I’m writing this from a desk in a room on the 40th floor of a 5-star hotel.

It is one of my favorite places to work and write.  I have been here so many times now that it feels like home away from home.  My home away from home. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about why. 

There are (at least) three things that contribute to my mental clarity and rejuvenation here. 

1. The comfort of quieting the little nagging in my head of all the things I could be doing when I’m working at home.
2. The ability to write completely uninterrupted from a clean and beautiful suite.
3. The happiness of eating the best food on earth with the person I love the most. 

Comfort = quiet suite

Ability = writing

A bit of happiness = fancy dinners with Darren

What if we used that formula moving forward?

What if we found what brings us comfort, where we have some abilities, and what gets us some happiness along the way?

Robert Puff, Ph. D., says “There is a myth that happiness is only accessible through luck. If you’re lucky in life, you’re able to feel more happiness than most. I’m here to tell you that this is not true. We are all capable of creating our own happiness, even if it takes a bit of hard work and effort.”

Some of you, like my friend M.C., think better and feel calmer when you’re on a beach.  The water is comforting for her, she has the ability to host a huge spaghetti dinner – unfrazzled – in a rental house in a little beach town with all of her people there – true happiness for her!  I totally get it.  

Comfort = water

Ability = hosting

A bit of happiness = people

Some of you, like my sister Mo, get clarity and direction when you’re spending time in the mountains.  The mountain air is comforting to her, she has an ability to take photographs of animals and the landscapes and she experiences true happiness in sharing those photos with others.   I get that, too.

Comfort = mountains

Ability = photography

A bit of happiness = sharing

Some of you, like me, get your best clarity and rejuvenation looking out the window from the desk of a temperature controlled, spacious, and slightly opulent hotel suite. 

And some of you don’t need a home away from home – you find comfort in our own homes, use your uniquest (is that a word?) of abilities, and feel happiness in the most ordinary of places.  

I can’t wait to hear about how you’re finding your comfort, your ability, and your bits of happiness.  

And if you need help figuring them out, let me help you! You deserve all three. I would love to be your coach. 

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