create my own set of happiness commandments

I decided that eleven is the right number for me. I just have a few small edits to the wording:

1. Be grateful.
2. Give generously and give what matters.
3. See the funny side.
4. Disregard imperfections and imbalances.
5. Travel light.
6. Forgive.
7. Plan for fun.
8. Stay in touch.
9. Bloom where planted.
10. There’s no crying in baseball!
11. A place for everything and everything in its place.

As a first step in creating my own Happiness Project, here is my current draft of my Happiness Commandments. I’ve been working on these several weeks and have had, at various times, a much longer list. Right now, though, I want to focus on the ones that feel most like me and most like what will work for me now. I may add more as I learn more.
1. Do fewer things, more passionately.
2. Live my daily life more like my grandmothers.
3. Look for the lessons during tough times.
4. Ask myself questions.
5. Practice gratitude.
6. Walk.

This list has been in the back of my mind for awhile. I’m trying to tighten it up now; in fact, I’m scaling it down to eleven commandments:

1. Do unto others.I think my “express gratitude,” “give generously,” “forgive,” and “stay in touch” reflect what I meant here.
2. Express gratitude unceasingly.
3. Give generously and give what matters.
4. See the funny side.
5. Look beyond the imperfections and imbalances. within my world and outside of it.
6. Travel light.
7. Forgive.
8. Plan for fun.
9. Stay in touch.
10. Bloom where planted.
11. There’s no crying in baseball!
12. A place for everything and everything in its place.

Here’s my fourth draft.

1. Do unto others…
2. Express gratitude unceasingly.
3. Give generously and give what matters.
4. See the funny side.
5. Look beyond the imperfections and imbalances within my world and outside of it.
   Take time to smell the roses.
6. Travel light.
7. Forgive.
8. Plan for fun.
9. Stay in touch.
10. Bloom where you are planted.
11. There’s no crying in baseball!
12. A place for everything and everything in its place.

Here’s my third draft.

1. Do unto others.
2. Express gratitude.
3. Give generously and give what matters.
4. See the funny side.
5. Take time to smell the roses.
6. Travel light.
7. Forgive.
8. Plan for fun.
   Smile.Walk a mile in their shoes.
9. Stay in touch.
   Master the art of diplomacy.
10. Bloom where you are planted.
11. There’s no crying in baseball!
12. A place for everything and everything in its place.

I took out “Smile” and replaced it with “Plan for Fun”. I needed something that referred to always having something to look forward to.

_{That baseball reference (one of these things is not like the other) just makes me giggle and has to stay. It’s not like ‘A League of Their Own’ is my favorite movie, but it’s probably one of my favorite lines from all movies. And I enjoy Tom Hank’s acting and his voice.}

_{“No crying in baseball” fits me because I love baseball and because I’m “one of those” (who cries at the Hallmark commercial or when saying good-bye)...but I don’t want to be! “No crying!” Hey, I can rationalize that “Smile” is no longer needed in the list because it fits in here.}

Hold everything. The first draft completely missed two of the most important things for happiness, gratitude and generosity.

So, here’s the second draft of my happiness commandments:

1. Do unto others.
2. Express gratitude.
3. Give generously and give what matters.
4. See the funny side.
5. Take time to smell the roses.
6. Travel light.
7. Forgive.
8. Smile.
   Walk a mile in their shoes.
9. Stay in touch.
   Master the art of diplomacy.
10. Bloom where you are planted.
11. There’s no crying in baseball!
12. A place for everything and everything in its place.

I’m going to remove “walk a mile”, since that’s more about empathy rather than happiness.

I’m also striking my diplomacy item, since I’m not sure that that says happiness to me.

More drafts forthcoming.

First draft of my happiness commands:

1. Do unto others.
2. See the funny side.
3. Take time to smell the roses.
4. Travel light.
5. Forgive.
6. Smile.
7. Walk a mile in their shoes.
8. Stay in touch.
9. Master the art of diplomacy.
10. Bloom where you are planted.
11. There’s no crying in baseball!
12. A place for everything and everything in its place.

I’ve been checking in on Gretchen Ruben’s Happiness Project for over a year now, and the Petri Project recently showcased her concept of happiness commandments.

I’m inspired by her challenge for everyone to create their own commandments.

This won’t be easy, but I’m a firm believer in happiness. As Dennis Prager writes, we have an obligation to be happy.