My usual Wednesday Palette Picking post has been suspended for this week because today I want to celebrate the first International Day of Happiness! Before you roll your eyes and think this is an invention of someone trying to flog something, I can tell you that the United Nations are the ones who decided last year that 20 March 2013 would be declared International Day of Happiness. The UN believe part of their mission is to build a vision "that will promote sustainability, eradicate poverty and enhance well-being and happiness" [source].
And I'm all for it!
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Life throws difficulties at all of us, different amounts in different ways, but this is why it's so important to look for happiness where we can, find it in the tiniest things and make the most of happy moments wherever possible. I think happiness is most easily found in the minutiae – the warmth of the sun on your face, the first cup of tea of the day, a smile from a loved one, the smell of fresh flowers – easy to spot and cost very little, if anything.
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Happiness is so easy to share too, with very little effort you can spread joy just by being kind, considerate, thoughtful, generous, treating others how you want to be treated will do the trick most of the time. As I declared my word for this year to be 'positive' I've trying to be a more positive force in the world and in the process spreading a little happiness.
So, in the name of all things happy I've made a couple of little free printables for you! This cheerful hand lettered phrase in a pretty pastel palette is available as an A4-size poster and as a set of four A6-size postcards. All you need to do is click on the links to download the pdfs, print out and pin up or share!
Download Day of Happiness printable poster
Download Day of Happiness printable postcards
Inspired by this fascinating article on the Guardian website, and a post by the dynamo that is Jessika Hepburn of Oh My! Handmade Goodness, I am going to write a wee message on the back of the postcards and leave them in random local spots to be found and enjoyed by strangers! I'd love for you to do the same, wouldn't it be fab if all over the planet little postcards of happiness are being found by strangers and bringing a smile to their faces? That thought alone makes me quite happy.
And if you'd like to share what makes you happy and what you're doing to spread the joy I would love to know.
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I've come across a few websites who are striving to spread happiness, if you want to find out more just click the links below
The Random Acts of Kindess Foundation
Have a very happy International Happiness Day, everyone! xx























