The Happygolitely Project


I realize, a little more each day, how important it is for us all to reach out to each other, to support each other, to show one another we care. We are all part of the same; we are all human; we are stronger together. When we feel united, we feel happier for the sense of connection.

An idea popped into my head to create ‘a little happy’ that could be given/shared. Then it came to me to make this a social experiment. To somehow get these little happys out to people so that they could give them to whomever they felt needed it. I knew some people would give them to friends or family who were having a bad day or needed a boost; but my grander vision was that people would pass these on spontaneously to seeming strangers –

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
-to anyone who looked like they would benefit from a small gesture, a little happy, that came out of the blue & proved to them someone cared, the Universe cares.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Then I came up with our tag-line:

“A Little Happy Goes a Long Way”

I hope these Little Happys span the globe – to travel over continents & bodies of water, over cultural differences & language barriers, past financial problems & economic crises, through the hands of people who would otherwise remain unconnected.

Please send me your Happy Little Story – tell me how far your Little Happy traveled – tell me who you shared yours with – tell me who shared theirs with you. Let's all create a web of happiness as far as we can imagine.

In happiness, ~girlgolite♥



Monday, April 20, 2009

Happy Baja Times


The trip to Northern Baja was exceptionally terrific and very relaxing. Spent lots of time just wandering over lava rocks on the beach, discovering tiny little communities of sea creatures of all shapes and colors. It was a back-to-nature kind of time I felt lucky to have.


I also met Carlos - from a few posts ago - who my husband gave a Little Happy to - he's as delightful in person as I expected him to be.


As always - so much to be happy for. Hope you're finding your happiness, too.


~girlgolite

Monday, April 6, 2009

Happy Travels For Me!


Happiness abounds...

My Dad made it successfully through his heart surgery last week and I am steeped in gratitude.

Now I'm off to visit him and my Mom and then on down to Baja California - along the way and throughout, I intend to celebrate my gratitude through giving many Little Happys to those whose paths I cross.

I've been passing out Happys and the fun of sharing them hasn't diminished in the least. The simplicity of my endeavor makes it possible - and so, in order to keep this project manageable, and in the face of other obligations, I have decided to keep it as simple as I can. That means those Contest Happys that have already gone out will be part of a limited release - a test project - that may not be repeated. All I ever really hoped for this project was that I could spread happiness in a way that represented my spirit - and that through my efforts, others might be connected in a Happy web. The more complicated I make it, the less likely I am to continue. Simple and sustainable - that's my motto!

Cheers to continued happiness. I'll be back after the 15th - til then - LIVE YOUR HAPPINESS!


~girlgolite :)

Monday, March 30, 2009

HAPPY April


I can't believe it's April!

Happys went out last week to New York, North Carolina & Idaho! The ribbon of Happys continues to grow...

My Dad is having heart surgery this week, so if all you Happy Friends can keep a happy in your hearts for him and think good thoughts, I would greatly appreciate it!

Pockets-full of happiness to each and every one of you.

~ girlgolite ♥


Friday, March 20, 2009

Welcome Spring!

It's Spring and time for colorful celebrations!

Here's a Happy Story from a special Team Member in New Jersey:

"I also gave a Little Happy to the janitor who works in my office building. She seemed very surprised and thankful and said the Little Happy was "SO CUTE"! It definitely put a smile on her face! Good to see her smiling as I am thankful for the hard work she does around our office. I usually stay pretty late and see her after hours cleaning away. She deserved the thanks and the "pick me up" for a job well-done!"

Exactly the kind of stories we like to hear. An unsung hero getting a pat on the back and a message of friendship in unlikely circumstances.

I've been a little pokey about getting the contest really up and running...but I haven't forgotten!

Have a wonderful, first weekend of Spring.

~girlgolite ♥

Friday, March 13, 2009

HAPPY Friday


Welcome to the end of the work week! In the spirit of happy work environments, here's a note from a Happy Ambassador in New Jersey:


"I also gave one to my boss who was thrilled to get it, and said, "WOW that it SO CUTE!" and she smiled BIG!"


