International Day of Happiness #InternationalDayOfHappiness

Today is the International Day of Happiness! 

So instead of sitting at home doing school work and cleaning, we are taking part of the afternoon off to go to the beach. I might as well enjoy the freedom of having the kids all homeschooled this year as much as I can. Soon enough the beaches will be full and the roads will be crazy. We are going to head over to the beach, its only 3 minutes away from home anyways, and spend a few hours out there in this awesomely sunny day. Then we can finish up cleaning and school stuff later on. 

Here are a few other ways to celebrate today:

1. Be Grateful.     Take a few minutes and think of all the things around you that you have to be grateful for. A job, children, family, friends, your car, the weather, the home you live in, life in general. Even if just for today, appreciate it and don't take it for granted. 

2. Take a day off from stress and worry.     If something is bothering you, maybe use this day as an excuse to leave it alone. Don't stress about it for the day. Stop thinking about it negatively and maybe you will get some answers. 

3. Do something.     Volunteer. Donate. Find something on or offline that you can do to help out. Teach someone something. Listen. Read. Support someone else. There are ways to volunteer your time virtually as well as in person. Volunteer Match is a great site to find many ways to help out. 

4. Treat yourself /your family.     Stop on the way home for ice cream. Go outdoors, hike, walking, or to the beach like us. Pick up that dress or purse you wanted. Go see a movie. Take the rest of the afternoon off and do whatever you want, or nothing. 

5. Smile.     Just smile. Acknowledge happiness at a basic level. Very simple. 

Anyone else out there doing anything to add a little Happiness to their day? 

Hopefully!!! 

#InternationalHappinessDay is trending over on Twitter. 

International Happiness Day on Twitter. 

The United Nations International Day of Happiness website is full of ideas and others showing how and what they are celebrating. 

"Happiness may have different meanings for different people. But we can all agree that it means working to end conflict, poverty and other unfortunate conditions in which so many of our fellow human beings live."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the International Day of Happiness, 20 March 2014