Reading · Happy on Purpose

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plus, a witty new book, intriguing shows, and an honest conversation about how hard happiness can be...

Welcome to Happy on Purpose, a bestselling newsletter about happiness, habits, and midlife. Tap the ❤️ button to spread the joy!

Dear Happy on Purpose friends,

In the two weeks since the last newsletter, I’ve enjoyed vacation with extended family and had a lot of fun playing tennis and mahjong, but mostly, I have been preoccupied with how to balance writing Happy on Purpose with my new endeavor, Tennisette.

I’m still wrestling with it.

As a young person, I was regularly told how much “potential” I had, and the truth is, at 51, I am not satisfied that I have fulfilled that promise. One of my most precious goals is to create a financially successful, sustainable business based on my creativity.

This is a hard and lofty aim, but I want to prove to myself (and show my children) that you can forge a successful career—and life—when you follow your passion and purpose.

I had that goal firmly in mind when I launched Tennisette in June. After four years of writing Happy on Purpose, as a creative outlet and way to learn about the media world, I wanted to take everything I’d learned and put it to the test. And it’s working: Tennisette is growing steadily, earning praise (my personal favorite: “I don’t even play tennis and I love this newsletter!”), and I’m deeply engaged in figuring out what avid tennis-playing women want.

But here’s the rub: I’m prone to perfectionism, and if I’m not careful, I can turn my life into a joyless grind. I want to give both Tennisette and Happy on Purpose my all—and be present for my family and take care of myself—and I’m worried about burning out and blowing everything up.

I don’t have any answers yet: no tidy list of ways to avoid burnout after doubling your workload. Which is a troubling turn of events for someone who typically has a LOT of advice to give…

Instead, I’m following a piece of wisdom my therapist has given me at times when I’m unsure what to do: “Follow the energy.” It sounds woo-woo, but it’s a reminder to stop overthinking—another thing I’m prone to—and trust my intuition and feelings.

I’m hoping to find a way to maintain Happy on Purpose and my precious connection with you while growing Tennisette. This may mean shorter or less frequent newsletters, taking on a collaborator, guest writers, or something else I haven’t thought of. If you have ideas, I’m all ears!

In the meantime, I’ve been dying to tell you about the books, shows, and movies I’ve loved lately, and a truly meaningful conversation with a friend.

Finally, I’m casting around for a new book, if you happen to have read something great that you’d recommend! Until next time, xo Amelia

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📺WATCH. My current TV line-up consists of two female-driven thrillers: Lucky, a thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy, based on a bestselling book, and Furious, starring Emmy Rossum as a detective in search of a female serial killer. They’re both gripping! For something lighter, I laughed out loud several times during The Dink, a silly pickleball vs. tennis movie with many celebrity cameos, including John McEnroe, who is truly hilarious! I ate a LOT of popcorn during The Odyssey (it’s 3 hours long!) at the theater—it was an impressive blockbuster, but a little lacking in emotional and intellectual depth. I also saw The Invite, starring Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Ed Norton: it’s a comedy of manners about marriage, both funny and very racy! I’m intrigued to watch The Shards, Ryan Murphy’s latest limited series based on a Bret Easton Ellis book, starring Cindy Crawford’s daughter plus Richard Gere’s son, and Ted Lasso’s new season…

🎧LISTEN. I loved chatting with my friend, Paige Nolan, a sought-after life coach, writer, and gratitude expert, on her podcast. My favorite part of the conversation was about the pursuit of happiness as a daily struggle—it’s impossible to feel wonderful all the time and takes real work (I call it “feelings management”) to maintain a sense of equilibrium and stability. You can listen here or watch here (you’ll also glimpse my colorful basement office!).

📚READ. The Five Star Weekend limited series inspired me to finally read an Elin Hilderbrand novel. I chose 28 Summers (which was inspired by the classic Alan Alda movie, Same Time Next Year) because apparently it’s Elin’s favorite: I loved it, and am now yearning to visit Nantucket! My other standout books of the summer are Whistler and The Shampoo Effect, both of which made me feel like I really knew the characters, and most recently, Country People, by Daniel Mason, who also wrote North Woods. Country People is wonderful: it’s about a family of four who move from coastal California to the Vermont countryside, and it’s witty, funny, and clever. I highly, highly recommend it.

6 Daily Habits Women Over 50 Should Start Now for a Longer, Healthier Life: prunes and flossing surprised me!

What to wear on a European vacation—or to embrace la dolce vita at home: flowy dresses that show off shoulders, matching sets in Mediterranean-inspired prints, and accessories that stun!

How to Support Someone Without Giving Advice, According to Therapists. I found every one of these tips extremely helpful, especially: “If you're tempted to tell someone what you think they should do, ask a question instead,” and “You don’t need to fix their problem—you just need to stay with them long enough for them to feel understood,” and “Skip the silver lining.”

Here’s a hack for the next time you’re invited to a potluck and don’t have time to make something: a big bowl of ripe summer fruit (cherries! strawberries! blueberries!) is a lovely last-minute option.

Plus, two reader comments:

Says Amy on 5 Surprising Gratitude Practices That Actually Work: “My husband and I have had a morning ritual for the past 6 years that we love. During coffee early in the morning, we each list 3 things we’re grateful for—anything—big or small—then one thing we’re looking forward to during that day. One personal goal (make better choices for lunch!) and one business goal. Then we say a prayer. I started writing our answers down in a meeting calendar book. We love this time together each morning!!”

Says Ceridwen on 101 Hobbies Proven to Make You Happier, Healthier, and Sharper: “I was once talking to a psychologist, and she talked about the life pie chart. She said if your pie chart is a majority of one thing and that thing is difficult, or it’s good, but it could get taken away (i.e., if you are a runner but you get injured or your work changes), then you struggle more. She said if your pie chart is filled with more things, you tend to be happier.”

Note: I only recommend products I genuinely like and have often bought for myself. I may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you if you buy something I recommend.

Shh! When the Advice Giver Needs Advice...

Note: I only recommend products I genuinely like and have often bought for myself. I may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you if you buy something I recommend.

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