consider this

we are not a big fan of the patented-and-costly self-help programs that purport to be the only way you can get to happy. in Finding Your Own North Star, however, columnist and sociologist (not sure which order she would prefer those in) martha beck actually hits on something so simple and beautiful it must be true.

here are beck's two rules for using joy to "chart a course toward your north star:"

• rule 1: if it brings you joy, do it.

• rule 2: no, really, if it brings you joy, do it.

it's probably best if your joy does not come from smoking heroin or butchering people, but if one seriously considers those pastimes, we trust that they could only be moderately fun, at best. the point here is that true joy can only come from doing or having or being that which is healthy, right, and yours.