When I first read This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live by Melody Warnick, I tested out some of the recommendations in the book and found that they boosted my happiness with my home.
Now, in our first year in our new home, we’ve taken it to the next level. I re-read the book and marked so many pages, and we took some serious action. Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far…
We’ve walked to the farmers market several times and bought fresh produce (corn grown 20 miles from our home!) and flowers
We walked to a great restaurant downtown (1 mile away) and ate on their patio on a beautiful late summer evening
We’re exploring all the local pizza places
We’ve attended lectures with friends at a large local venue
I greet everyone I see on the running path (and sometimes we recognize each other)
We’ve taken family and friends for walks along the riverwalk in our town
We researched the history of our house
We bought vintage and handcrafted home goods from a wonderful local boutique
- I’ve walked to work
- We’ve gone to several local craft markets
- We stroll our historic neighborhood
- We’ve explored the cemetery nearest to our house and found the names of old local families
- We’ve visited the local history museum
- We stop and chat with neighbors
- We strolled around downtown during Second Fridays — when local businesses are open late
- We bought locally roasted coffee
- We bought and are reading books about our city’s history
All of these things have deepened our connection to our new town. It’s truly a boost to happiness, to the point that sometimes I just hum with joy.
As the Dear Man often says, with such warm fondness, “You love this town.” And I respond, “I love this town.” And then we smile. It’s like a civic commercial without an audience.
I’m grateful to Melody Warnick for providing such a fine road map to “love where you live” happiness.
What activities make you love the place you live?
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