Monthly Archives: September 2014

Lucky Optimists

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
– Winston Churchill

Luck, they say, is the intersection of preparedness and opportunity.

Optimists find opportunities where pessimists find difficulties, according to Churchill.

This explains why optimists are luckier than pessimists.

The result is a virtuous cycle that helps us remain optimistic.

– Michael Gollin

 

Pursuit of Happiness, No. 3

The Pursuit of Happiness Game
Michael Gollin
August 2014

 

I adapted this from “I went on a trip and in my grandmother’s trunk I put….”  We used to play that on family car trips when I was growing up.

For 3 or more players who are able to be together and put away their phones for a while. Try with family and friends, for example on a long car trip, as we did. You will be surprised.

The first person says: What makes me happy is (pick an item beginning with the letter A).
The second person says: What makes me happy is (repeat the first person’s A item and pick an item beginning with B).
The third person says: What makes me happy is (repeat the first person’s A item, the second person’s B item, and pick an item beginning with C).

And continue so on around the group to Z.

Saying what makes you happy, hearing what makes others happy, and memorizing and repeating this communal list as part of the game is a good way to pass time happily and learn something about what each of you like.

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