With the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and the cultural prioritization of ambition and achievement that we all live with, it can be hard to find a person — much less a book — that teaches you the importance of seeking out, not accomplishments, but true joy. It seems strange, at first: after all, don’t we all want to be happy? Maybe so, but a rare few of us prioritize it on a daily basis. If you’re interested in changing this in your life, then “Live Happy: Ten Practices for Choosing Joy,” may just teach you how.

“Live Happy,” published by Deborah K. Heisz and the editors of Live Happy Magazine, posits that happiness is, according to a 2005 study, 50 percent genetics, 10 percent environment, and 40 percent choice. While a big chunk of happiness comes from things that are beyond our influence, that 40 percent of control over our own emotions is key to a positive outlook.

The book also offers an even more intriguing insight into why so many people who believe that they are seeking out happiness end up missing the mark: most are going about it backwards. “Research shows that, although getting exactly what you’ve always wanted doesn’t ensure happiness, your odds for realizing your dreams improve significantly when you’re happy,” reads the introduction. Being happy allows you to thrive, to use your skills and talents to become fulfilled. Seeking out what you want won’t ensure your happiness, in other words, but being happy will allow you to fulfill your wildest dreams.

The book’s pages are filled with 40 real-life stories that align with one of ten tenants of happiness, defined by the book as follows: attitude, connection, meaning, creativity, gratitude, mindfulness, health, resilience, spirituality, and giving back. The stories come from such famous names as Jason Mraz, Hoda Kotb, Alanis Morissette, and Arianna Huffington, and touch on tools used by these and other people to search for — and find — happiness. Each major section contains several stories, followed by a “Get Happy” section, encouraging the reader to take concrete steps to fulfill this particular tenant of happiness.

The book masquerades as a self-help book, but it is truly an inspirational book. It is not the sort of tome you need to read from beginning to end, but rather the kind of book to give a permanent place on your coffee table, so that you can pick it up and read one of the stories at random to reinforce your own search for happiness, when you feel you need it most.

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Image care of Live Happy

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Musicians Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson, both avid conservationists, are letting their voices be heard when it comes to dredging the Great Barrier Reef.

Both artists are working with Sierra Club in their online #SaveTheReef campaign. The world famous reef is home to more than 30 marine species like Bottlenose dolphins, Humpback whales, and Green and Loggerhead turtles. The reef is at risk as a result of a massive proposed coal mining project.

“I’m lucky enough to have explored the Great Barrier Reef firsthand, and feel we must do all we can to prevent irreversible damage to this incredibly diverse environment,” says Jack Johnson, a musician, avid surfer, and environmentalist.

The proposed Carmichael coal mine construction would involve dredging 3 million tons of seabed from the bottom of the reef. The dredging not only puts Australia’s $6 billion tourist industry at risk, it could also threaten the crystal clear waters around the reef. Dredging is done so that large coal, gas, and bulk carriers can access ports, but it threatens to destroy water quality and surrounding seagrass beds.

The area is a sensitive breeding ground for turtles and dugongs. Plus, the practice, which would dig up sediment from the bottom of the reef, is known to increase the risk of coral diseases like white syndrome, which causes coral tissues to fall off.

“As a surfer, I enjoy the ocean and want to protect it. As a badass, I know there are better ways to generate energy and burning coal is not one of them,” says Jason Mraz, also a musician, surfer, and environmentalist. “Wake up and tell polluters we don’t want the barrier reef destroyed for profit. Wtf!”

Some U.S. taxpayers would also unknowingly be supporting the project because Adani, the Indian company financing the plan, has requested additional funding from the U.S. Export – Import Bank, ExIm. According to Sierra Club, other banks including Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Credit Agricole, and JPMorgan Chase have rejected the plan because of the potential damage it can do to a World Heritage Site.

“At a time when the Reef’s fragile and priceless ecosystem is already under siege from existing carbon pollution and increasing ocean temperatures, the last thing the world needs is yet another expensive, destructive coal project,” said John Coequyt, director of the Sierra Club’s International and Federal Climate Program in a statement. “We’ve already seen other leading financial institutions back away from this reckless project, and it’s time Ex-Im use U.S. tax dollars responsibly and follow suit.”

If you want to protect the Great Barrier Reef from destruction, go to the #SaveTheReef campaign and sign the petition. You can also help spread the word but tweeting out the petition and recruiting others to sign it as well.

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Aerial image of the Great Barrier Reef from Shuttershock

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Jason Mraz

When I got an  email from Bahar Shahpar that she’d be styling singer Jason Mraz at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, I didn’t realize how little I knew about the singer, though I’ve heard his catchy songs many a time.

Some of you might be better-informed fans of this Grammy winner, but did you know he’s a committed sustainable activist?

Like, ridiculously so. Maybe we’re soul mates.

Here’s a quick rundown of Mr. Mraz:

1. Co-founder of Blend Apparel, a line of bamboo T-shirts.

2. He recently published his first book titled a thousand things, printed on Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper that’s 20 percent recycled and wood-free. The book also happens to be word-free: it’s a collection of Polaroids.

3. His tour bus is an 80/20 biodiesel bus.

4. Information at his concert’s merch table lets you know how you can get Jason Mraz organic merchandise, how he makes conscious choices on the road, how you can participate in greening your community or select brands that are doing something to help the environment.

5. Thanks to living in  San Diego and dealing with water pollution, he’s an active member of the Surfrider Foundation.

6. He also owns an organic avocado farm in Northern San Diego County.

Next thing you’re going to tell me, Jason, is that you were immaculately conceived from a tree. I’m on to you.

While his third album release with lead single from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, “Make It Mine,” won Best male Pop Vocal performance and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for “Lucky,” his duet with Colbie Caillatalso, Mraz didn’t shirk from putting importance on what he wore when he accepted.

Here is Shahpar’s rundown of his duds at the event:

EcoGir Suit by Simon Carter
·         Made from recycled polyester/wool
·         About 25 plastic bottles are used to make one suit
·         Machine washable

Organic cotton Shirt by Culturata
·         Made in Italy using no pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, fragrances or dyes

Tie by Sonic Fabric
·         Made from recycled cassette tapes

Handmade Shoes by Osborn Design
·         Handmade by local artisans in Guatemala
·         Made using local and vintage materials

How did she get the gig styling Mraz?

Shahpar says she met him at the EMAs (Environmental Media Awards) in October 2009 when he received the 2009 Missions in Music Award.
Having been a stylist since the beginning of her career in fashion over a decade ago, she’s found many opportunities to work with clients who share her passion for promoting beautiful, responsibly produced pieces.

“Clothing is such an intimate part of our lives, and dressing someone can be a telling window into who someone is,” says Shahpar, “So it is often a very personal experience – and incredibly rewarding when you’re able to help them be a better version of themselves.”

A better version, Bahar? In the case of Jason, we’re already talking sainthood!

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