In separate segments from 2012 to 2019, the author circumambulates the United States as she walks 10,000 miles while interviewing people she meets about what makes them happy. She walks on behalf of the Gross National Happiness Project.
Paula Francis grew up in a quintessential sixties neighbor- hood during the bellbottom years but, to her chagrin, notearly enough to be a Woodstock hippie. With a thrifty father, a mother who struggled with depression, and a family that chased UFOs, her childhood years set the stage for spiritual seeking and pursuit of a meaningful life. Her tumultuous youth propelled her to move around the country. She eventually settled in Vermont, where she raised a family and continued a professional career in the field of developmental disabilities.Paula always looked to improve the lot of society, andboth her personal and professional lives focused on building conditions supportive of individual and community well-being. Later as executive director of a social-profit organization and then as a director within a philanthropic foundation, Paula sought to organize and lead change for improvement of service systems. With her background in addressing root causes of social conditions and results accountability, she co-founded Gross National Happiness USA in 2008.261Because of her interest in shifting the national conversation toward creating a thriving society, Paula's professional and life experiences led her to circumambulate the United States while interviewing people about what matters most in life.Paula has three adult daughters whom she assures readers she "loves to the moon and back."As the road continues to call to her, she has shifted to moving around the country on wheels rather than on calloused feet. Problematically, she says she remains committed to her search for the perfect doughnut.