Monday, December 6, 2010

15% More Happiness at least 65 days a year

That’s what I am giving my husband for Christmas.  And as I pointed out to him, that’s a lot of happiness!  I decided to give him an automatic car starter.  When I told him he demurred.  “In two years I’ll buy a car with it.”  He told me.  But I reminded him that 1.  He hates to be cold.  2.  We live in Massachusetts where it is, in fact, cold.  3.  He would miss out on a lot of happiness.  4.  I thought it would be a good idea.

He eventually agreed.  Then I asked him if he wanted me to take the car in or if he was going to do it.  He had already made a couple of calls he told me.  So unless my little plan falls through, he will take care of buying his present for me.  That increases my happiness 7% on the day he does it and by 3% at least 65 days a year when I feel like a kind and devoted wife who is very concerned about her husband’s happiness and that I, in fact, am making a difference in his happiness levels.

So really, we are looking at an upfront increase of happiness of 7% with an average of 18% increase in happiness other days (on very cold days I expect even more happiness!  Well, minus his increased unhappiness at the temperature.  Hmmm, maybe that’s a wash.).  At a very low cost to me in terms of effort.

(I wonder, if I nag him to do it, will the nagging decrease his happiness level?  And if so should I include that in the equation?)

5 comments:

Floortime Lite Mama said...

I bet he will love it
Its such a great idea

Life as the mother of 4 said...

Thank you, I decided I was 2.3% more brilliant than I previously suspected myself of being by thinking of it. ;-)

Big Daddy Autism said...

Combining math and gift giving in this post made me 9.4% happier than before I read it.

However, realizing I do not have an automatic car starter made me 7.4% sadder.

But, realizing I live in Florida made 4.6% happier.

In the end, I am 6.6% happier then I was about 5 minutes ago.

Life as the mother of 4 said...

Big Daddy, your comment made me 3.14% ... wait that's actually pie ... moving on, 3.1% happier. My husband's gift now has an upfront increase of happiness of nearly 17%!! I truly must excel at gift giving. I now order you to take a nap and eat a snack to boost your happiness score even higher.

You're welcome!

Life as the mother of 4 said...

Wait did I type pie instead of pi? Oops. Maybe I'm hungry.

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