I conducted a little experiment last week. I decided I was going to be happy if it killed me; and I was going to make this happen by being happy.  As my Mum use to say “happy is as happy does”. I focused on this goal and took every opportunity to think happy thoughts, say happy words, be aware of happy moments, sing to the birds, chat with the squirrels and even be friendly to grumpy TTC drivers!  And if ever in my day I was faced with the choice to be frustrated, angry, sad or mad – I chose happy!   I was so fricking happy I was giddy!

All giggles aside…I am serious. This little experiment turned into a really big revelation.  Ready?  When you’re focused on happiness you can’t help but be happy!  Ta Da!!!!  Ok now we all know I’m no Pollyanna Doris do good – I’ve got my moods and swords, but after a few rounds in the “beat me up and down for the count ring”, I really wanted to shift my paradigm. I made a conscious effort (aka pinky swore) that from the second I rolled out of bed and put my feet on the floor I’d smile, then I’d tell my three adorkable fur kids I loved them, smother their perfect little faces with kisses and scratch their bums. Then I would squeal in a high pitch kitten voice “who wants breakfast?” as the four of us tumbled down the stairs in elation I broke into singing the “yummy yummy in my tummy breakfast song”, which changes daily depending on what flavour of kitten food we are trying, but in case you want to try it on your fur kids or small humans, it goes like this:  “ Oh yummy yummy in my tummy tummy – super yummy delish chicken and gravy morsels are going into your perfect potbelly tummy” sung to the tune of Paradise by the Dashboard Lights. I know – I’m talented.  So test one – success!  Conscious happiness works on cats!

Next humans!  I left my house, admired my beautiful fall kissed garden, listened to the birds and said hey to a local squirrel and got instant affirmation that my local wildlife were digging the happy vibe!   My next experiment – bus stop people – da da da dum.  As I arrived at the bus stop the usual grumpola suspects were frowning and moaning in unison, then a guy rode up on his bike and was waiting for the light. He looked at me (probably cause I’m kinda cute) and I blurted out “well aren’t you just the happy bike guy”.  He looked at me as though I was crazy, so to comfort him that I indeed was not crazy – I repeated myself “you know it’s a beautiful day, you’re on your bike, you have a great smile – I just thought you should know!”   Honest – I wasn’t trying to pick him up – I was just sharing some happiness.  Then he took his foot off the pedal and looked right at me and said something that just explodiated my heart.  He said “thank you, you’re right, it is a beautiful day…I’ve just been so sad for so long I forgot to notice. Thank you so much for that, it really made my day”.  And he gave me a big smile and rode off.  Gosh that made me happy!

Give it a try. Being nice, being thoughtful, being generous, being kind, being happy is really quite easy and when you share it…it comes back tenfold.

Have a happy day xx