The Society is celebrating the 9th Annual Hunt for Happiness Week. And yes, there are a few lucky people who never seem to need to hunt for happiness. So, if that’s you just ignore this post.

But for the rest of us, there are days and moments when we have to hunt for happiness. Personally, quick happy boosters from me include listening to a happy song, calling a friend that makes me laugh or lets me vent, chatting on Facebook or Twitter, playing with Tater, or helping someone. If a black cloud rains on my parade I do something to change my mood instead of ignoring it. And sometimes, depending on the cause of the unhappiness, I have to sit in the storm, get wet, and wait to dry off before moving on. But that’s a different post. This one is about the storms that you can easily get out of.

One type of gloomy mood happens when there’s nothing really wrong in your life. Instead it’s because you have a heart. Something sad is happening to someone you love. Or you see something unhappy on the news and feel virtually helpless to do anything. Like the earthquake in Haiti. You can pray or donate time or money, but that alone doesn’t fix the problem. It’s bigger than one person. Speaking of Haiti, all profits from Society sales this week will go towards relief efforts for the earthquake survivors.

Giving, one of the 31 Types of Happiness, is one of the best things I can do to cheer myself up when I’m sad about something big or small. Giving is when you expect nothing in return for your time, money, empathy, or stuff. When you expect something back from your giving, well, that’s a trade not a gift and probably not a happiness booster.

The next type of black cloud that follows us is the unhappiness that results from everyday life chaos. Fighting the fight, surviving the day, or as my friend Lafferty Johnson calls it, playing The Big D!ck Contest. Can you get rid of this cloud? Not all of it. Can you ignore it? Not all of it. Can you happily co-exist with it? Usually. This is when your attitude counts. What are you going to focus on? Are you going to enroll in Misery University or just stroll by the admissions office.

Most of the time happiness is all around us. But sometimes it’s not easy to latch onto. Sometimes the chaos seems bigger and we need to hunt for happiness or we’ll miss it.

During Hunt for Happiness Week here’s your happiness challenge: Try something new each day. Can’t think of anything? Here are seven suggestions:

1. Pass out the Secret Society of Happy People I-Spy Coupons when you seem someone else have a happy moment. (This is borrowed happiness–one of the 31 Types of Happiness.)

2. Call a friend or relative you haven’t spoken to in at least 3 months.

3. Try a new recipe or restaurant.

4. Take a long bubble bath.

5. Find a new song that makes you want to dance.

6. Stop by that store you want to check out just because.

7. Instead of complaining about that annoying co-worker say something nice and mean it. (Creates happy karma.)

Let us know how you are celebrating Hunt for Happiness Week. Happy Hunting!!!