10 Steps to Happiness

Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee,

I've lost about 20 pounds, which was my goal. But, my stomach area is still flabby. I do stomach crunches, so what more can I do?

Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee,

I often think of my college friend with whom I haven't had contact in over 5 years. We just drifted apart, so there are no hard feelings or anything like that. Would it okay to write my friend after all these years to see how she's doing, or would she think I was strange given all the years that have passed without any communication? I'm not sure why I want to contact her, but it's been on my mind.

Signed,

Thinking of Friend

Dear Thinking of Friend,

It would be a very nice gesture on your part to reconnect the friendship no matter how many years have passed. It is not unusual to want to contact old friends when you still have positive feelings about them. Even great friendships can drift apart when lives go in different and busy directions.

Contacting a friend whom you haven't seen for awhile is one of the "10 Steps to Happiness" that resulted from an experiment conducted in the United Kingdom in the town of Slough. The BBC had a television series on the happiness project called "Making Slough Happy" (BBC, 2005).

According to the study, the 10 Steps to Happiness are:

1. Plant something and nurture it.

2. Count your blessings - at least five - at the end of each day.

3. Take time to talk - have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week.

4. Phone a friend whom you have not spoken to for a while and arrange to meet up.

5. Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it.

6. Have a good laugh at least once a day.

7. Get physical - exercise for half an hour three times a week.

8. Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day.

9. Cut your TV viewing by half.

10. Spread some kindness - do a good turn for someone every day.

For more information on the happiness project in Slough, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4436482.stm