Dear Gretchen Rubin

Over a year ago I purchased the book, The Happiness Project. I was attempting to find tools to help me with the loss I was feeling after both my parents passed away. I don't know why I thought that this would be an aid to me. The review I had read was positive and I knew the book was not about loss but in finding everyday happiness. I don't think that I thought it had a special remedy or magic but I was ready to try an overhaul that would last and work in my everyday life. I was consumed by the book as it broke down the happiness project into a span of a year. I tweaked the advice and implemented some of it into my life. Through the book I found the Happiness project blog. I was fascinated with Gretchen's blog. I had seen the movie Julie and Julia and loved the world that opened up to Julie in the movie. Now, I was reading Gretchen's blog when I came across an interview she had with Aidan, ivyleagueinsecurities.com . During the interview I loved the way Aidan spoke about her girls and the loss of her father. I clicked over to her blog and I was hooked, her writing was charming and authentic. That day her book Life After Yes was coming out and I went to the bookstore and bought a copy. As I kept on reading Aidan's blog I found comments of other bloggers and began reading their blogs as well. Belinda,thehalfwaypoint.net  was one of the blogs that inspired me. When I started my own blog I felt happiness. My life is full and busy and I was longing to write again. It has been a long time and my passion for writing had been put to sleep. There were always other things to do and to take care of. Now I found a community of people. Others sharing their life and struggles. It was wonderful. I had my insecurities about my blog and I still do,but the way I see it is this, as long as I am having fun and enjoying the conversation I will do it. I support others in this blogosphere. I have made comments and I am happy when comments are left on my blog. I have bought books and given books as gifts of authors that I read their blogs. I continue to have fun and to be inspired here everyday. I was a fierce protector of my privacy and now I find myself vulnerable in this space. I find myself opening up. I hope somehow that what I write and what I share will help someone else or inspire them. In conclusion ,yes, Ms. Gretchen Rubin in an unexpected way brought more happiness to my life.