Don’t underestimate the power of nostalgia. When you swap stories about the Bad Prom of 1989 or the Amazing Cross-Country Trip of 1971 with others, you view yourself in a more positive light and form tighter bonds, says Dan Buettner, the author of Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way (National Geographic, $26, amazon.com), a book about the happiest regions in the world. He also recommends “land-mining your home with photos and memorabilia, so you’re constantly reminded of your history.” Adorning a hallway or a highly trafficked room with sentimental objects is a good way to start. (See, Grandma knew what she was doing.)
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