Podcast 44: Drew Barrymore Gets Personal. And Happier. | Gretchen Rubin [Skip to content](#content) [  ](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com)
- December 23, 2015
# Podcast 44: Drew Barrymore Gets Personal. And Happier.
Happier with Gretchen Rubin
[Listen OnSpotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/3MSvM9tYjTnxgDeQaOmLSH)[Listen OnSOUNDCLOUD](https://soundcloud.com/panoply/happier-with-gretchen-rubin-drew-barrymore-gets-personal-and-happier/s-k2QJ8)[Listen OnPandora](http://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=41782945)
Ep. 44: Drew Barrymore Gets Personal. And Happier
Show Podcast Information
EPISODE NOTES
It’s time for the next installment of “[**Happier with Gretchen Rubin**](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/happier-with-gretchen-rubin/id969519520?mt=2&ls=1)[**.**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/happier-with-gretchen-rubin/id969519520?mt=2)”
#### **Try This at Home**
Have an **end-of-the-year ritual**. Let us know your ideas. We’re looking for good suggestions.
#### **Interview with [Drew Barrymore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Barrymore)**
Yowza! It was so much fun to meet her. Her new book is *[**Wildflower**](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1101983795/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1101983795&linkCode=as2&tag=thehappproj-20&linkId=HRWANYOKURSWGISJ)*. What a fascinating conversation.
As we discuss, Drew Barrymore’s sister-in-law is writer [**Jill Kargman**](http://www.jillkargman.com/welcome.html), who created and stars in the TV show *[**Odd Mom Out**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Mom_Out)*.
One of many highlights — Drew’s point about maternal instincts, when she wondered, **“When these maternal instincts kick in, are they going to be overarching, like a rainbow that comes across me, or more like Skittles on the floor?”** Rainbow or Skittles — a great metaphor for a complex point.
In our discussion of Drew’s personal symbol of “flower,” **I couldn’t resist mentioning my spiritual master, St. Therese**, who describes herself as a “little flower” in her memoir, [***The Story of a Soul***](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0935216588/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0935216588&linkCode=as2&tag=thehappproj-20&linkId=VFHV5MJHUBGCNP2X). Note that in the image below, Drew is indeed decked out in flowers.
We discuss the **Four Tendencies framework.** Drew revealed that she’s an **Obliger** — which is what I thought, from reading *[**Wildflower**](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1101983795/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1101983795&linkCode=as2&tag=thehappproj-20&linkId=HRWANYOKURSWGISJ)*. If you want to take the quiz to find out if you’re an **Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel**, [**take it here**](http://staging.gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2015/01/ta-da-the-launch-of-my-quiz-on-the-four-tendencies-learn-about-yourself/).
#### **Drew’s Try This at Home**
Drew writes in a journal to her daughters every day; she also suggests writing letters to your children on important days — and also ordinary days — keeping them in a box, and giving the box to your children when they turn eighteen. Such a great idea.
I was so thrilled to hear that my book [***The Happiness Project***](http://staging.gretchenrubin.com/books/the-happiness-project/about-the-book/) had struck such a chord with Drew. So gratifying.
By the way, the clip we play is from the movie [***The Wedding Singer***](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ELJAEM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000ELJAEM&linkCode=as2&tag=thehappproj-20&linkId=TEGBGSEFRQAUXGWE). You can watch [**here**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVmIsJuFOE8).
#### **Elizabeth’s Demerit**
Elizabeth hadn’t taken out her Christmas decorations yet, because a plastic sheet was covering the door of the closet — even though she could easily get through the plastic.
#### **Gretchen’s Gold Star**
I love temporary tattoos. So fun, so cheap, so easy, so delightful.
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# Like what you see? Explore more about this topic.
- [Four Tendencies](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/four-tendencies/), [Interview](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/interview/), [Parenting](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/parenting/), [The Happiness Project](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/the-happiness-project/)
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