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Adventures on Two Wheels

Before going on a bike ride with Trips for Kids, many of trip leader Michael Rogers' young riders had never been to the ocean.These are teens and tweens from Oakland, Calif., a city located directly on the Pacific Ocean, mind you. Some of them have views of the San Francisco Bay right from their bedroom windows. But they'd never seen it in person: dazzling sand, vivid blue water, waves foaming and breaking in a way that that's far more immense and awe-inspiring than it looks on TV or a movie screen."Talk about something that can transform you," says Michael, a perpetually smiling man with a head of springy blond curls. "No one ever thought to take them there. They never thought to walk there or take the bus. But once we take them on a bike, they know there's something amazing practically in their own backyards that they can go to any time."Biking for changeTrips for Kids is an international nonprofit with more than 80 chapters in the U.S., Canada, Israel and Sierra Leone that leads mountain biking trips for at-risk kids. The most active chapter is the Marin/Bay Area location, where Marilyn Price kicked the program off in 1988. Marilyn estimates the Marin chapter takes 1,600 kids ages 9 to 17 a year on rides. They are referred to the organization by schools and social service agencies who are trying to keep these young people on the right track.Michael, an intrepid bicyclist who leads trips five days a week, says something magic happens when he coaches a group of teens through hair-raising trails."When I'm working with older kids, I want them to explore the boundaries of physical exhaustion and where it meets with euphoria," says Michael. "When you push yourself to do something dangerous you've never done before, it makes you feel things you haven't felt before."Nature is nurturingHarvard Medical School professor of psychiatry Dr. John Ratey, author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brainand forthcoming book Go Wild, tends to agree.He says that exercise in any form increases the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, activates endorphins, and encourages the production of BDNF, an important protein that John calls "Miracle-Gro for the brain." BDNF is also intimately bound up with depression: The less your brain has to work with, the more likely you are to be depressed."And then when you're cycling, particularly mountain biking, you're using your sense of balance, and alertness, you're varying your speed, you're watching what's ahead, what's on your side," says Dr. Ratey. "It all leads to a very active brain. And when the brain is active, it releases all those chemicals that make you smile."The group that rides together, confides togetherYes, there is that, Michael agrees. But there's something else, too. The riders are facing the (mild) danger of their rides together, screaming out encouragement, high-fiving when they all make it to the bottom of the hill together."If a kid falls they might laugh, but if someone's having trouble getting up a hill, everyone claps and says 'Go, go, go! You can do it!' And they always do! Having that kind of support, being with a group of people, working hard on something, and then making it happen -- I can't think of a better metaphor for life: You put in the hard work of getting to the top, and then there's the long, amazing ride down."The teens and tweens talk about things on the rides, too, says Michael. Personal things. Things they may not be able to tell the kids they know at school, or their parents. They connect, and learn that many of them share the same problems."It's all very natural; the kids don't even realize they're getting fed information about making better choices," says Michael.Open your psycheParents who have noticed they have great conversations with the kids while driving would agree: There's something special about talking with other people while you're not staring each other in the eye. When you're both engaged in something taking part of your concentration, the pressure's off to fill awkward silence. Interesting things emerge."And so the Trips for Kids riders befriend each other in this easy, simple way, while at the same time connecting with nature as well as their own psyches.And these bike riding bonding experiences can be monumental and even life-changingevents for adult as well as kids. As Barb Chamberlain, the executive director of Spokane bike advocacy organization Washington Bikes, wrote in a recent series about how cycling every day changed her life:"Adults don’t have many playgrounds: Places in which to hang out with a stranger side by side, testing the same new experience or challenge, and starting to talk with each other or help each other out, thus easing into a new relationship. In grade school that swing set or tetherball encounter might launch a lifelong friendship simply through the shared activity that gives you time to talk and get to know each other.""When you're on a bike, you're free. Not just free, but unbound," says Michael, a faraway look in his eye. "There's nothing between you and the wind and the air. It's exhilarating. It's like nothing else."Interested in volunteering or learning more about biking for fitness, friendship or philanthropy? Trips for Kids has chapters all over the country. And many metropolitan areas have community-based cycling organizations, such asAtlanta's Beltline Bike Shop or Seattle's Bike Works.Joyce Slatonis a freelance writer who lives in San Francisco. She blogs regularly for Babycenter.com.

