”He did a lot of talking. To be honest, I was still too stunned by his beauty to contribute much anyway. There was nothing more interesting to me in that moment than this situation that I found myself in, so he could talk all he liked. Eventually, when I mustered the ability to open my mouth to speak without vomiting from anxiety, I spotted the waitress carrying a plate of pancakes to a girl sitting one seat down, to my right, within his eye line.”

“Yia Yia kept these memories tightly bound as she returned to the United States, married my grandfather and had two children while running a restaurant that only closed twice a year. She did this while simultaneously balancing the demands of wife and mother. She baked all-American pies during the day, and spinach pies at home, rolling out fresh filo dough to satisfy visiting family and friends, to whom she was widely considered the life of the party, the conductor of a symphony of laughter, dancing, and food.” 

“If You're into Self-Help and Bettering Yourself, Listen to By the Book

Keep your personal-growth game strong, even when you’re not working on Happify tracks! Hilarious and endearing hosts Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer take the most popular and well-known self-help books, live by their tenets for two weeks, and record their experiences along the way.”

“Laughter goes beyond immediately improving your mood. People who laugh more reap a multitude of health and social benefits, like a longer lifespan and a greater ability to foster connections with others. Since most of us can't sit next to our funniest friend all day long, podcasts that make us laugh can have a special place in our routine. If you’re having a rough day, listening to a funny podcast while you’re in the midst of mind-numbing work, a boring treadmill run, or a long commute can brighten your mood and make the time melt away.”

“If You Want Some Light Schadenfreude, Watch Worst Cooks in America, Hulu

Schadenfreude is the German word for, “happiness at the misfortune of others,” but the contestants of Worst Cooks in America take their mistakes and criticisms in stride. Each season features home cooks who are short on skills in the kitchen but have tons of enthusiasm and are eager to learn. Some mistakes are catastrophic and shocking to their celebrity-chef hosts, but it’s taken in good humor and light-hearted competition. It’s also inspiring to see the contestants learn new skills.”

“But as the days got shorter and the public health of our nation worsened, it became increasingly difficult to accomplish anything. I felt endlessly exhausted, and the collective trauma we've all felt living through a pandemic made me extra distracted and unfocused. Frankly, the only thing that became easier was beating myself up for not getting more done, which only made me feel worse and sapped my motivation even more.”