Did Self-Isolation Make You Forget the International Day of Happiness?

Don’t fret: just make EVERY DAY your personal day of happiness!

It’s tough. Working from home. Being sent home because you’ve lost your job. Shutting the doors of your business because there’s no trade to keep you open.

2020 has become a year most of us will want to forget.

But that’s only if we dwell on the negatives.

Friday the 20th of March 2020 was the United Nations official International Day of Happiness.

I missed it. I bet you did too.

Let’s make a pact not do miss it again.

The International Day of Happiness is seven years old this year.

Happy birthday International Day of Happiness! 🥳 🎉 🎁 🎂

It began to remind us of the vital importance that happiness has in our lives. In all of our lives. In the lives of each and every one of the 7.7 billion people on planet Earth.

How do we define happiness? Can it be measured?

In setting up this day, the UN recognized the universal goals and aspirations we all share: to be accepted, to be healthy, and to be able to attain our goals.

For a large proportion of people alive today, their biggest goal is to see tomorrow.

Food is scarce. Violence is rampant. Millions have had to flee their homes — if they had a sheltered residence to begin with.

If you’re reading this, it is highly doubtful that you are one of those people.

You have the benefits of technology, electricity, and the luxury of spare time.

Boom! Right there. Three reasons to be happy.

To be reading this, you also have an education. Something over 2 billion people still crave in their pursuit of happiness.

There’s also a high probability you live in a democracy: your opinion matters.

Democracy also favors equality, and even though it’s still evident, democracy is a great enemy of extreme poverty.

So while the situation may seem grim right now, spare a thought for those who have spent their entire lives wondering not where their next meal is coming from, but if there will be a next meal.

The odds are also highly in your favor that you are currently not unwell. Even though our global shut-down exists to limit the spread of a virus, you and I are lucky enough to be healthy (caveat: to an extent. I’m diabetic and overweight. BUT I still consider myself healthy. Ish. Let’s move on, shall we?).

Seven! Seven reasons to be happy! Ah, Ah Ahhhhh!

“But wait!” I hear you cry, “having all these benefits is a great privilege, but I still don’t feel happy right now!”.

I feel you.

We’re all in a strange place right now.

But it will only remain strange if that’s how we perceive it.

As the mighty prophet Chumbawamba once spake:

“I get knocked down, but I get up again

You’re never gonna keep me down”

Not that I’m advocating day drinking, but each to their own.

In pursuit of happiness

There are so many ways you can nurture your happiness. Not just one day of the year, but every day!

Move it, just a little bit

A happy body houses a happy mind. Being required to stay home doesn’t mean you can’t keep moving. Run on the spot, try some yoga, or even better, dance a happy dance!

A little exercise is better than none at all — and think of all those wonderful endorphins you’ll be releasing! Self-made happiness!

Thank you

Being grateful has many benefits. It’s easy to be grateful in the good times, but the benefits during the bad times will surprise you.

We need to differentiate feeling grateful and being grateful. Only a Vulcan can control their emotions (yes, yes, and Romulans) (thank you) (nerd).

It’s natural to feel sad, but by being grateful, we can forge a path to happiness.

You can delve into making lists of things you are grateful for, or you could start small.

• Think of one thing that you are grateful for.
• Just one.
• Be happy for its existence.
• That’s it.
• Do this experiment again sometime.

Or to put things into context, you could think about a traumatic event in your life, and how it made you feel. Compare that feeling with how you feel now. How are you feeling now compared to then?

Pay it forward

Simple statements of “thank you” and “please” will unlock reactions in others you never knew before, and while we may be physically isolated, kindness can break down barriers to make you closer to people emotionally.

Kindness is more contagious than any virus. In times of crisis, yes, we see the worst of people (we’re looking at you, hoarders). But we also see the best.

Find your inner kindness and nurture it like a flame. Let it inflict others.

Give a compliment to someone for their efforts. Take time to actually listen to what others are saying — it shows that they matter.

By respecting others, you will garner respect yourself.

Look for the good

Somewhere, deep within every disaster, there is good. Something positive comes from any negative activity.

When you find yourself at that place — stop and think about the good thing that will come of it. There will be one thing at least. Remind yourself of it during the hard times, and when the good times return keep it close to power you forward.

Haters gonna hate

And if you can’t beat them, avoid them. Negativity in others will bring you down, and in our digital world it’s easy to get caught up in the hysteria.

If a friend shares a hateful post on social media, block the post. Don’t engage if you know they won’t change their attitude (but by all means reach out if you think they will). But looking after yourself needs to be the most important thing in finding your happiness, and more importantly, staying happy.

Turn the beat around (love to hear percussion)

It’s not a problem … it’s a challenge. By looking at the situation in a new way you can rob it of its negativity and help pave the way to happiness.

Instead of saying “I should”, “I have to” or “I need to”; replace it with “I could choose to”. The first three terms are all obligations, whereas your new catchphrase gives you the power of choice. It’s your decision. And if you’re in charge, it’s easier to be happy.

🎵 I’ll do it my way 🎶

Finally, a non-sourced opinion. I’m sure it’s shared by others, but I’m just going to tell my version.

Right now, I could be sitting on the couch. Sulking. I could be in bed. Moping. I could be watching an awful news broadcast full of horrible stats.

Or I could be doing something productive. Like writing a story about being happy.

I LOVE BEING HAPPY!

Don’t you?

I’d rather be happy than sad any day of the week.

And to be perfectly honest, I’ve got so many reasons to be sad right now.

But I don’t care. I’m going to do things that make me happy.

I’ve got really cool music blaring (which is why there are so many music themes in my writing — bite me), and even though our choice of food is limited, we’re going to make a delicious lunch using our imagination and various scraps in the fridge and the pantry. It’s an adventure. And it’s fun.

So I don’t care that I missed the International Day of Happiness this year.

My International Day of Happiness is today. And tomorrow. And tomorrow.

Care to join me?

About The Author

Stephen Scott. Writer of Words. Yet Another Creative. Many names, some printable in decent company. He’s been plying his trade in copywriting and creative management since, well, before you were born (if you were born in the 90’s). Yes, he’s obviously a Star Wars fan. Connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.