Sharing

Scouting for Happiness

When it was time for the Girl Scouts of Troop 41645 in Cincinnati to choose their Bronze Award project, they came up with a simple but ambitious goal: To make the world a better place. And, after brainstorming ideas, they decided the best way to do that was simply to make people happier. “Once we decided to do that, we started talking about reasons why people weren’t happy,” says Carrie Wagner, co-leader for the Troop. “We talked about war, depression, loneliness—we talked about all the reasons people were sad, and why it was important for them to smile more and how we could make them do that.” The girls came up with the idea of a “smile campaign,” called “Smile, the World Needs It,” which launches June 1 and will run for 30 days. Each troop member created a card designed to make someone smile, then the troop voted on their four favorite designs. Those cards were then printed up and the girls are given 30 cards at a time to hand out to people they see. They can hand them to strangers at the mall, to people who buy cookies or just to anyone who looks like they need a reason to smile. The Bronze Award is the highest honor that a Girl Scout can achieve, and it requires that the entire team develop an idea, create initiatives and then put that plan in motion. The girls in the Troop range from age 9 to 13. The goal of the project, as outlined by the Troop, is to “educate friends, neighbors, colleagues, acquaintances and make new friends promoting happiness and smiling to all.” They also are researching reasons why people are not happy and will use their discoveries to “work to change the way people think about happiness.” Cards of happiness Karen Strasser, co-leader, says they have already printed 700 cards, but hope to hand out at least 5,000 cards during the month-long campaign. Each girl is asked to personalize the cards she hands out by writing her own message about smiling or happiness on the back. As part of the project, each girl must also submit four random acts of kindness that she participated in and must submit four reasons to “smile and be happy.” The troop leaders will post those acts and reasons on the campaign’s Facebook page during the month of June. Troop members will encourage everyone they meet to follow them on Facebook, and to “look in the mirror and work on being a more positive person.” Kylie, who designed one of the cards being used, says the movement could help curb sadness in the community. “There are so many people who are rude or not happy,” she says. “It makes the people who are happy kind of sad, so we want to make everybody happy.” And Troop member London says that she has noticed recently that so many people seem unhappy. She hopes this campaign will make a difference. “I’ve noticed from watching the news that there are a lot of bad things happening,” she says, “and this is one way to change that.” Although the campaign has not yet started, the girls say they already feel happier just by working on the project.

Giving

A Voice of Compassion

The purpose of life is to be happy,the Dalai Lama says. The keyto happiness is compassion. “If you wish to be happy,demonstrate compassion. If you wantothers to be happy, demonstratecompassion,” the 78-year-old Tibetanspiritual leader tells a packed audienceat Santa Clara University in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley.On thisday in late February, he recounts a storyfrom his early childhood in Tibet. Helived in a farming community and his mother would carry him on her back asshe went about her work. But he, too,had places he wanted to go and he wouldtry to manipulate her movements by pulling on one of her ears to turn right,the other to turn left. The memoryleaves the recipient of the 1989 NobelPeace Prize laughing out loud. Hismother’s love, he says, was the seedfrom which his own compassion grew.We are all born with that seed ofcompassion, he says, but in a worldwhere too many people are self-centered and materialistic, focusedon their own immediate gratification,true concern for the wellbeing of others often fails to take root.Growing the seedOnly recently, he says, he was in a carpassing through a neighborhood inDelhi, India. People were hurrying from one place to another, and throughthe swarm of moving figures, he caughtsight of a disabled girl trying to walk, notwith crutches, but with two large sticksshe had found. He noticed her sunkeneyes, two orbs full of hopelessness. Noone was paying any attention to her,just sidestepping her briskly. It madehim sad, he says, and it supportedhis sincere belief that compassionmust be taught in society, must bepart of the educational curriculum.“Education, from kindergarten upto the university level, must include theteaching of compassion, the teachingof warmheartedness,” he says.And how do you teach someoneto have more regard for others?Exercising the compassion muscleJust as one can develop a strongphysical constitution, he says, onecan also train one’s mind and heartto be more aware of others.It’s a topic he addresses in An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life.He writes, “Initially, the positiveemotions derived from cultivating ourhigher natures may be weak, but wecan enhance them through constantfamiliarity, making our experiences ofhappiness and inner contentment farmore powerful than a life abandonedto purely impulsive emotions.”People typically think of thecompassion they feel or act on assomething that is good for the recipient,not necessarily something that benefits them. But being compassionate isactually good for the giver, bothphysically and mentally. “Compassionbrings mental peace, mental comfort,”the Dalai Lama says. “If you justtend to oneself, you suffer more.”A more self-centered attitude leads tomore anxiety, more stress, he adds.In his 2007 book, How to See Yourself As You Really Arethe Dalai Lama writesthat the compassionate person is the “one who benefits most directly sincecompassion immediately instills in you asense of calm inner strength, and a deepconfidence and satisfaction ... Love andcompassion open our own inner life,reducing stress, distrust and loneliness.”Positive attractionAs long as we live in this world, he says, we are bound to encounter difficulties, but we can use these as opportunitiesto grow and improve our minds. How?By realizing our own suffering and paindon’t make us different or set us apartfrom others. Everyone suffers and facesproblems; everyone wants happinessand contentment.The understandingthat we are all in this together canhelp us develop empathy for others and a desire to remove their pain. Theresult, he says, is an increase in ourown serenity and inner strength.That sort of compassion takes a firm commitment, he says. It meansbeing compassionate toward people,even if they behave in ways that arenegative or disruptive. Whetherpeople are rich or poor, mean ornice, ultimately, they are all humanbeings who have a right to overcomesuffering and be happy. Having thisuniversal sense of altruism is noteasy, but by recognizing we are allequal in our desires, we can beginto feel responsibility for othersand help them actively overcometheir problems, he says.A garden of thought and actionWhen we engage in ordinaryconversations in our daily lives, wehave a tendency to steer away fromthose who speak harshly or withoutempathy, he says. But if a personspeaks with affection and respect,we are drawn to him or her,evenif the topic is unimportant.“We are living beings. Somepeople say even flowers grow betterunder positive words,” he says witha smile. “That I don’t know!”In The Art of Happiness,the DalaiLama writes that the best use of ourlimited time here on this planet is toserve other people and if not, to atleast refrain from harming them. “The purpose of our life needs tobe positive,” he writes. “We weren’tborn with the purpose of causingtrouble, harming others. For ourlife to be of value, I think we mustdevelop basic good human qualities warmth, kindness, compassion.Then our life becomes meaningfuland more peaceful—happier.”

