March 20: The International Day of Happiness 

It’s been a challenging time for happiness. Often we struggle to even define “happiness” at all. 

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In 2012, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed March 20 the International Day of Happiness. The resolution “identified the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world—and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives.” The UN also illuminated the need for a “more inclusive, equitable, and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness, and the well-being of all peoples,” recognizing that, contrary to common aphorisms, happiness requires at least some positive material input. 

These ideas can seem daunting unless you participate in an organization or community that works towards fulfilling these goals. But if we expand the definition of happiness as not merely something we passively take in, but rather an action that we ourselves take out to the world, we can consider kindness a step in the path towards creating happiness. Kindness as an action that is exponential.

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Often maligned as a passive trait, kindness is not a weakness. It doesn’t take away leadership or control. It’s not an invitation for dissent. Kindness is grace when someone is struggling. It’s respect for the contribution of team members. It’s helping others shine. 
 

 Soda Break 

I grew up with a stay-at-home dad. Very much a rarity when I was growing up. His day was filled with seeing after us kids, household projects, perfecting his landscaping game, or cooking dinner.

Our neighborhood was fairly quiet, but our street was a popular shortcut between main thoroughfares. My dad became a friendly fixture because twice daily, he’d drop the tailgate on his pickup truck in the driveway and take a soda break. It was a quiet, contemplative time for him. A time to enjoy the day and just watch the life of the neighborhood.

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The same familiar commuters passed on their way to and from work. And so my father would wave to them. Occasionally there were commuters on bicycle or foot. After seeing the same man walk by for several weeks, my dad asked if he would like to sit and have a soda. He scooted over and made a place the man on the tailgate. Walking under the Florida sun is an exhausting feat, and my dad thought this man could use a rest and cold drink.

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He learned the man's name was Albert. Albert had recently relocated from Nigeria, and was working as a dishwasher at a nearby restaurant. Not long after their first soft drink together, Albert started building “soda break” time with my dad into his commute. I'm unsure what they chatted about, but knowing my father I'm sure it was entertaining. When he noticed Albert wearing the same shirt, often soaked in sweat, he gave Albert a small box of nice clothes he no longer wore. Something a working man could use.

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When Albert had saved enough money, he bought a bicycle, proudly riding it to the next soda break. This cut his commute time significantly. My dad enthusiastically gave us updates on Albert's successes. The day Albert pulled into our driveway in his newly purchased car, my dad beamed. He was so happy for Albert. 

A simple act of kindness to a stranger and a cherished bond was born.

 Happiness Q&A with Q&A: 

John: “Do you consider yourselves happy people?”

Todd: I don’t know how to define happiness. I generally think I am, but then I realize sometimes that I am horrifically cynical. But maybe that makes me happy. I don’t know.

Dalila: If emotionally I’m okay. I feel pretty happy.

John: Like humor will get you through it.

Dalila: Exactly.


John: What are your happiness triggers?

Alfredo: Puppies and kittens.

Dalila: That’s true. I would add a sunny day.

Todd: I think any for me it’s interactions with nature in particular. It’s not a forefront, forebrain feeling, in that case it’s just kind of a subliminal state.


John: Of a general well-being.

Todd: Specifically, the things that really make me happy are episodes of old Star Trek which make me so absurdly happy even though I’ve seen them all a million times.


John: Maybe that’s why, because you have seen them a million times.

Todd: Well I know, but I find something new in them every single time I watch them. You know it USED to be things that made me really, really happy were forms of physical expression that I used to do. Exercise like boxing and martial arts, that were physically dominating and competing with another person. DOMINATION, JOHN! With my strength with power. But Star Trek is all I have left.

Wendy: I would say very yummy food makes me happy.

Dalila: That’s a good one. 

Alfredo: And adult beverages

Todd: Having good conversations with people makes me really happy, riffing with people makes me happy, interactions like this makes me happy. Seeing old friends makes me really happy.


John: How old?

Todd: Over 21. Under 50.


John: Under 50? 

Todd: Why do I want to hang out with a bunch of old people like me? 


John: So next question is “Do you track your happiness levels on a daily basis?”

ALL: No.

Wendy: As a matter of fact, this morning I mentioned that I have a new thing I'm incorporating into my life called Hate 30. I take 30 minutes each day, to deal with all of the things I hate.

Dalila: And then she becomes happy.

Todd: I think there’s intangibles to happy. We naturally track our unhappiness. So that tends to stand out to us because human memory is fixed on events that are traumatic. That’s the things you remember the most. It’s harder to remember really happy memories. It really is.

Dalila: You go home at the end of the day and say “today some car almost ran me over!” You think about that but the rest of the day was really good. In a way that’s how we measure our happiness.


John: By comparison.

