I recently connected with Gwyneth Paltrow and explained to her how much I love goop. Being all that Gwyneth is, she has allowed me to write a piece for the site, which you are now hopefully about to read.

-mg

“First, let me say this is not
a recipe for Duck Ragu.”

Now that that’s out of the way, my name is Max Greenfield. I am an actor living in Los Angeles and currently play the role of “Schmidt” on Fox’s New Girl. I am husband to an amazing wife and father to an incredible two-year-old daughter. I am thirty-blah-blah-blah-years-old and have achieved the greatest goal one can achieve -- I am happy with my life.

How much of my happiness has to do with the fact that I now e-mail with GP? It’s definitely a percentage. Be it a small one, this is my truth and I am okay with it.

The remainder of my happiness is derived from one simple mantra: “Stop thinking, surrender and goop”. To the extent that I am able to do this, my life is perfect.

“How am I supposed to be 'Ready for Summer'
when I was never 'Ready for Spring'?”

Not thinking can be difficult. Surrender even more so. For example, how am I supposed to be “Ready for Summer” when I was never “Ready for Spring”? I could sit on the couch in my Rag & Bone high-neck sweater and spin out on this for a full week and by Thursday all I’m thinking is what a disaster fall is going to be!

Then I remember to stop thinking. I remember that today is just today and that is all that it is. I take a deep breath in and I realize that in this moment I am fine and everything is okay. More importantly, I am reminded that my A.P.C. jeans are so perfectly worn in that they are appropriate for any season and I am suddenly at ease. It is at this moment that I have surrendered.

“It's not about my Scrapbook from Marrakesh
or my Dr. Bronner's Liquid Soap...”

The third part of my mantra, and perhaps the most important, is goop. I use this as an adjective. The trick to goop is that it is not about me. It's not about my Scrapbook from Marrakesh or my Dr. Bronner's Liquid Soap and dare I say it's not even about Gwyneth. It’s about what I can add to the lives of the people around me. Goop is about giving. It's about bringing people together.

After all, Gwyneth's recipe for Duck Ragu was never intended for one. But like I said before, this is not a recipe for Duck Ragu.

Here is a list of ten things I am into right now that make my life a better place…

Milk

Milk is an LA based ice cream parlor and bakeshop. It is home to the Cupcake in a Cone and Grasshopper ice cream sandwich. Sometimes I will have top secret early morning ice cream meetings here with my daughter. They are very productive.

Thom Browne Seersucker Trousers

A trouser that lets people know you’re down to party in the classiest way possible. It’s a shame these pants are only appropriate for summer.

Girls on HBO

Photo: Mark Seliger/HBO

Lena Dunham is Jewish Punk Rock. Girls is awkward, uncomfortable and unapologetic in all the ways being in your early twenties can often be. I love this show.

Jonathan Adler Throws

I love Jonathan Adler but more importantly I love throws. To clarify, a throw is not to be confused with a blanket. A blanket is to be slept under, a throw is to accent a chair or sofa and give the illusion that in some scenario someone might rest underneath it. In reality, this scenario does not exist and I never want it to.

Clooney’s House in Como

Can’t mess with a classic. Haven’t been yet.

Roberta Roller Rabbit Toddler PJ’s

My daughter has a pair of these. I wish I did, too. They are amazing.

Chilanthropy Candles

My dear friend Rey Herrera started this company after having made these candles by hand for my wife’s baby shower. The company is totally eco-friendly and Rey makes all of the candles himself in his candle factory. He donates 5% of the sale price to different environmental charities and organizations. My favorite scent is Manuel Antonio.

Splendid T-Shirts for Men

It’s like wearing a fitted magical cloud all day.

Tortoise Shell iPhone Case by Incase

This is what protects my phone and it’s a real conversation piece. Every so often someone will confuse it for leopard print. How embarrassing. For them.

Self Awareness

Knowing who you are is an important key to life. For instance, choreography is my Achilles' heel. It's nice to know that I can open up to you guys here on goop.