Books (or at least my books) seem to be born of a collective effort. For inspiration, exertion, encouragement, and clarity I’d like to thank Joy Harris, Bob Miller, Mark Matousek, Mary Ellen O’Neill, Ambika Cooper, and the many people who so openly told me their stories of work, whether full of happiness or not so much.
Mirabai Bush, Lesley Booker, Maia Duerr, Mudita Nisker, Dan Clurman, Ellen Carton, and Kristin Neff generously offered exercises and reflections that have been tested and refined through their own years of work helping people be clearer and happier.
Many years ago, Margaret Wheatley helped change the way I viewed organizations. I’ve been moved, too, by her latest work and the inclusion of the distress, even despair, many feel at work.
Diana Rose, cofounder of the Garrison Institute, with creativity and generosity, created and sustained a program bringing yoga and meditation to domestic violence shelter workers, which opened up my understanding of resilience (and enabled me to meet some really extraordinary women).
Books by Dan Goleman, Michael Carroll, and Chade-Meng Tan have greatly enhanced the application of mindfulness to the workplace.
My gratitude to the staff and members of New York Insight who created a forum for exploring issues of happiness at work, and Betty Rogers and the people who gathered in DC to help me continue that exploration.
Ai–jen Poo, director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the codirector of Caring Across Generations, is an inspiration. Her work is a reminder that respecting the dignity of all is the basis for a society to move forward in justice and in love.
And a nod to my own small meditation group, within which a variety of interesting and challenging jobs are represented. You all give new meaning to “Keep calm and carry on.”