Well-Being

QUIZ: Do You Love Your Body?

Body image is such a loaded, complicated subject—especially for women. How we view our bodies is tied up inextricably with how we were raised, how our culture and community view women’s bodies, control issues and of course, self-esteem. Research shows that between 70 and 90 percent of women dislike their bodies. (In my own experience talking to women over the last 20 years, I am inclined to believe that it is closer to 90 percent.)On top of that, few of us realize how damaging a critical body image can be. If you are unhappy with your body or appearance, it can lead to eating disorders, excessive weight loss or gain, and it can impact how you feel emotionally, psychologically and even spiritually, leading to feelings of depression, hopelessness and anxiety.Spurred by cultural pressure and unattainable images of perfection in the media, most of us are either unappreciative, critical or downright unrealistic about our bodies. This quiz has been designed to help you assess whether you have a harshly critical view of your body; a loving, accepting image; or if you walk the line in between.1. You’ve walked out of the shower and realize that you didn’t grab a towel in advance. Your partner is in the next room. Do you…A. Quickly figure out a way to dry yourself without asking him for a towel, because you don’t want him to see you fully naked.B. Hide behind the shower curtain or do your best to cover up your “less attractive areas,” and ask him to please bring a towel to you.C. Call out to him to please bring you a towel and wait patiently in all of your naked glory for him to come into the room.2. You run into a friend you haven’t seen in a while, and she says, “You look great!”Do you…A. Feel uncomfortable and say something like, “Oh no, I look terrible,” or “You need new glasses!”B. Thank her for the compliment, but then say you think you look tired, your outfit is old, or that it’s only because you’re wearingSpanx.C. Appreciate her for being so complimentary, take it in as positive feedback and move forward with your day knowing you’re looking good.3. When you walk up to a full length mirror, do you…A. Immediately notice all of your faults and begin to pick yourself apart.B. Acknowledge both the good and the bad that you see in front of you.C. Immediately notice something positive or good about yourself.4. You’ve been invited to a dressy event such as a wedding or banquet, and you need to buy a new dress. Do you…A. Think you are fat and dread going shopping because everything will look awful.B. Have some concerns that, due to your imperfections, shopping will be challenging, but expect you will find something.C. Know that you will find something flattering that will make you happy.5. It’s time for your annual doctor’s visit and the nurse has asked you to get on the scale. Do you…A. Panic, look away and tell her not to tell you what your weight is.B. Get on reluctantly, and hope for the best.C. Get on the scale knowing that whatever the number on the scale is what it is, and it doesn’t change how you feel about yourself.6. Someone you were dating casually has stopped calling. Do you…A. Immediately think it’s because something is wrong with the way you look.B. Wonder if it is because of your appearance and also think of the other reasons it could be.C. Assume that it has nothing to do with how you look.7. How often are you in a bad mood or depressed about your appearance?A. Daily or most of the week.B. Whenever appearance-related things are brought to your attention.C. Rarely. You feel pretty good about your appearance overall.8. A friend has joined a gym and asks you if you want to join with her and go together. Do you…A. Think: “Wow, she must think I am out of shape.”B. Wonder if she has been judging your body, but appreciate the concern.C.Be glad she is trying to be healthier and exercise, and appreciate that she is interested in spending time with you.9. When you are thinking about your body and your appearance, do you…A .Find yourself being critical, judgmental and downright mean.B. Spend some time picking yourself apart while trying to find the positives as well.C. Know that you aren’t perfect, but try to think of the things you actually do like and appreciate about yourself.Results:If most of your answers are “A”:You are way too hard on yourself when it comes to your weight and overall appearance. Being this critical can lead to depression, anxiety and even an eating disorder. It is important that you work on how you see yourself so you can find the positive in who you are and how you look. If you feel truly stuck in this negative cycle, seek counseling or other professional guidance.If most of your answers are “B”:You walk the line between being hard on yourself