Nine tiny joys, ten fixes, one love trick

🌞 Forget Stoicism, this life philosophy includes goofing, snacks, and coitus

Not all wisdom lives in marble halls.

Philosophy has earned a reputation: abstract concepts, ancient names, and shadowy caves. Also, togas. But in the digital wilds of X, Brooks Otterlake casually dropped a lifestyle framework that’s as joyful and modern as it is absurdly practical.

He called it The Nine Delights. The rule? Hit three a day, and you're doing life right.

It went viral for a reason. Fans say it’s reframed how they move through the world, one silly, soulful delight at a time. One person even color-coded their own sacred version and called it a religion.

You won’t find it in textbooks. But it might be the most doable philosophy ever written.

🧠 The 10 everyday habits secretly draining your joy

The Nine Delights tell you what you should be doing. But what about the things you shouldn’t?

Scrolling before you even leave bed? Living on DoorDash? Saying "yes" when your soul screams "no"? A licensed therapist and popular TikToker (@therapytothepoint) just dropped a list of 10 sneaky habits that are quietly wrecking your happiness, and the simple swaps that help.

Here are a few red flags to check off your list:

• Doomscrolling at dawn: Flooding your brain with content before you’ve even stretched? Try talking to a pet or making coffee in peace first.

• Staying indoors 24/7: Even five minutes of sunlight can reboot your mood.

• The ‘yes’ trap: People-pleasing your way into burnout? Saying no is self-care, not selfishness.

• Convenience eating: That fast food fix? It's dragging down your energy. Meal-prep some mood-boosters instead.

The other six bad habits? Oh, they’re just as real, and just as fixable.

💍 The secret ingredient to a 40-year marriage isn't sex, money, or trust

Turns out it’s something even simpler and way more sustainable.

We've shared nine things you ought to do for happiness and ten things you shouldn't do. Now we've got the one magic ingredient for marital longevity.

We’ve all heard the clichés: communication is key, never go to bed angry, keep the spark alive. But one Harvard professor and a chorus of longtime couples say the real secret to a happy, long-lasting marriage is… friendship.

Not just affection, not just attraction, actual, honest-to-goodness best-friend energy. Dr. Arthur Brooks calls it "companionate love" and says it’s what keeps relationships solid when the passion fades and the kids move out. The Gottman Institute backs it. So do Reddit’s wisest romantics. Turns out, liking your person might matter even more than loving them.

So what does that look like in the wild? Think: Denzel and Pauletta Washington (42 years), Elton and David (32), the Obamas (33). Yeah. They’re not just in love, they’re teammates.

Until tomorrow, may your doomscrolls be brief, your goofs be great, and your partner be your favorite person.