Dalila: Yeah.


John: Do you belong to any happy organizations?

Wendy: What are happy organizations?

Alfredo: Is that a cult?

Todd: I belong to no organizations. I give money to organizations that do good work.


John: Does that make you happy?

Todd: I can’t say it makes me happy, it’s just something I see as moral necessity. I think we’re programmed in our culture to feel guilty about being happy, about doing something good for ourselves. You know what I mean? Oh God, I’m being so selfish. I’m doing this just because it makes me happy. So. I don’t know. Sometimes I feel good about things. Is that a form of happiness?

Wendy: Is good happy? Is good enough?

Alfredo: It’s never enough.

Todd: We have this definition of happiness almost like a Theme Park. You know what I mean like: ‘Yay happy! But happy, I think is, as you get older in particular, sometimes is just a very fleeting and internal thing.

Wendy: It’s not as exuberant as what it was.

Alfredo: As what you think it is.


John: OK here’s the next question it’s really important. Is Monty Python’s Ministry of Silly Walks, the funniest comedy skit ever made

Todd: I won’t say it's the funniest but it’s up there. It'’s absolutely up there. It will still make me laugh.   

Wendy: I like the Spam bit better than the Silly Walks.


John: Oh yes. There’s also the follow up to that is like if that’s not what you think is the best. What do you think is the best comedy skit?

Todd: I think the funniest thing ever, that no matter how many times I watch it makes me laugh, is in “Young Frankenstein.” When they’re going up the stairs and Frau Blucher (played by Cloris Leachman) asks Gene Wilder if he wants something to drink ...

Alfredo: I’m more like Bridesmaid’s. 

Wendy: I was also going to say back to the earlier happy trigger. Is that show “Baskets.”

Todd: Which almost no one else in this world laughs at but Wendy. 

Alfredo: Louie Anderson, who plays Zach Galifianakis’ mother is always at Costco. Any jokes about Costco I find hilarious. Because that’s my childhood. 

Todd: She goes to Costco to be happy.

Alfredo: I go to Costco to be happy. 

Todd: Is “funny” synonymous with “happy,” though? It’s interesting that’s where we all go.

Dalila: That question for me is really more about just all of those references I experienced growing up in Mexico. That the Mexican shows are super melodramatic and over-exaggerated, like someone gets bonked in the head basically. BONK! It’s just so stupid.

Alfredo: It’s over the top.

Dalila: Yeah. Completely over the top. Why are we laughing at this stupid thing?

Todd: Then you would love The Three Stooges. When Curly shoots—with a gun—into bowl of clam chowder to kill an errant clam. That’s a happy trigger for me.


John: Do you think it’s possible to increase your happiness?

ALL: Yes!


John: Where do people go to get more happy?

Alfredo: Well there's a lot of establishments. It goes back to your happy triggers, right? If you like puppies and kittens, there are services where you can take care of puppies in your house for a couple hours.

Wendy: Or you can go to the cat cafe.

Dalila: Hire one of those people who just cuddle with you. 

ALL: Noooo.

Wendy: I think Hawaii is a good place.

Todd: At Joe Bar you can find happiness.

Alfredo: Two for one specials.

Dalila: I think if you’re with anyone positive you get happier. I’ve been negative at times and if I’m around my sister, no matter how much I want to keep feeling bad I can’t, because she’s super positive. Positive people make you see the brighter side.

 Happiness Is a Skill 

March 8 is International Women’s Day. As a woman-owned business, we implore everyone to support the endeavors of women and girls. In a Harvard Center for International Development interview with IFC Vice President, Hela Cheikhrouhou says, “Female enterprises are more likely to create social impact through the businesses they create and operate. Whether they generate jobs through their business for other women, invest their income in the education of their children or support others in their community, investing in women has a broader social impact as it benefits families, communities and, ultimately, societies.”

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Back when most of us were working in offices, our team celebrated the International Day of Happiness by delivering Girl Scout Cookies. As the largest entrepreneurial program for girls in the world, the Girl Scout Cookie Program is powering the next century of female leaders. Delivering cookies not only brought happiness to our clients, it also brought joy to the Girl Scouts, who were thrilled to record a big sale. Assembling the packages gave our team time to connect and bond. It was a happiness loop.

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Kindness is a skill like any other—it takes practice. Give it a whirl! And on the International Day of Happiness, take a moment to send a note to someone who needs help to shine. Or buy some Girl Scout Cookies and share them with a stranger.

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See our other Blahg posts about the International Day of Happiness:
https://www.quesinberry.com/post/happiness-is-radical
https://www.quesinberry.com/post/the-international-day-of-happiness

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And more about delivering Girl Scout Cookies:
https://www.quesinberry.com/post/do-you-still-surprise-and-delight