Happy Thursday

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

Dalai Lama

In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:

• The eco case for the ice cream cone

• What the happiest people do differently

• The secret to delicious coffee

• Why you should pack your own plane snacks

The Eco Case for the Ice Cream Cone

Let’s settle the cup versus cone debate once and for all, or at least give you one more reason to pick a side. On a hot day, reaching for a cup feels harmless enough. It turns out the cone has been the better choice all along.

Here’s the thing about that paper cup: it’s usually lined with a thin plastic coating to keep it from getting soggy, which means it’s harder to recycle than it looks, and it usually comes with a plastic spoon to match. A cone skips all of that. You eat the whole thing, and there’s nothing left to toss but maybe a napkin.

If you want to take it a step further, a couple of small choices make a real difference too. Supporting a local ice cream shop often means the dairy traveled less to get to your cone, and trying a dairy-free flavor now and then cuts down on emissions too.

So next time someone at the counter asks cup or cone, you’ve got your answer, and a pretty tasty excuse to give it.

What the Happiest People Do Differently

If you had to guess what the happiest people have in common, money or a stress-free life might come to mind first. Neither one holds up. Decades of research keeps pointing somewhere else entirely.

Harvard has been following the same group of people for over 80 years, making it the longest-running happiness study in the world, and one thing shows up again and again: good relationships matter most. Not a huge friend group, and not a perfect life. Just people who feel genuinely connected to a few others tend to handle stress better and stay healthier as they age.

The happiest people also tend to keep showing up for the small stuff. A quick call to a friend, a standing dinner with family, actually being present during a conversation instead of half listening. None of it is glamorous, and that’s exactly the point.

Here's the part that might surprise you: the healthiest relationships aren't drama-free. What matters is feeling safe enough to disagree, say how you really feel, and work through it afterward instead of avoiding it. That kind of trust does more for you than a relationship that just looks perfect from the outside.

So if you're looking for the secret, it might just be the phone call you've been meaning to make, or choosing to repair the one disagreement you've been letting sit.

Why You Should Pack Your Own Plane Snacks

You know that moment when the snack cart rolls by and you eye the tiny bag of pretzels like it’s a real meal? There’s a good reason it never quite satisfies, and it’s not just the portion size.

Cabin air is dry and low in pressure, which dulls your sense of smell and taste. Food scientists say sweet and salty flavors can drop by nearly a third at cruising altitude, which is exactly why airline food tends to taste bland even when it’s stacked with extra salt. Packing your own food skips that problem, and it usually skips a pile of plastic-wrapped snacks too.

A few things that actually hold up well in the air:

• Pasta salad with lemon and parmesan, since acidity brightens flavor at altitude

• Hummus with veggies or crackers, easy to pack in a reusable container

• A yogurt parfait with granola, or an egg salad sandwich

• Roasted chickpeas or edamame for something crunchy and savory

Just double check TSA’s rules on liquids and any restrictions your airline has before you pack. And honestly, bringing your own bag also means less last-minute waste from foil wrappers and mini plastic trays. That feels like a pretty easy win for a smoother flight.

Quick Picks

• 📚 The right way to clean your bookshelf

• ☕ How to try coffee from around the world every month

• 🌟 Kids are surprisingly hopeful about the future

• 🥞 The best breakfast food in every state