by Patrick McNerthney
There’s this guy by the name of Simon Sinek and he has a bunch of great podcasts. Yes, if we agree that podcasting is a form of social media, Simon would be one of the fortunate folks I referred to in last week’s post as “being within the top 1%.” He definitely makes it his full-time job!
One day I hope to be in the top 1% of something, even if it’s a hot dog eating contest.
(Victory will be mine.)
Lucky for us, rather than just trying to sell stuff, Simon’s goal is to improve people’s lives by talking about things like empathy, listening, “going first,” faith, and other topics that will help us become better humans in general. (At first I thought I didn’t need Simon’s help, as I am perfect, but my wife said I should listen to him, just in case).
In a (recent) podcast episode aptly titled “Happying with Derren Brown,” Simon and Derren talk about how we can be happier, even in the face of great adversity like the pandemic. (Yes, as the title indicates, they turned the word “happy” into a verb! Talk about moxie!)
This made me think of the crazy things people do, seeming quite happy while doing them:
- The Peloton instructor smiling while teaching a spin class and reminding us to smile while we (ok, “I”) struggle to keep up~
- My brother-in-law excitedly announcing what he’s doing this weekend, which usually involves something arduous like building a new fence, rewiring his garage, excavating his back yard for landscaping, overhauling his brand new motorcycle…
- Our neighbor beaming as I see her on her hands and knees trying to pry all the weeds out of her extensive, curb-side garden (roses, herbs, vegetables – it’s studpid crazy)
- A parent at my son’s school leaning from her car and literally saying, “Good afternoon!” to everyone she could, as we all waited in line to pull into the loading zone (I was of the white knuckled, impatient, tense variety that day)
So why are these people incredibly happy?
Are they feeling grateful? Did they all just receive good news? Did they suddenly realize it was a sunny day? Either way, they were all “happying.” And there’s an attractive mystery in that.
(Happying!)
More importantly, seeing people express joy in the middle of strenuous, stressful or mundane tasks seems to be trying to tell me something. And I think I’ve figured it out. In each case, they are creating.
- The Peloton instructor creates a fun and joyous environment for his students
- My Brother-in-law creates new structures, new spaces, and new “things” out of old things (or new things in some cases)
- My neighbor creates an Eden (in a most unusual place)
- My fellow parent creates a sense of community
There is joy in creation. There is connection in creation. There is pleasure in creation. There is change in creation.
Or, to use it as a verb, happying and creating are the same thing.
Fine Art Miracles champions creative expression as a way for your residents or loved ones suffering through social isolation to happy. Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Dance & Movement Therapy and ART2GO projects are proven to increase feelings of self-worth, connect people with their past, stimulate the brain, fight depression and anxiety, and foster a sense of belonging and community.
And, maybe most importantly, the resources at Fine Art Miracles allow individuals to create in their own unique way, just like the people I observed. That’s where happy comes from. Creation and change.
If you have any questions about happying with Fine Art Miracles please reach out! Their happying is helping in any way you need.
Well, I gotta run. I’m preparing for the next available hot dog eating contest. Although, maybe I shouldn’t, if I want to be happier during my next Peloton class.
