Finding Happiness

Gretchen Rubin's THE HAPPINESS PROJECT is her wonderful story of taking one whole year to find more fun and happiness in life.  She is beautifully honest in her successes as well as her failures.  I especially love that she clearly states that everyone's "Happiness Project" is/will be different.  She is simply sharing hers as an example and we can use her examples or not as we so choose....which is the way it should always be with projects/books such as hers.  Gretchen's ideas are certainly worthy of copying, but like her, what if I do really LOVE to watch tv while someone around me thinks that's it's "of the devil!"  Should I be ashamed that I LOVE watching tv (movies, in particular)?  Absolutely not.  If it's something I enjoy, something that makes me HAPPY, then I should enjoy it when I have an opportunity to--and receive the happiness from it!!!!  Anyone searching for my happiness in his/her life will more than likely enjoy reading Gretchen's story!

So much can change in JUST ONE YEAR

Completely fulfilling.  Wonderful.  Amazing.  Gayle Forman, you just keep outdoing yourself from one book to the next!  I just could NOT put JUST ONE YEAR down!  And now that I'm finished with that one, I'm going to read all of JUST ONE NIGHT tonight!

I love reading Willem's story.  It's so sad, yet so wonderful.  This series is a wonderful testament to the power that even one moment in time can and does have on us as well as the power of CHOICE mixed with fate/destiny.

In some ways, I wish the books were written as one so I could read the chapter where Allyson is in Mexico

on the beach at the exact same time that Willem is in Mexico on the same beach, yet still so far apart.  I not only SEE the two of them in the same place but missing one another by "that much," but more importantly, I FEEL it.  And I know that meeting in Mexico is not the right time or place, but that it WILL happen for the two of them.

It's so wonderful how each of them finds him/herself on their journey to find each other again.  It's beautiful how you tell the story of these smart, yet in some ways very insecure and thus stupid, young people who learn that there is more to life than letting life take you where it will.  Sometimes, we have to take life by the horns for ourselves and make our own CHOICES and see what happens as a result rather than letting things happen to us or because of the choices others make for us.

I also love how Willem learns so much more about himself and his family on his journey to find "Lulu."  He learns truth and is able to have powerful, wonderful relationships with the people around him who have always loved him.  Because he was always running, he never knew how much.

I LOVE the way you write, Gayle Forman.  I can't wait to read the next book and everything else you've every written!!!!  As well as anything and everything you write in the future!!!!!!!!!