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

our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative.

This week is our annual gift guide episode, because we are entering into the gift giving season.

Thank you. I'm Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, good habits, human nature.

I'm in New York City in my little home office, and joining me today from Los Angeles is my sister Elizabeth Kraft.

And Elizabeth, you have taught me the value of personalization when it comes to gift giving.

That's me, Elizabeth Kraft, a TV writer and producer living in L.A. And yes, Gretch, I love a monogram.

You know I do.

You sure do.

Grutch, before we dive in, I was so excited you had such a great piece that came out in the Atlantic.

Yeah, no, it was super exciting. It's called Abandon the Empty Nest, instead tried the Open Door, and it was so gratifying to write it and sort of work through my thoughts and my emotions and really get them down on paper.

It was really a joy to write that.

Yes. And there were so many things that we've talked about that I saw then come through in the article.

Will you read a quote from it?

Okay. I tend to push hard feelings aside. Here, the open door metaphor also proved useful,

reminding me to stay open to contradictory emotions.

So many things can be true at once.

Yes, I recognize that everything I've been going through falls into the category of cliche, and yes, the experience has felt startling and unexpected.

Since the day Eleanor headed off to kindergarten, I've planned and

hoped for this transition, yet it still seems sudden. I want my daughters to know they are essential

to my happiness and that my happiness does not depend on them. My world feels smaller and bigger.

That's the part that made me teary, Grudge. Oh, well, thank you. Well, I'll post a link

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