and emotionally well-adjusted when it comes to your body image. If you have more A’s and B’s and not enough C’s, you are in danger of becoming too self-critical and hurting your self-esteem. Pat yourself on the back for the areas where you are accepting of yourself, and note that you need to focus a bit more on the positive so that you can have a more kind and loving view of your physical self.If most of your answers are “C”:Congratulations! You are comfortable and accepting of your physical self. This will benefit your confidence and wellbeing on a larger scale. Take a moment to read through the answers where you may have chosen “B” or “A” so that you can work on being more positive in those specific areas.The goal of this quiz is to cause you to think about how you might be sabotaging your self-esteem by being overly critical of your body and appearance. If you came up with a lot of A’s, I encourage you to work on your self-image and retake this test again in a week and then again in a month to see if the view of yourself has improved. No one is perfect and few people likeallparts of their physical selves.When working toward being emotionally healthy and having a positive sense of self, it is imperative that we be as kind and accepting as possible. After all, you are with yourself 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. If you are constantly criticizing yourself and obsessing over flaws, it’s almost a form of self-abuse. Be as kind and loving to your body as possible. Try to be grateful and appreciative of all the things your body does for you!

Woman holding up a painting of the Eiffel Tower

Self-Care

Create Outside the Lines

Katrina Lewis makes a living painting images with words.But when the marketing writerwalked into a local art studio to celebrate a family member’s birthday, she foundherself trading in her adjectives for anapron, a canvas and a palette of paint.“Once I got over the initial, ‘I’mnot an artist,’ I realized that none ofus were; we were all starting with ablank canvas—literally,” Katrina says. “We began painting, joking aroundand mixing colors, and I began to seemy own individualityreflectedin mymasterpiece. It was funny how we wereall essentially painting the same thing,but everyone’s looked so different.That’s when I realized this wasn’tabout painting at all; it was about beingcreative and expressing ourselves.”Katrina’s experience echoes what manypeople are finding. Instead of hitting thenightlife scene, friends, family and evenco-workers are gathering at local “art asentertainment” studios and rediscoveringcreativity they’d thought was lost. Allthat’s needed is a small fee for supplies,an open mind and a couple of hours,and the studio’s staff will supply the rest,including step-by-step instructions.Find a non-judgmental environmentIt’s a comfortable,there-are-nomistakesenvironment, says ChristyStindham, who owns a Dallas-areafranchise of paint-your-own-potterystudio Color Me Mine. “You’re safe—nobody’s going to laugh at you...You don’t have to know how to painta straight line or a brushstroke, andif you make a mistake, we can showyou how to turn it into somethingthat looks intentional, or you can justwipe off the paint and start again.”It’s that sense of safety andencouragement that allows weeknightartists like Katrina to relax and be inthe moment. Psychologists have drawnconnections between creativity andhappiness for years, but the relationshipbetween the two is on full display whenyou visit a studio on a busy Fridaynight. Whether it’s painting a pictureof the Eiffel Tower or a colorful bowl,the laughs come easy, the mood islight—it’s hard not to be happy.Let yourself go“People lose track of time,” Christysays. “They become so involved inwhat they’re doing that they look upand it’s been three hours, and theydidn’t even realize it because theywere having such a great time.”As Katrina and other modern-dayartists are realizing, what they gainfrom their night in the studio lastslong after the paint dries, they take offtheir paint-spattered aprons and returnto work.“Every time I look at thatpainting hanging in my home’s livingarea, I think of that night, of the fun Ihad,” Katrina says. “It’s my personalreminder that sometimes I have to taketime out of my schedule to be creativein a very real, very tangible way.”Find your own way to express your creativityDo as the ancients did, andtransform molten glass into art.Enjoy a fun evening out with friends atColorMe Mineor a mom-and-pop“art as entertainment” studioin your area.Gather the family, get a set ofwatercolors and some whitepaper and paint portraits of each other.Get your hands dirty—reallydirty—andtake a spin on the pottery wheel.Put creativity on your schedule and take an art class at alocal community college.

