5 ways to celebrate International Day of Happiness
March 20th is International Day of Happiness. Founded by the U.N. General Assembly in 2012, it is a worldwide movement to increase awareness of happiness as a fundamental human right, goal and life choice.
Here are five things you can do to celebrate this happy day:
1. Washington, D.C.
Give or receive free hugs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Dupont Circle Foundation. You can create your own poster or print out Action for Happiness posters.
2. London
Go out for Indian food at the Canvas Cafe to enjoy a unique pay-it-forward system. To celebrate the day, the Canvas Cafe and Service Space partnered to host the Karma Kitchen. There are no prices on the menu, everyone from the waiter to the dishwasher is a volunteer, and the check at the end of your meal reads zero. You don't pay for yourself but for the person who dines after you. You can make a dinner reservation in advance for Monday from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. You can also get involved by being a volunteer who serves tables or washes dishes.
3. Melbourne, Australia
Attend an interactive seminar where you can test out the various techniques that research suggests can improve your well-being such as meditation, singing and smiling. The seminar takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Library on the Dock.
4. Worldwide
Visit Happiness Walls to post cards about how you can spread joy to others. Look for one of more than 100 Happiness Walls located near you in communities, businesses, schools and universities.
5. Online
Make a pledge about your commitment to taking part in creating a happier society for everyone.
Go to the United Nations’ Happiness Day website and sign up to receive the Happiness Guidebook, Happiness Pack for Kids and World Happiness Report, which ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels.