Miriam
20th of March is International Day of Happiness
Did you know that today is International Day of Happiness? <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_Happiness" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_Happiness</a>;
This year's motto is "Happiness For All, Together" and the "Ten Steps to Global Happiness" are (source: <a href="https://happinessday.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://happinessday.org/</a>;):

<em>1. LET’S STICK TOGETHER</em>
<em>Step 1 is to stick together. We’re all in this together, and we will get through this together. Global unity, collective action, and a joint response to the COVID 19 coronavirus are the key to winning the fight against this global pandemic and threat to humanity.</em>

<em>2. FOLLOW WHO ADVICE.</em>
<em>Step 2 is to follow the World Health Organization’s advice and guidance. Wash hands, physical distancing, stay at home, avoid large crowds, and let’s work together to #FlattenTheCurve.</em>

<em>3. VIRTUALLY ATTEND A WORLD HAPPINESS EVENT.</em>

<em>4. STAY SOCIAL ONLINE</em>
<em>Happiness is contagious. Step 4 is to stay social online and do what makes you happy! Spread joy around the world on social media while fighting to end COVID 19. Funny videos that make people laugh, while educating about ending the virus are great for step 4. Staying social online is also key to maintaining positive mental health and state of mind while reducing anxiety and stress.</em>
<em>Use instagram hashtags #happinessforalltogether, #tenbillionhappy, #internationaldayofhappiness, #happinessday, #choosehappiness, #createhappiness, or #makeithappy to spread happiness.</em>

<em>5. BE KIND, SHARE & SAY THANK YOU.</em>
<em>Step 5 is to be kind to others, share with those in need, and say thank you. Check on your friends and neighbors, and even on strangers. Share food, supplies, medicine, and other resources with those in need. Say thank you to the healthcare, food, delivery drivers, teachers, and others working overtime and risking their lives on the frontlines of the global crisis to fight the disease, and keep the shelves stocked with supplies, and keep society going.</em>

<em>6. STAY ACTIVE AND BE MINDFUL.</em>
<em>Step 6 is to stay active and be mindful. Exercise everyday, meditate, practice mindfulness, and yoga. Staying active and mindful is a great way to spend time at home while reducing anxiety and stress, and boosting your immune system, which in turn, will reduce spread of the virus, and help #FlattenTheCurve.</em>

<em>7. BE OPTIMISTIC, POSITIVE, AND RESILIENT.</em>
<em>Step 7 is to be optimistic, positive, and resilient during these challenging times. We will get through this together, and we will win the fight against this global pandemic together. Optimism, positivity, and resilience will be essential to our success in destroying the COVID 19 disease, and global outbreak.</em>

<em>8. STAY INFORMED ABOUT FACTS AND NEWS</em>
<em>Step 8 is to stay informed about facts and news regarding the COVID 19 outbreak, and avoid myths. The World Health Organization (WHO) website has great information on how to prevent contagion, stop the disease, and avoid myths.</em>

<em>9. ENJOY NATURE</em>
<em>Step 9 is to get outside, enjoy nature, and connect with the environment during this period. This is a great time to take advantage of the extra time by going for a hike, going to the park, visiting lakes and natural sites to get in touch with nature.</em>

<em>10. ADOPT HAPPYTALISM</em>
<em>Step 10 is to think about the steps we can take to implement systemic change so this never happens again. Happytalism is just one of several models which respond to the United Nations 2012 call for a New Economic Paradigm, by taking a holistic approach to economic development and all life, and preventing sudden crises such as a global disease pandemic.</em>

So, in the spirit of the International Day of Happiness, let's talk about what makes us happy and how we can make others happy!

Here are some happy tunes for today's theme:
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU</a>;

Pharrell Williams - Happy: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZSe6N_BXs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZSe6N_BXs</a>;

Justin Timberlake - CAN'T STOP THE FEELING!: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru0K8uYEZWw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru0K8uYEZWw</a>;

What's your personal happy song? What makes you happy? How can we make each other more happy? Let's celebrate all the good things in life and be happy!
Mar 20, 2020 3:21 PM
Comments · 5
3
I have just seen on an Emarati channel that UAE has an advanced in the standard of global happiness..
I pray for an absolute happiness for our world.
March 20, 2020
2
I just finished watching the videos and I was smiling throughout each video...

