i’m coming to the end of my summer on the boat, and while i was packing up some books to send home, i came across the happiness project. you may remember that i have written about it in the past, and i was pretty gung ho about having that book with me at all times to increase my chances of restarting my own happiness project.
that book – sadly – has sat next to my bed for almost 6 months now, and i have only cracked it once. thinking back, i wondered… was it because i am – for the first time in a very long time – actually happy? or was it because i am finding better and more thought-consuming ways to spend my time?
a day on the boat breaks down to this: i wake up, do some small menial things around the bar, do the ny times crossword, have lunch, work til 145ish, take a nap/break, set the bar up, have dinner, work cocktail hour, work dinner, clean up the lounge, make drinks til 11. once i’m done, i grab a glass of wine, pick up my book and hang out with my coworkers for an hour or so, mostly until they all go to bed, then i relax alone until i can’t stay up any longer.
the point is, i am finding ways to be more in tune with myself. i’m not focused on the trivial things that could go wrong. i’m actively aware of my surroundings and happier for that. when i have a bad moment, i walk out to the fantail and watch the scenery go by. we may be on the river about to go through a lock, we may be in alaska whale-watching, or in baja watching pods of dolphins. this is my office.
i intend to reread the book at some point. and i intend to do more small things to increase my happiness, but for now, i think i am pretty happy. and that’s all that matters.