Happier with Gretchen Rubin A Little Happier: Do You Get Rattled Before Starting a Journey? Consider This Ritual.
Feb 2, 2026
A cozy piece on a Russian travel ritual where family members sit on suitcases to calm nerves before departing. Short reflections on shared slow-reading of War and Peace and how rituals help with transitions. Practical benefits like checking belongings and offering brief loving words are highlighted.
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Sitting On Suitcases Ritual
- Gretchen Rubin describes the Russian ritual of "sitting on suitcases" before travel as a calming family practice.
- She recounts how it turns frantic departures into quiet reflection and may reveal forgotten items.
Rituals Ease Transitions
- A brief shared ritual shifts mood from frantic to calm and prepares minds for transition.
- Rituals create space to acknowledge relationships and say loving words before separation.
Pause Together Before Departing
- Try sitting together in silence for a few moments before leaving on a trip to calm and focus.
- Use that pause to mentally prepare, check forgotten items, and say a few loving words.