It seems to me, that no matter how good or bad someone is at dancing, they can't stop from smiling and feeling good while they're dancing.

In the 70s, discotheques were popular and I worked in 3 good discotheques.
I always watched everyone who was dancing and I could see that they were so happy.
And when I played their favourite songs, OMG, they were in heaven.

It doesn't take much to be happy.
Play your favourite song, get up and move to the groove... you'll feel so much better.


Look at how happy these people are:





Keep dancing... keep smiling... happy happy...


March 20, 2020
1
Really? I didn't know it. Thanks for such a nice info
March 20, 2020
1
Thanks, Richard for sharing these great dance videos! Dancing and music are really for everyone. It doesn't matter how you dance. As long as it feels good and makes you happy, it's perfect.

Often people assume that dancing is only for able-bodied people but that's not true.

Here some videos about deaf dancers:
Chris Fonseca (Feeling Music When You're Deaf: The Deaf Dancer Teaching With Sign Language): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1FV66K8a2k" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1FV66K8a2k</a>;
Shaheem Sanchez and Angel Theory with Sayquon Keys (They said...”We FEEL the music” Deaf Dancers): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShL38Kvo56M" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShL38Kvo56M</a>;

Wheelchair dancers:
Chelsie Hill with Josh Killacky ("Will You?" / Inspiring Wheelchair Dance !): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbLrrpsINSM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbLrrpsINSM</a>;
Piotr Iwanicki with Marisa Hamamoto: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V4l_skCIFc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V4l_skCIFc</a>;

Dancers with Down Syndrome:
Andrew (Meet Andrew: The Greatest Dancer Profiles): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPT0hph38JM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPT0hph38JM</a>;
"HAPPY" music video - Utah Down Syndrome Foundation: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5okl8JlR4A" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5okl8JlR4A</a>;

Amputee dancers:
Gabi Shull (This Ballerina's Amputation Didn't Throw Her Off Balance): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caGe8kLVwWk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caGe8kLVwWk</a>;
Brylee Mills (Meet the talented Kiwi dancer, who just happens to have a revolutionary robotic limb): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgXscr1Zw4M" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgXscr1Zw4M</a>;

Blind dancers:
Benjamin Yonattan (Benjamin Yonattan: Young Blind Man Performs Powerful Dance - America's Got Talent 2015: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ_V9RyqDS8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ_V9RyqDS8</a>;
Alexander Bogdanov (Blind Man and His Angel): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIIxzaWMnfE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIIxzaWMnfE</a>;
March 20, 2020
@Israr
I'm glad that you liked it.

@Nada
Was it maybe news about the World Happiness Report, that is always released on the International Day of Happiness?
<a href="https://worldhappiness.report/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://worldhappiness.report/</a>;
According to this report, Helsinki in Finland is the happiest city: <a href="https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2020/cities-and-happiness-a-global-ranking-and-analysis/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2020/cities-and-happiness-a-global-ranking-and-analysis/</a>;.
This is interesting:
"Will the world be happier in 2020? Does the Report offer any information about COVID-19 and its impact on happiness?
The World Happiness Reports do not make forecasts about future happiness. The global pandemic poses great risks for some of the main supports for well-being, most especially health and income. The effects on the other main supports could go either way. As revealed by earlier studies of earthquakes, floods, storms, tsunamis, and even economic crises, a high trust society quite naturally looks for and finds co-operative ways to work together to repair the damage and rebuild better lives. This has led sometimes to surprising increases in happiness in the wake of what might otherwise seem to be unmitigated disasters. The most frequent explanation seems to be that people are pleasantly surprised by the willingness of their neighbours and their institutions to work in harness to help each other. This delivers a heightened sense of belonging, and pride in what they have been able to achieve by way of mitigation. These gains are sometimes great enough to compensate for the material losses. But where the social fabric is not strong enough to support co-operative action on the required scale, then fear, disappointment and anger add to the happiness costs of a disaster." (<a href="https://worldhappiness.report/faq/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://worldhappiness.report/faq/</a>;)

Amidst all the bad news and unsocial behaviour like panic buying, I noticed waves of solidarity between neighbours and for elderley people here in Germany. So, there might be some positive effects coming out of the current situation.
March 20, 2020
Miriam
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), French, German
Learning Language
Chinese (Mandarin)
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