Mar 19, 2021

International day of happiness 2021: Keep Calm. Stay Wise. Be Kind.

Inclusive community

A stone painted with the words 'be kind'

By Gino Somers

Celebrate spring with acts of kindness to yourself and others

Saturday March 20th is the International Day of Happiness. It is also the first day of spring.

We have been through a difficult winter with many of us facing uncertainty and isolation.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Spring is almost here, which means more sunlight, warm weather and opportunities to get outside. Increasing vaccinations gives us hope for the future with the very real possibility of more socializing and travel to see family and friends.

This day is an opportunity for us to reflect on what makes us happy, and to reach out to others to help make them smile.

A small act like writing a short note or letter (on actual paper with a pen or pencil) and posting it (in an actual envelope and stamp – shocking!) can have a profound effect on someone you care about. Pick up the phone and talk to friends and family. Go out of your way to see someone, face-to-face (or mask-to-mask) and ask how they’re doing. These seemingly small actions can have a big and lasting impact.

For ourselves, there are 3 positive steps we can all take when facing difficult times:

Keep calm: There are lots of things outside our control. Let’s remember to breathe and focus on what really matters so we can respond constructively.
Stay wise: Making wise choices helps everyone. Let’s choose positive actions that support our wellbeing and help others to do the same.
Be kind: We’re all in this together, even when we’re forced apart. Let’s stay connected and reach out to help others who may be in need.

Take a look at the coping calendar and choose some actions to take or things to think about, such as: