The 17th century Chinese writer Chin Shengtang was once stranded in a temple during a rainstorm for three days with a friend. While thus secluded, the pair compiled their list of the 33 best moments in life. This delightful literary project is called Chin’s 33 Happy Moments, and you can do it yourself. Just describe a happy moment, and then write, “ah, is this not happiness!” at the end.

In Chin’s Happy Moments No 2, future wealth is sacrificed to present pleasure.

2. A friend, one I have not seen for ten years, suddenly arrives at sunset. I open the door to receive him, and without asking whether he came by boat or by land, and without bidding him to sit on the bed or the couch, I go to the inner chamber and ask my wife: “Have you got a gallon of wine like Su Tungp’o’s wife?”

My wife gladly takes out her gold hairpin to sell it. I calculate it will last us three days. [That’s two bottles per day per person.]

Ah, is this not happiness?

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