I'm Gretchen Rubin and this is a little happier.

I love to reread books and recently I picked up a wonderful book that I'd read before

and I ended up reading quite a bit of it again without really intending to.

The book, Julia Child's memoir, My Life in France.

Julia Child was an American chef and author and she's credited with creating an enormous wave

of interest in French cuisine with her 1961 cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

In her memoir, she describes her first move to France when her husband was transferred there,

how she fell in love with France and French food and how she became utterly absorbed in learning

about French cooking and in cookbook writing. I must confess that I have very little interest

in the ruling passion of Julia Child's life. Food has never been very interesting to me.

I love certain foods, of course, but I like very plain food best,

diner food. I don't get much of a kick from visiting new restaurants or from eating a wonderfully

cooked meal. Some people love exploring farmers markets or learning about foods origins or cooking.

Not me. One of the sad aspects of a happiness project for me was to be Gretchen

and to admit to myself that this area of experience so vibrant for so many people leaves me cold.

Even so, I love this book. It doesn't matter that I don't care about cooking her food.

Julia Child's enthusiasm, her love of her subject and the zest with which she tackled even the

drudgery involved, her respect for the masters in her field and her curiosity constantly to learn

more swept me along. Enthusiasm is a terrific quality. The more I think about happiness,

the more I value enthusiasm. It can seem cooler and smarter to be ironic, detached or critical,

and is certainly much easier and safer to adopt that sort of stance. But enthusiasm is more fun.

Enthusiasm is generous, positive, energetic, and social. It's outward turning and engaged.

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