Celebrating the First International Day of Happiness | Nichole's Happiness in Jiff List

Celebrating the First International Day of Happiness | Happiness in Jiff and Make me Smile Lists

Well, believe it or not, today is the world's first International Happiness Day, declared by the UN to signal the importance of going beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of success in life and to promote happiness as a universal goal and aspiration in the lives of human beings around the world. 

“The pursuit of happiness lies at the core of human endeavours. People around the world aspire to lead happy and fulfilling lives free from fear and want, and in harmony with nature.” UN Secretary-General.

Don't let little stupid things break your happiness. | Positive Thought of the Day by TakeTen

And even-though I do not know exactly how I feel about this International Day, -I mean shouldn't every day be a day where we intentionally choose happiness, over anything else?- I do know one thing.

Money can’t buy love. It can’t buy happiness either.

Buying the latest gadget, or the most fashionable clothes will not make your life complete. 

So, if you are amongst those who would like to celebrate today, but are not sure how to, here is my all time favourite Happiness in a Jiff List.

• Think positive! Begin by minimizing the amount of negative thinking you are entertaining each day. Monitor your thoughts and whenever a negative one comes up (and believe me you will be surprised by the amount of negative thoughts casually passing through your mind, during the day. I know I was.) Start thinking positive and smile.
• Be Kind. You don't have to save the world in a "Hollywood Grandeur" kind of way, just a couple of random acts of kindness and compassion will do the trick. Make someone's day by simply smiling at them, or offer you place in line to an elderly person or pay a compliment to a colleague. You know...
• Express Your Love. Sure you love your family and friends and your new boyfriend but have you actually told them lately? Have you spent quality time conversing with them? Trying to understand them? Today make an intimate connection with your loved ones. Make them happy, by simply being there for them, holding on to that "welcome" hug just a little bit longer.

According to a recent Happiness Study, money buys happiness only for those who lack the basic needs. Once you pass an income of $50,000, more money has no significant impact on your day-to-day happiness levels.

And if you need something to cheer you up, before you go out and spread the happiness cheer, here is my Make me Smile compilation from the "60 of the world’s happiest facts". 

1. Every year, millions of trees grow thanks to squirrels forgetting where they buried their nuts.
   
2. For someone, somewhere in the world, today is the most amazing day of their life.
3. On the day of his assassination, Martin Luther King Jr. had a pillow-fight in his motel room.
4. Otters hold hands when sleeping so they don’t drift away from each other.
   
5. Charlie Chaplin once entered a competition and won third prize. The competition was a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest.
6. Smiles really are contagious. Scientists in Sweden concluded that people had difficulty frowning when the looked at other subjects who were smiling.
7. Cows have best friends.
   
8. Male puppies, when playing with female puppies, will intentionally let the female win.
   
9. Neurologically speaking, seeing somebody else smile actually makes you happier.
   
10. Cows produce the most milk when listening to the song Everybody Hurts by REM.
    

Enjoy your first International Day of Happiness, make this a day to remember by renewing your commitment to leading a meaningful, happy life, one day at a time. 

Much Love,