Years ago, a couple of volunteers (Roszika and Andy) started something they called Happy Club.
A small group of us would meet at a local ice cream/coffee shop and bring a list of five things that had made us happy since we last met. We would read our lists out loud to the group. In the sharing of our happy moments, we increased happiness exponentially within the group (I’ve done the math to prove that statement).
The in-person meetings petered out when people moved away or got busy doing other things (I do hope they were resurrected once in a while), and Happy Club was moved to a virtual platform that still exists. People don’t post to it too frequently, but every once in a while I’ll see in my Facebook feed that someone has posted their list of five things that made them happy that week. It always makes me pause and puts things into a different perspective.
Today was a gorgeous, warm, sunny day. It’s not going to last – there’s even snow in the forecast for Monday – but today was like summer. It would have been a huge missed opportunity to not set out a lunch forage on the hill, but luckily I didn’t miss the opportunity.
Here’s a list of things that made me happy today.
Number 1: The sun. No explanation needed.
Number 2: The staff at CSNW. Amazing, I tell you.
Number 3: CSNW supporters. I received texts and emails of support and a couple of notifications of donations throughout the day. I love people who share my love of the chimpanzees!
I realize I mentioned #2&3 in my video from the other day. Those two probably would make my list every week!
Number 4: Burrito
Burrito started his day wrestling and tickling Missy, then Jody, then Negra. Nothing knocks him down. He remains full of playfulness, charm, and energy. I don’t know how he does it.
Number 5: Negra
Unlike Burrito, she is not often full of playfulness and energy (though when she is, it is a pure joy to witness).
This is how Negra started her day:
Doesn’t she look so cozy? She also looks like she could spend the rest of the day in bed.
But, she didn’t. She tore herself out of bed for breakfast, and she was out on the hill for the forage with everyone else, though her style is to take it easy while the other chimpanzees quickly go from place to place looking for food.
Seeing Negra outside in the sun should be able to make anyone’s happy list.
Pretty soon, the hill will be full of green grass and Negra will be outside partaking of one of her top ten happy things. I am so looking forward to that! It’s okay if we go through one more snow storm first to get there.
