Our 13^th Annual Hunt for Happiness Week starts on January 19^th and it always makes me smile because the week was inspired by our members. After our first Happiness Happens Month, many teachers emailed us requesting us to move the holiday because kids need happiness too and most weren’t in school yet.

This request sparked a conversation with one of our members and my friends, Cindy, a school counselor. She agreed that we needed something during the school year, so we put our happy thinking caps on to figure out a solution. Moving Happiness Happens Month wasn’t really an option. We’d already gotten several governors proclamations for the day at that point. So we asked ourselves, “What time of year do we need a little happiness?” Obviously January came to mind pretty quickly. The hoopla of the holidays is over, if you’re in school you really don’t get a break until March, the winter months can bring on the blues for many, we’re trying to change our habits for the New Year, and we’re paying off debt from the holiday, and on and on not necessarily things we initially think of as happy.

Whala, Hunt for Happiness Week was born. We initially started with many activities created for kids that are on the Hunt for Happiness page. Over the years the celebration has evolved.

This year, you can get Hunt for Happiness Week Daily Activities emailed to you, so you can pick one to do that day – or all three if that makes you happy.

Why does it make us happy to Hunt for Happiness?

• Sometimes even mostly happy people need to try something new to re-energize their happiness. New things keep us from getting bored. Even if we try something and we don’t like it, we know instead of suspect that it’s not our happy thing. And sometimes we might be surprised to find a new food, friend, or hobby makes us happy.

• Noticing other people’s happiness can also make us happy – happiness is scientifically proven to be contagious. I think of it as borrowed happiness. Borrowed happiness is bonus happiness because even if I’m having happiness challenged moment, when someone else is happy, I can be happy with them. We have Hunt for Happiness I-Spy Coupons that you can give anyone, friends to strangers, when you see them have a happy moment. Maybe play a game with yourself to see how many coupons you can give away during Hunt for Happiness Week.

• When you have a week that you are supposed to Hunt for Happiness, it increases your happy awareness. You’ll notice little things that you might normally take for granted. Of course, the Society identified 31 Types of Happiness if you need a few ideas of where to hunt for happiness.

Hunt for Happiness Week isn’t about pretending to be happy if you aren’t. Instead it’s about realizing you can create a few happy moments when needed and recognize some of the happiness you may take for granted. Hunt for Happiness Week is about happy awareness. Happy hunting!!!

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How Will You Celebrate Hunt for Happiness Week?

Everyone who makes a comment by January 18, 2014 will be entered in a drawing

for 5 copies of the Secret Society of Happy People’s 31 Types of Happiness Guide.

Written by Pamela Gail

Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998.
The Society is grounded on Pamela’s four key Practical Happiness Principles:

• Happiness Zappers Can be Managed
• Happiness is Personal
• Happiness Changes as You Change
• Happiness is Bigger Than You Think

Pamela identified 31 Types of Happiness that are on the SOHP App Happiness Counter to make it easier to recognize moments of happiness.

Pamela also plans and organizes the Society of Happy People's annual happiness celebrations:

• Happiness Happens Day - August 8
• Happiness Happens Month - August
• Hunt for Happiness Week - January

She's also a speaker, trainer, and author.

A few of her personal smile starters include her monthly book club, yoga, traveling and meeting new happy people.