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You are here: Home / Archives for Happiness / Happiness Project

Happiness Project

How it Went: Month 1 of the Happiness Project

May 16, 2021 By Jodi

Spending a month getting reacquainted with myself, while trite, was incredibly meaningful.

Solitary cabin in winter, we are all islands

Happiness Project: January: Self-knowledge resolutions

March 30, 2021 By Jodi

Starting a happiness project is all the easier when someone does the legwork for you. Freed from having to think too much about it, it was easy to get started on January's theme of self-knowledge by picking up a handful of suggestions from Gretchen and throwing in a couple resolutions of my own. The idea...

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Happiness Project Redux

March 23, 2021 By Jodi

In my previous post, I mentioned that I'm endeavoring a Happiness Project again. I've written a lot of background about happiness projects, and why I find the idea meaningful—as opposed to mere frivolity––so I won't go into that again now. This time, though, due to some Black Friday margarita drinking*, I'm actually doing the official...

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A Soft Restart

March 8, 2021 By Jodi

Well. Here we go again. A confluence of minor life events—a card we sent out, a drunken email I wrote to a popular website, the launching of a new happiness project—led to the unbearable, inevitable sentiment that I have to start doing this again. I want to start doing this again.

Stack of black Moleskine journals

An Alternative to Journaling: Micro-Journaling

April 3, 2017 By Jodi

In my footloose and fancy-free days, I whiled away a lot of hours in cafes, drinking tea (later lattes) and scribbling in a journal. I've got a stack of classic black Moleskines to prove it. I'd paste in ticket stubs and magazine images, copy down quotes, and, of course, reflect on whatever was going on in my life at the time....

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Happiness Project wrap-up, hot chocolate winter walk

Wrapping Up My Happiness Project

February 28, 2017 By Jodi

Six months ago I started a small happiness project, and now it's coming to an end. Today I'd like to look back on the project, see where I succeeded and where I didn't, and what lessons I can carry forward.

Watercolor techniques for beginners with Skillshare

Happiness Project: Watercolor Painting with Skillshare

February 20, 2017 By Jodi

Awhile ago, I decided to stock up on watercolor supplies. I bought a basic watercolor palette, brushes, and paper, and prepared to start painting. I remembered loving watercolor painting as a kid, and always wanting to learn how to actually use the paints as an adult. I even got a book, Water Paper Paint, so I'd have a guide. The best intentions,...

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Indulgent Blue Moodboard made with Photoshop for Dear Sabrina

Happiness Project: Learning with Skillshare

February 14, 2017 By Jodi

This month's happiness project is focused on learning. For once, I can report that it's going well so far! I wanted to work on my Swedish this month, and I've been listening to more talk radio and reading more books with the intention of comprehension (normally I skim the local newspaper with the intention of getting half...

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Swedish exercise books

Happiness Project Month 6: Learning

February 7, 2017 By Jodi

(Sorry for the short disappearance, friends. I started to feel sick late last week, which evolved into a pretty nasty stomach bug that hit over the weekend. After spending all day yesterday alternating between the bed and the couch and trying to rehydrate, I'm feeling a bit better today and trying to get back into the...

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Empty bench in park by James Pond

Happiness Project Month 5 Wrap-Up

February 1, 2017 By Jodi

This month in my happiness project I wanted to give myself an attitude adjustment. I wanted to pause to enjoy the moment, and I wanted to work on my bad habit of complaining too much. I was fairly successful in my first goal but less so in my second. It helped that I set myself up...

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About Jodi

I just repatriated from Sweden to the US with my British husband and three young kids. I started this site while living in Sweden to build the conversations and community we've had with loved ones around the world, and to create a space to share thoughts about life, beauty, motherhood, and everything else. read more →

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An Alternative to Journaling: Micro-Journaling

April 3, 2017 By Jodi Leave a Comment

Stack of black Moleskine journals

In my footloose and fancy-free days, I whiled away a lot of hours in cafes, drinking tea (later lattes) and scribbling in a journal. I've got a stack of classic black Moleskines to prove it. I'd paste in ticket stubs and magazine images, copy down quotes, and, of course, reflect on whatever was going on in my life at the time....

Read More

Some Thoughts on the Postpartum Period

March 10, 2017 By Jodi 13 Comments

Early days at home with newborn

Little Bing-Bong is ten days old today. We've been home for eight of those, adjusting to life as a new family of five—mostly this means adjusting to being the mother of a newborn again. I was inspired by this post on one of my favorite blogs, Reading My Tea Leaves, to share with you what this...

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Rainy Day Reads

September 28, 2016 By Jodi Leave a Comment

when-breath-becomes-air-book

Today is the first rainy day we've had in weeks, and I'm loving it. I don't feel any pressure to go out for a walk or admire the view: I feel perfectly okay sitting inside, reading and sipping tea (there's probably a nap happening this afternoon, too). While I'm terrified of the long winter to come, today...

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Fuck You, Fox News

November 15, 2016 By Jodi 8 Comments

Birds flocking in dark sky

Despite the timing and the title, I want to state upfront that this post has nothing to do with the recent election. This post is entirely personal, not political. I have had a hard time mourning my father’s death. In recent years we had grown distant, as distant emotionally as we were physically; an ocean stood between us, and...

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About Dear Sabrina

Welcome! Dear Sabrina is a lifestyle blog for the thinking woman (and man, if men read lifestyle blogs). I hope that visiting this site gives you something to think about, makes you laugh, or shows you something new. If you want to further connect, find me on one of networks below or send an email.
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