Self-Care

New Issue of Live Hapy Magazine Reveals How Compassion Can Improve Wellbeing

Dallas, TX – May 6, 2014 – Considered one of the greatest virtues, compassion – the feeling of empathy for others – is the theme of Live Happy magazine’s May/June 2014 issue that hits stands today. Live Happy is the first ever lifestyle magazine to balance the science of positive psychology with the art of application, and as the new issue reveals, recent studies and scientific research confirm that people who practice compassion receive an array of benefits that go beyond simply feeling good.While Live Happy has offered in-depth celebrity interviews in its previous issues, this month marks its first celebrity feature cover with actor Chris O’Donnell. In “I am Happy,” O’Donnell, considered one of the nicest guys in show business, shares how he maintains his happiness throughout his life’s hectic journey, even with the demands of his large family and booming career.“May and June are the two months we celebrate mothers and fathers each year, and strong personal relationships between parents and children are a key ingredient to happiness,” adds Nickell. “Because of this, Live Happy not only share Chris’ insights on parenting, but also ways to thank parents and those in our lives – with something even as simple as giving a hug.”As always, Live Happy offers the “Live Happy Now” section and this month’s “Top Ten” article features the Top 10 American Summer Destinations. In addition, this issue’s “Profile” features the Dalai Lama on why he believes happiness, love, and compassion go hand in hand. Continuing its mission to make 2014 the “year of happiness” and empowering its readers to achieve authentic happiness by helping to incorporate practical tools into their lives, this issue of Live Happy also features 31 ways to “Be More Compassionate in May,” and readers can go to livehappy.com for 30 ideas on how to make June a month of giving as well.The May/June issue also marks bestselling author Gretchen Rubin as a regular Live Happy columnist. In her first column, the happiness expert shares her six tips for “Nurturing a Happy Family,” all of which personally help her be the parent she strives to be – from getting enough sleep, to living by the “one-minute” rule, to remembering to cherish each day.In addition, with summer vacations right around the corner, this year, instead of returning more stressed than when one left, columnists Michelle Gielan and positive psychology expert Shawn Achor share their tips for an energy-boosting vacation in “Tripped Up.” Being happy and well-vacationed should lead to a positive outcome, which will in turn benefit one’s work, company, and ultimately him or herself. In addition to his contribution to Live Happy’s current issue, Shawn also sits down with Oprah Winfrey on OWN’s Super Soul Sunday for a 2-part interview on May 25th and June 2nd to discuss his steps for achieving happiness.This issue’s feature article “Listening with Your Heart” explores new scientific studies and data regarding compassion: what it is, what it triggers in the human body, and how it affects each of us both physically and emotionally. The article also examines existing evidence that through breathing and meditation, individuals can actually change the brain’s biology to increase the acts of kindness that it triggers.The May/June issue of Live Happy features a myriad of other inspiring articles and features that reflect the theme of compassion as well, including:“The Promise of Positive Education” reveals evidence that character strengths such as grit, perseverance, and resilience have actually proven to be stronger predicators of success than IQ or the type of home someone grows up in.“Changing Lives” explores the mutual benefit of mentoring. Individuals, young and old alike, that have a caring mentor in their world usually do better in life, and having access to such an individual provides opportunities for mentees to achieve their goals and interests, and help them flourish.Not only can a quick siesta enhance one’s mood, but as “Nap Your Way Happy” reveals, a little daytime downtime can offer tremendous health benefits as well. From improving memory, to reducing stress, to strengthening the immune system, this article is a must-read for anyone who doesn’t want to feel guilty about briefly curling up on the couch.In “Embrace Your You,” regular columnist, psychotherapist, and relationship expert Stacy Kaiser offers a few easy steps that can help readers rid negative thoughts to embrace and nourish a more positive and accepting image of their own bodies.As every article in the May/June 2014 issue of Live Happy reveals, practicing self-compassion and kindness towards others are among life’s most important and rewarding experiences, and will profoundly help readers in their ever-evolving pursuit of happiness.# # #About Live HappyLive Happy LLC is dedicated to promoting and sharing authentic happiness through education, integrity, gratitude, and community awareness. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, its mission is to impact the world by bringing the happiness movement to a personal level and inspiring people to engage in living purpose-driven, healthy, meaningful lives.Media Inquiries:Rachel AlbertKrupp Kommunicationsralbert@kruppnyc.com(212) 886-6704

