Happiness Happens Month & Day
August and August 8th
In 1999 the Society declared August 8th as Admit You're Happy Day (now Happiness Happens Day). Thanks to the response of not-so-secretly-happy people from around the world, the celebration was expanded to include the month of August in 2000.
There are two purposes of the month:
- Recognize and express happiness
- Don't rain on other people's parades
Although the purpose of the month hasn't changed-its name has-to Happiness Happens Day and Month. This name change better reflects the meaning of the month-reminding people that despite global and personal chaos that happiness still happens.
In 1999, we asked the governors in all 50 states for a proclamation. Governors from 19 states sent proclamations for Admit You're Happy Day. Find out if your governor was happy, a stick in the mud, or parade-rainer.
If you want to celebrate Happiness Happens Month & Day here are a few ideas:
- In August on the 8th (the official Happiness Happens Day) or anytime during August for Happiness Happens Month wear your SILVER shades, donate your SILVER coins-pay someone's toll, bus or subway fare, buy a soda, or take up a donation for your favorite charity, or pass out SILVER kisses. Why SILVER? Because not-so-secretly happy people have a way of finding the SILVER lining in even the darkest clouds.
- Send "Happiness Happens" postcards.
- Give friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers a Society Pass-It-On card.
- Take the Happy Challenge
- Learn your Happy IQ
- Play Happy Nick-Names. Everyone in your family, at work, in your class, or in a social club gets a happy description in front of their name ... possibilities are Chipper Cathy, Smiling Sam and or Cheerful Cindy
- Happy Memoriess: Put a piece of paper on the wall with each persons name. Then have either family members or co-workers draw or write down a happy memory that they experienced with that person.
- Lead a Happiness Happens Celebration Activity at work. Vote for the Happiest Employee or Customer, have a Happy Expressions Pot Luck Lunch where everyone tells about their happiest moment at the company (best story wins a prize), or host a Happy Scavenger Hunt.
- Take your Happy Inventory.
- Host a Happiness Happens Celebration Have a theme party with everyone wearing something from their favorite era (even if they didn't live in it this lifetime) or pick your favorite era; make up a happy trivia game that includes things the happiest things about your city, county or state; but most important have fun.
- Read Don't Even Think of Raining on My Parade: Adventures of the Secret Society of Happy People On Sale!
- When tucking your kids in for bed at night, take turns listing the happy moments you experienced that day (Tip from Cindy Fitzhugh, MA).
- Have a Happy Expression Art Show. Each person (friend or family member) through some form of art: drawings, painting, songs, writing, and on and on can express what makes them happy. End with having a show and tell party. (Tip from Kimla Cotropia, Ph.D).
