Lemonada.

Hello and welcome to Happier, a podcast where we talk about ideas for making our lives

happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative.

This week we'll talk about why it may be worthwhile to spend the time and energy to turn an

acquaintance into a friend, and we'll discuss a lesson in happiness that we learn from our parents.

Thank you. I'm Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, good habit, the open door, also known as the empty nest, and human nature.

I am here in my little home office in New York City, and joining me today from Los Angeles is my sister, Elizabeth Craft.

That's me, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in L.A. and Gretchen, I wish I were in New York. Our parents are visiting you.

Yeah, we went for a walk in Central Park this morning. We really wish you were here. But first, before we jump in,

we got some interesting updates from listeners. Yes, this comes from Michelle. She says, I was fascinated with the podcast topic about don't volunteer to deliver bad news. I'm a

pharmacist. I deliver bad news all day long. I give people messages they don't want to hear, such as we are still waiting to hear from your doctor.

To this product is not covered by your insurance. It's awful. I don't like conflict. My days are filled with conflict.

The next time your pharmacist delivers bad news, remember, don't shoot the messenger.

P.S. I actually love my current pharmacy job. I work in a community health center.

Well, that's a good reminder that just because somebody is bearing the bad news, don't take it out on them.

They may have nothing to do with whatever it is that you're unhappy about.

And it's certainly no fun to be the delivery person.

Yes. And some people don't have a choice. That's right. And this comes from Katie. This is funny.

Just by way of introduction, if people don't know, I'm writing about the emptiness phase.

My daughter Eleanor just left for college a few weeks ago. But I am reframing it as the open door, which I think is a

much better metaphor for the empty nest. And Katie writes, it cracks me up when you say the open

door phase to describe you and your husband during the emptiness phase. We've used that term for

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