Self-Care

Live Happy Magazine Welcomes Happiness expert Gretchen Rubin as Featured Columnist

Dallas, TX – April 30, 2014 – Live Happy magazine is pleased to announce that happiness expert and bestselling author Gretchen Rubin will become a columnist beginning with the May/June 2014 issue. Since its inception, Live Happy’s mission has been to inspire people to engage in living purpose-driven, healthy, and meaningful lives. To achieve that goal, the magazine has strived to assemble a team of the most talented writers and editors in the business to not only provide readers with stellar content, but also to add value to the brand.With her signature blend of thought-provoking inspiration and pragmatism, Rubin’s first column, “Nurturing A Happy Family: Six tips that help me be the parent I want to be” appears in the “Home” column of the new issue, on stands Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Offering simple yet sound strategies to cultivate happiness in general, it is a must read for any harried parent seeking a little more order on the home front.“I’m very excited to be aLive Happycolumnist andto have the chance towork with such a terrific magazine– onethat inspires happiness in all aspects oflife” says Gretchen Rubin. “It’s particularly appropriate thatmy firstpiece, ‘Nurturing a Happy Family,’ appears in the May/June issue,becausethese are the monthswhenwe specifically celebratethe mothers and fathersin our lives.”Rubin appeared on the cover of the January/February 2014 issue of Live Happy which featured an interview with her on her journey from attorney to mother and world-renowned author.“Since Gretchen was the cover feature a few months back, we knew we wanted to work with her on a more consistent basis to empower our readership and help make a meaningful impact in their lives,” said Karol DeWulfNickell, Editor in Chief of Live Happy. “We are delighted to introduce her as part of this issue, which focuses on the theme of compassion, and share her thoughts on how this applies to one’s family.”Rubin’s bestselling books The Happiness Project and Happier at Home explore how to be happy and focus on the things in life that really matter. In addition to writing her daily blog at www.gretchenrubin.com that celebrates adventures in happiness, she is currently working on a new book about making and breaking habits that is scheduled for release in early 2015.# # #About Live HappyLive Happy LLC is dedicated to promoting and sharing authentic happiness through education, integrity, gratitude, and community awareness. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, its mission is to impact the world by bringing the happiness movement to a personal level and inspiring people to engage in living purpose-driven, healthy, meaningful lives.About Gretchen RubinRaised in Kansas City, Rubin lives in New York City with her husband and two children. She is a talented public speaker and keynoter, has addressed audiences at corporations and conferences and universities alike. She has also made frequent appearances on a number of major network morning shows and other national television programs. A graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School, she clerked for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the US Supreme Court before leaving law to write full-time.Media Inquiries:Rachel AlbertKrupp Kommunicationsralbert@kruppnyc.com(212) 886-6704

Image of hands holding an iPad with Pinterest displayed

Self-Care

Pinned Up

Here you are thinkingPinterestis just another way to watch your time disappear into the social media sinkhole. You’ve made up your mind: You’re not going to do it! You’re already on Facebook, and you are not about to get sucked into a world of online scrapbooking. (You haven’t even finished your baby’s first-year offline scrapbook, and your baby is now starting high school.) But what if spending time onPinterestcould make you happier online and off? Here’s how:Set your visionRemember when vision boards were popular? You’d spend all day cutting magazine clippings and quotes, piecing them together on a giant poster board so you could send your brain visual messages about your ideal life: The house, the clothes, the healthy body, and personal goals, all represented in a vivid collage. Now you can hop onPinterestand, in a matter of minutes, create your own vision board with quick "pins" of pictures, quotes and articles that inspire and encourage you. Click on yourPinterestpage and your neurons are instantly flooded with colorful images and contagious ideas that will make you want to take action offline.Get a sense of connectionLook aroundPinterestand you’ll find a crazy-quilt of shared interests and endeavors. It’s a visual collective—a place where you can swap recipes with friends, share images of movies and books you love, or get a glimpse of someone else’s offbeat passions. You love yarn-bombing and Italian New Wave film? So doLinda in Des Moines and Jen in San Diego! The sense of community thatPinterestcreates heightens sharing and community offline as well; you’ll be inspired to try a new craft with friends, bond with your spouse over a great meal or plan a family adventure.Collect ideasThrowing a party and want to impress your friends? Bored with your hairstyle? Need some decorating inspiration for bare walls?Pinterestcan be your personal guide to visual ideas. You can both share your own projects and bring others in to collaborate by designating family and friends to be contributors to your board. You can also navigate through the overwhelming load of visual information by “following” boards that you like.Change your moodWhen you’re feeling down,Pinterestcan act as a virtual pick-me-up. Start dreaming about your next vacation by looking up images of sparkling beaches or taking a photo tour through Paris. Check out quotes on gratitude and mindfulness, or ogle the latest puppy visuals for a quickoxytocinrelease. Become a hunter-gatherer for your personal happiness, and visit our snappyPinterestboard!Happy pinning!

Self-Care

Live Happy LLC names Kym Yancey CEO and Co-Founder

DALLAS, TX – April 10, 2014 – Live Happy LLC announces Kym Yancey as CEO and Co-Founder effective immediately. Previously Co-Founder, Chief Marketing Officer, and President of eWomenNetwork, North America’s premier women’s business network, Yancey will oversee Live Happy’s strategy development and business initiatives, which include Live Happy magazine and campaigns such as Acts of Happiness.“Kym is recognized as one of the premier marketing and innovative thought leaders in North America, so his creativity, passion, and business savvy will be a valuable asset,” said Jeff Olson, Founder of Live Happy LLC. “As his previous venture was founded on the principles of ‘giving first and sharing always,’ his perspective aligns perfectly with that of Live Happy.”As the benefits of increased happiness are scientifically proven – happy people live longer, earn more, are more productive, and are better citizens – Live Happy is dedicated to promoting and sharing authentic happiness through education, integrity, gratitude, and community awareness. Its magazine, Live Happy, continues to share information and resources to further the happiness movement, encouraging people embrace it, as well as help those who are struggling to define and choose their own happiness, inspiring readers to engage in livingpurpose-driven, healthy, meaningful lives. Live Happy also recently partnered with the United Nations for International Day of Happiness (March 20, 2014) with its Acts of Happiness campaign.“I am thrilled to be part of this company that is not only dedicated to promoting and sharing happiness, but is committed to providing the most innovative, cutting-edge research in the context of real life, authentic issues and common-sense realities,” said Yancey. “Live Happy is unique in its mission to provide all the resources – magazine, website, leading experts, and research – in order to perpetuate the happiness movement that exists today.”Prior to his role in the corporate world, Yancey launched one of the top multicultural advertising agencies in the U.S. He is also the recipient of more than 200 advertising and creative awards of excellence, the executive producer of the GLOW Project, and a finalist for Inc. Magazine's "Entrepreneur of the Year," as well as countless other top business achievement awards.Live Happy also announced that Deborah Heisz, previously Senior Vice President, will assume the role of COO and Co-Founder where she will be responsible for the management and development of the Live Happy business and creative operations.About Live HappyFounded in 2013, Live Happy LLC, owned by veteran entrepreneur Jeff Olson, is a company dedicated to promoting and sharing authentic happiness through education, integrity, gratitude, and community awareness. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, its mission is to impact the world by bringing the happiness movement to a personal level and inspiring people to engage in living purpose-driven, healthy, meaningful lives.Media Inquiries:Rachel AlbertKrupp Kommunicationsralbert@kruppnyc.com(212) 886-6704

Self-Care

A Happiness Backlash?

