Hello and welcome to Happier, a podcast that gives you ideas and tips for how to be happier.

This week we'll talk about why you should stop apologizing and why it's useful to think

about whether you prefer variety or familiarity.

I'm Gretchen Rubin, a writer whose study is happiness, good habits, and human nature.

I'm a New York City and with me in spirit is my sister Elizabeth Kraft, who is no longer

here with me in New York City.

And even though I rarely get to see her when she was here, I really like knowing that she

was nearby.

Aww, thanks, Gretchen.

That's me, Elizabeth Kraft, a TV writer and producer living in LA.

And Gretchen, now that I'm back home, I can report there's a leaf blower outside of

the window, which never happens in New York.

Both cities have their loud sound problems, but leaf blower is not one of the New York

City sounds.

So how is it to be back home?

It is so great.

I barely got to see Jack during those five weeks.

Coming home to him was just like euphoria.

Aww, yeah, really.

I missed him so much and Adam, but of course it's just a different.

Missing your child is different from missing your husband.

One good thing about being in New York for so long was truly, I think it cured me of

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