Did you know that the iconic smiley face was created in 1963 by Harvey Ball, an artist from Worcester, Massachusetts. This image went on to become a symbol for good will and happiness, and universally it is recognized by all irrespective of our politics and religion. But the over-commercialization of the smiley face left Ball worried as he felt the symbol was losing its value and purpose. This concern compelled Ball to create World Smile Day.
World Smile Day has just one purpose - all of us need to devote one day to making people around us smile through our acts of kindness. This day was first celebrated in 1999 and since then has been observed every year on the first Friday in October.
For all of us 9/11 conjures up images of tragedy, devastation and sadness. The iconic twin towers crumbled. Three thousand innocent men, women and children lost their lives to terrorism. But, out of the debris and ashes that accumulated, the human spirit rose with strangers helping each other. Countless acts of service and compassion followed for days after. What was meant to break us apart only brought us closer. The acts of service that swarmed New York City in 2002 inspired the nonprofit organization MyGoodDeed along with other service organizations to launch 9/11 as National Day of Service and Remembrance.
August 22nd is Be an Angel Day. On this day people can become angels by engaging in random acts of kindness. The objective is for people to do something nice or be kind or help someone who needs it. It can be an emotional or a physical or a financial help. It doesn’t have to be a grand act. It can be anything you do to reach out to someone else and serve them in any way possible. For often times when we serve others there is a domino effect. The person you serve will be inspired to serve others and the process continues.
Serendipity. While most of us would be happy just reading about this term and then moving on, Madeleine Kay went on to create a Serendipity Day, which is celebrated on August 18th. Kay defines serendipity as “the willingness to live your life as though everything is a miracle….with the belief at any moment, something wonderful is about to happen.” The purpose of the day is to give people an opportunity to live serendipitously, to be open to the endless possibilities and embrace them.
What do you want from life? Fame. Fortune. Finding the purpose of your life. Your list could be endless, but, the bottom line is we all want to just be happy. And on August 8th you can join the happiness bandwagon as it is Happiness Happens Day. The Secret Society of Happy People founded this day in 1999 with the sole purpose of encouraging people to think about what makes them happy and celebrate that feeling.