Happiness is ...

... really quite simple.

It was strange to go out at lunchtime today with a brief to find a happy blip. Although the snow I cycled in through this morning had abated, it was still very raw to be out on the street and there weren't too many people around, let alone cheerful ones. After a tough morning I wasn't feeling particularly happy myself and was hoping that a smile would kick start some happiness generation. I did eventually find a couple of cheerful faces in two bus drivers sharing a joke from their cabs on either side of the road. That brought a little grin to my face, plus two portrait shots, naturally enough. Not quite what I wanted though.

I went into my friendly health food shop to pick up my sandwich, where - told yesterday about the significance of the day - happiness was positively bouncing off the walls. Then enter random customer, a father with daughter on his shoulders, to remind me that happiness is really all about the simple things in life. We started talking and engaging and then this moment happened. Most of the things that make us happy are perfectly free. Happiness comes from love and creativity and beauty. The problem is that the time available for us to enjoy those free things is sucked away by the demands of modern life.

It's very easy to be cynical about this whole International Day of Happiness thing, and I easily could be that way myself, but the basic premise has to be worthy. Quoting from the web site ...

"A profound shift in attitudes is underway all over the world. People are now recognising that 'progress' should be about increasing human happiness and wellbeing, not just growing the economy at all costs".

"Our focus for International Day of Happiness is on bringing happiness to others. Creating a happier society requires action at all levels - not just from political leaders and institutions but also from us as individual citizens. When we do things to bring happiness to others, everyone benefits. It helps the people we connect with, boosts our own well-being and also inspires others to be more caring and positive too".

We are in a crazy situation where part of the world doesn't have enough to experience true happiness and the other part has too much. We're either too busy or too tired or simply too distracted to experience true happiness. It seems that this day is mostly about recognising that paradox.

The really positive thing is that it's got a lot of people thinking about happiness, at both a personal and a collective level. That's got to be good just on its own. Our lives are ruled over by political and financial institutions which are, let's admit it, essentially corrupt. We all pretty much know that really and understand how powerless we are before all that bureaucratic machinery, but to deride any kind of movement for change, even when it comes out of that same machine, is a little too easy. Change has to start with each one of us. A simple smile can make a difference. I do believe that.

Here are all the images for this Happyday.