixture of the two; whether you want song and dance or prefer all dialogue; whether you want straight-forward meaning or are intrigued by the abstract, there is a great musical or play to suit your interests. And outside of PlayhouseSquare there are quite a few fantastic theaters in the Cleveland area to catch a show. "Theater-going is a communal act, movie going a solitary one" (Brustein). What better way to spend a night than enhancing your cultural spirit with others at the theater?

Other theaters in the area:
Cleveland Public Theater - Cleveland
Beck Center for the Arts - Lakewood
Convergence Continuum - Tremont
Porthouse Theater - On the Blossom Music Center grounds - summer only

Last Night I was a Mavericks Fan and the Truth about Cleveland

It isn't often I cheer for someone to lose. But last night, I would have cheered for any team in the NBA to beat the Heat. Well, more specifically, LeBron. As I posted on Facebook right after the glorious win, it's not that easy. He doesn't get to leave a place that not only loved him, but fully believed he would win the championship he promised to us, his hometown, and walk right into his first title. And I like it even more because it's a great lesson for people. As precisely stated by The Rolling Stones, "You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes well you just might find, You get what you need". What LeBron needed was a reality check. The pre-season smoke and Miami sunshine clouded and blurred his view of real life, or should I say - his real talents.

On Oprah's last show, she spoke of the lessons she has learned over her 25-year run. One part that stuck with me is when she said, "Don't wait for somebody else to fix you, to save you, or to complete you...". This goes for the self-proclaimed King as well. He claimed he needed a team around him as being a reason for leaving. LeBron - why don't you work on your own follow-through in life-changing games before you jump on someone elses' coattails and expect that to win championships for you.

Moving away from LeBron, I read an article by Dan Wetzel on Yahoo Sports titled, "LeBron's failure warms Cleveland's heart". Since I am used to people tearing down Cleveland, this was a pleasant surprise. I am so overjoyed that I am even going to post paragraphs right here as a preview to reading his entire article:
"It’s too trite and small to view Cleveland as some bottomed-out, post-industrial postcard to the past. These aren’t all people trapped in awful times or terrible circumstances or living small lives in jealousy of LeBron’s big one.
There’s money here. There is success in Cleveland. There is contentment. As sure as there are poor in Miami, as sure as the VIP area of the Mansion Nightclub isn’t the full reality of South Florida, neither is some boarded-up East Cleveland warehouse the story here.
There are doctors and lawyers and entrepreneurs and financial planners and artists and teachers and dreamers and, yes, insulation installers. (“In the column can you mention the company, Pure Seal Inc.?”)
There are happy families and neighborhoods and the American Dream in full view. There are plenty of people who don’t have any personal problems who are quite content to keep their talents in Cleveland, a place they love just the way it is.
“We get a bad rep,” said Pawel Wencel, who happily moved back from Washington, D.C., and watched the game at Flannery’s. “It’s not New York. It’s not L.A. And we don’t want it to be.”
Why New York or L.A. can never seem to get that is anyone’s guess."

Thank you Dan for finally representing Cleveland as it is! Enough said.

Viking 4 Life

I am a proud two-time graduate of Cleveland State University and am also proud to hear and speak of the extensive and wonderful improvements happening around campus. The article, "New neighborhood to rise on Cleveland State University campus" by Karen Farkas of The Plain Dealer reveals the plan to create a residential and retail area on campus that is not necessarily meant for undergraduate Vikings, but for faculty, graduate students, and young professionals. It's about time Clevelanders reap the benefits of some more downtown stores (even if it is only a few) as well as more residential space away from East 4th and West 6th. If I didn't work in the suburbs and if I wasn't building a new home, I would LOVE to be one of the young professionals living in the heart of Cleveland.

For years I have said that CSU is one of Cleveland's greatest assets and I know I am not alone in that thought. It is delightful to see the new dorms, fresh parking garages, and state-of-the-art buildings which are only making more people eager to become Vikings! And if they aren't becoming Vikings, they should at least take notice of the possibilities the college provides for economic improvement and sustainability. I tip my hat to Cleveland State!