Is the "happiness movement" creating a league of shallow people and overindulged kids? Lately, there has been an explosion in both the science and celebration of happiness, as well as a focus on the tools we can use to help ourselves and those around us gain a better sense of wellbeing. You might say that happiness is in the air: In best-selling books, loads of articles and even our own magazine and website. And, of course, it is now also stuck in everyone’s heads, thanks toPharrell'subiquitous song. It's not surprising then that this critical mass surrounding positivity and an emphasis on happiness at home and in the workplace is producing something of a backlash. After all, a focus on happiness can come across as saccharine and shallow. But boiling down the tenets of happiness to a search for hedonistic pleasure would be a huge misreading of the movement. Happy overload Last week columnist David Brooks came out with a piece in The New York Times suggesting that instead of seeking to avoid suffering by being “happy,” we should embrace it as an opportunity for growth. While beautifully written and cogently argued, I think it misses the point. “Over the past few weeks,” he says, “I’ve found myself in a bunch of conversations in which the unspoken assumption was that the main goal of life is to maximize happiness.” But with all this focus on happiness, says Brooks, we are missing out on the true growth that occurs when we embrace, instead of avoid, suffering. Being happy does not mean avoiding suffering “Happiness wants you to think about maximizing your benefits,” Brooks says, whereas “difficulty and suffering sends you on a different course….Suffering drags you deeper into yourself” and “gives people a more accurate sense of their own limitations.” He gives a mocking example of what he imagines a happiness expert might advise someone who is suffering: “Well, I’m feeling a lot of pain over the loss of my child. I should try to balance my hedonic account by going to a lot of parties and whooping it up.” But finding or embracing happiness does not mean whooping it up to forget our sorrows. Divorce, death, illness, injury—we will all experience suffering. What's important is not to arrange your life so that you never take risks or keep away from those under the weight of suffering or tragedy. What's important is how you bounce back, grow and help others recover and rebound after going through a turbulent time. The tools of positive psychology—gratitude, compassion, resilience, optimism—are indispensable when it comes to recovering from trauma. Raising ‘happy’ kids On April 16, an article on The Huffington Post by Richard Weissbourd, a lecturer at the Harvard School of Education, and associate professor Stephanie Jones offered a similar critique, this time suggesting that “behind this relentless focus on happiness is an intense focus on the self” and that “happiness doesn't automatically lead to goodness.” Exactly. In fact, happiness research has shown that it is the other way around—that being kind, compassionate and giving to others actually makes us happy. “With parents and kids, this focus on happiness and the self has real consequences,” the article continues. “Kids are allowed to skip out on obligations to teams and groups because participation no longer makes them happy; they are free to (or even encouraged to) drop friends who are annoying, weird or just not fun; and they sometimes treat the adults in their lives like staff or as invisible—neglecting to thank them or show appreciation.” Again, I would argue that the authors have it backward. An increasing number of studies show that raising happy, well-adjusted kids requires a focus on responsibility and respect, among other attributes, which then leads to wellbeing and happiness. Responsibility and respect build self-esteem In fact, the authors echo many happiness experts and the themes of our own Acts of Happiness campaign when they write that we need to model behavior for our children by “contributing to our communities, taking action against injustice, making even small sacrifices regularly for friends and neighbors.” They continue by saying “the data suggest that moral and caring kids tend to be happier kids and adults” with a link to the author’s own research and book. But that same conclusion has also come out of the positive psychology camp, with its emphasis on “The Meaningful Life” as the most important attribute of happy people. According to leading positive psychologist Martin E.P. Seligman, in a meaningful life, “Meaning is increased through our connections to others, future generations or causes that transcend the self. From a positive psychology perspective, meaning consists of knowing what your highest strengths are, and then using them to belong to and serve something you believe is larger than the self.” Look beyond the smiley face I understand the temptation to recoil and play devil’s advocate in the face of all this glowing positivity, giving rise to books like Barbara Ehrenreich’s Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking Is Undermining Americaand Oliver Burkeman’s The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. After all, we are critically thinking, doubting, sometimes-suffering people who could do without a bunch of easy, cheesy homilies and “Kumbaya” drum circles to tell us how to feel. But don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. A focus on how we can make ourselves and others happier, including science-based recommendations for increasing our wellbeing, does not entail steering clear of suffering, nor does it mean going to more parties or letting your kids do whatever they want. The critics have a point in the sense that a singular focus on happiness can seem to gloss over some of the deeper and more painful aspects of our personalities. But they need to read further than the titles of articles and, according to Brooks, the “more than 1,000 books released on Amazon on that subject [happiness]” in one three-month period. The pursuit of happiness is easy to poke fun at, but if we think less about ourselves and more about our connections to others in the community and the world, the closer we’ll get to that goal.

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Live Happy LLC names Kym Yancey CEO and Co-Founder

A Happiness Backlash?

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