Chip and Dean Heath's New Book On How To Make Every Day Extraordinary Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Close
Seize the Moments
A new book offers advice on how to make the everyday extraordinary
Authors Chip Heath (left) and Dan Heath (right) Henry Medina Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. We talked with Dan Heath, who offers a few tips: Break the Script br
Ask yourself, why are the years between the ages of 15 and 30 so memorable for most people? Because they are filled with firsts, says Heath. “First kiss, first time away from parents, first job, first apartment, first marriage, first baby.” Although routines can be comfortable, novelty makes moments memorable. That’s . “New place, new bed, new food, doing new things. … When you disrupt your normal routines, you lay down a richer set of memories.” Courtesy of Simon and Schuster Heath’s advice: Mix up your usual weekend routine or tweak your holiday traditions. If you usually go for brunch and take a nap on a Saturday, consider a day trip to a nearby city. Contact old friends. Find a new park to visit. “It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be different.” There's no need to take memory making to extremes, however. "A little bit of variety can go a long way," he says. "You want enough novelty to keep things fresh and to keep creating new memories without feeling the need to generate some kind of dislocation. ... It would be very easy to create a really memorable experience by divorcing your spouse and moving to Botswana and herding cattle, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea." Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > It s Not About You
If you want to create special moments with people you love, you need to be responsive to what they want and how they see themselves. “One size doesn’t fit all,” says Heath. For example, if you have an adventurous young person in your life, plan an overseas trip together, or meet an outdoorsy person for a hike. He points to a grandmother who took her 18-month-old granddaughter to a show starring Barney the dinosaur, complete with a backstage pass. "For this little girl it was magic, " he says. Be attuned to the other person, not yourself. Say Thank You
The absolute best way to create an incredible, unforgettable memory? “Conduct a visit." Think of a person who made a difference in your life; then write a letter to the individual expressing thanks for what he or she has done for you. After you write the letter, visit the person and read the letter aloud. The result will be a deeply moving experience for both the recipient and the letter writer. “You will be on cloud nine after the visit for a month,” promises Heath. More on entertainment AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS