We explore the surprising benefits of swearing—from pain tolerance to social bonding—while also discussing why cutting back on cussing might still improve conversation quality and emotional climate. We share a listener hack for making a long, frequent car trip easier. We also consider a Know-Yourself- Better question about possessions, and we tackle a poignant listener question about maintaining family connections with adult children who seem to be creating unexpected distance after marriage.

Resources & links related to this episode:

• Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
• Join me on book tour starting April 1, 2025
• Profane Waste by Gretchen Rubin and Dana Hoey (Amazon, Bookshop)
• Four Tendencies quiz
• Sign-up for my newsletter
• Elizabeth is reading: Ready for Absolutely Nothing by Susannah Constantine (Amazon, Bookshop)
• Gretchen is reading: How It Feels When a Parent Dies by Jill Krementz (Amazon, Bookshop)

Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

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Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.