Author’s Note: I’ve made a list of 100+ events, places and experiences that happily unite people. I’m taking a tour to see and experience as many of them as possible, and also meet up with Society members and friends. Of course, I’ll be sharing these #HappinessUnites moments with you. Find out more of the why’s of the #HappinessUnites Tour in my blog: 3 Reasons I’m Hittin’ the Road. Or find out where my #HappinessUnites Tour has taken me so far — and what I’ve had time to write about. If you want to meet up with me, check out my #HappinessUnites Tour schedule.
Happiness Happens Day, August 8, is the official birthday of the Secret Society of Happy People. That’s when our first official member — outside of my family and friends — joined us from Lawrence, Kansas. As the Society approached its first birthday in 1999, I wanted to do something to celebrate. Someone mentioned that there is no official happiness day, so the Society created Admit You’re Happy Day, which would later become Happiness Happens Day.
I wasn’t sure how to make the holiday official, so I thought the best way was to ask all of the governors for proclamations. It was a lot of work contacting and re-contacting all 50 governors’ offices, but with a little pleading, lots of smiling and a little help from the press, we got 19 proclamations declaring August 8, 1999, Admit You’re Happy Day.
Every year since, I always try to celebrate the day by doing something special.
This year, since I was doing my #HappinessUnites Tour, I had (and still have) lots of invites to do happy things in lots of happy places. However, one invite from Jeana Walz, stood out as a perfect Happiness Happens Day celebration: A Lunch ‘N Learn at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City.

Happy Uber Driver Sherri in Kansas City, MO

Leah @ The Phillips Hotel in Kansas City, MO
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Statue @ The Phillips Hotel, Kansas City, MO
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Napkin @ The Phillips Hotel, Kansas City, MO
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My “modern family” brother (I don’t like the word step), Troy, picked me up for dinner. We went to Garozzo’s where I ate their signature dish Spiedini Di Pollo – chicken with a breading that was skewered and worth trying if you visit. I also got to meet his girlfriend, Lisa.

Pamela, Troy & Lisa at Garozzo’s in Kansas City, MO
When I left for dinner, I discovered my hotel was home to PS Speakeasy. I resolved to check it out after I ate. You had to ask the front desk to let you in enter a though a door that appeared to be a plain wall. I walked down the stairs, not really sure what I’d find, and at the bottom was a nice dimly lit bar. On a Monday night, it wasn’t too crowded.
I sat by two gentleman with whom I shared an interesting and educational conversation. One of the things I learned is that if you’ve never tried pot, and are considering trying it in a brownie, only try a tiny bit because of the way it hits your blood stream. It’s always interesting that when you travel you’ll have silly conversations with strangers about things you might not talk to your closets friends about. We also discussed curing cancer, world peace and some web stuff – and I’m kidding about two of the topics. One of the men was camera-shy but Jesse took a selfie with me for the Wall of Smiles. I also learned that, at least at this speakeasy, you have to order drinks from the menu—and they seemed to have limited alcohol options. I did find something tasty, but don’t remember what it was called.

Pamela & Jesse at PS Speakeasy in Kansas City, MO
I was out a little later than I intended to be, but had a great evening.
The next morning, after sleeping in a bit, I headed over to Truman Medical Center. Jeana and one of her coworkers, Terri, did a fabulous job coordinating the happy event down to our lemonade toast—the current Happiness Happens Day tradition because not-so-secretly happy people have a way of making lemonade out of lemons.
Their team ate a lovely lunch, and I hopefully shared some happy learnings that ended with them taking our Happiness Pledge.
If you have any ideas about how we should celebrate Happiness Happens Day in 2018 please share – it’s never too early to start planning.
Now it’s time to count down to the second Society celebration, January’s Hunt for Happiness Week.