I read that Denmark, a country consistently at the top of the world happiness rankings, has recently opened a Happiness Museum.
On the website, it describes itself as a small museum about the big things in life. It has been created by The Happiness Research Institute, a think tank focusing on well-being, happiness and quality of life. It may seem a strange time to be opening such a Museum but it reflects the optimistic outlook of Danes, who, the article says, have modest expectations and concentrate on the non-materialistic aspects of life and spend lots of time outdoors, even as the days get darker. The key is not to strive for happiness, but to enjoy your everyday, to create moments of comfort and connection and small daily pleasures.
It’s in the appreciation of the life you have where happiness is to be found.
It’s not just about being happy; it’s knowing you’re happy and savouring it.
Eleanor Roosevelt said that happiness was not a goal, but a by-product of a life well lived. She went on to say that paradoxically, the one sure way not to be happy is deliberately to map out a way of life in which one would please oneself completely and exclusively. After a short time, a very short time, there would be little that one really enjoyed. For what keeps our interest in life and makes us look forward to tomorrow is giving pleasure to other people.
These ideas resonate with the five ways to wellbeing that we used to underpin our Guided Home Learning (GHL) during lockdown.
- Keep Learning
- Connect
- Be active
- Take notice
- Give
We have worked hard this term and learnt many new things. So, as we start our half term break, take time to look around you. Enjoy the everyday, take notice, connect to others and think about what you can do for them. Get outside and enjoy the environment around you and the colours of Autumn.
I wish you a restful, healthy and happy half term break.