How many times do we get to make our bosses smile for something not work-related? Probably not often enough. Boss's are people, too!

Many more Happys have been sent off to float thru the world and hopefully make it a happier place! I've also started sending out the numbered Happys for the contest. It'll be fun to watch them travel.

Aren't you excited to be part of something that's all about Happy and nothing but Happy?

Here's to your weekend - and your Happy!

~girlgolite

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Happy Stories Are Emerging


After the heartwarming tale of Carlos, a mini-avalanche of stories came in yesterday - SUPER! Here's one:

"Two of my Little Happys have found homes. I was at my local Hallmark store yesterday and gave them to two of the clerks there, who had frazzled "It's Monday" looks on their faces. They loved their Happys.

...Spreading Little Happys all over southeast Wisconsin..."

We all know how difficult it must be to work in most kinds of retail jobs right now. I bet those two clerks were buoyed by the gesture of kindness from our Happy Ambassador in Wisconsin. Good going, Amy!!!!

More Happy stories on the way tomorrow!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Little Happy goes to Mexico!










Que divertido!

A Little Happy was shared in Mexico - yay! The picture above shows Carlos, a lovely man down in San Felipe, Baja California. My husband was down there for a quick trip and spotted Carlos selling magazines and odds and ends out of his trunk. He also noticed that Carlos gave a big smile and a thumbs up to everyone who passed by - no matter whether they stopped to buy anything or not - he was a human drop of sunshine. Definitely a fellow deserving of a Little Happy of recognition.
Coincidentally - or not (???) - our newest Happy Ambassador is from Tennessee - and do you see what's written on Carlos' sweatshirt? Imagine that.
And the Contest I promised to provide details for? Have me mail you (for free) one Little Happy - it'll be numbered. The contest is to see who can make their Little Happy travel the farthest and widest by mailing it someone you know...and they mail it on to someone they know...and so on and so on and so on... Each person who receives the Happy, if possible, is to take a picture of Little Happy somewhere in their area - at home, downtown, in front of a famous landmark - wherever - then email the photo to me at girlgolite@gmail.com. After they've taken the picture and enjoyed Happy for a few days, they mail it on to the person of their choice - and the chain of happiness will grow! I'll keep all photos in a gallery we can all enjoy and the contest results will be continually updated and we hope to create a map to show the flight patterns of our Happys (cute husband who went to Mexico is in charge of that technical step). The numbers on the Happys will help us keep them all straight. I'll be posting the contest details in a few other online places - we'll see who decides to join in the fun.
I'll be fleshing out further details over the next day or so and I'll post a pic of the contest packets I'll be mailing out.
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!
~girlgolite

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Happy March Everyone



Happy March to All!

I'm working on a new way for the Little Happys to travel far and wide - a little contest that will be a fun experiment...look for the unveiling early next week.

Spending the next few days making a stockpile of Happys, fleshing out the contest and letting my creativity bloom...oh and passing out Happys whenever possible.

Til next time...I hope you all find ways to be and share happy.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Making a Happy Saturday


I had a friendly reminder yesterday, from one of my favorite sources of daily inspiration, The Daily Good Dog Quotes. The email was signed off with "Hope you decide to have a good weekend".

Last night, while watching t.v., I cut out what felt like 100s of Happy 'fixins'. If I cut a whole bunch ahead of time, it makes it much easier to make them. This was my preparation for having a good weekend - creating the components for lots of Happys.

Looking at the faces of all the Little Happys I made this morning, I had no choice but to work with a smile on my own face.

However long it takes for Happy Stories to filter back to me no longer matters - at least not as much as it once did. I know these tiny little feltie pieces of my heart are out there and that makes ME happy.

Happy weekend, for sure.

~girlgolite

Thursday, February 26, 2009

a little lesson for me


Yesterday I gave a Little Happy to a sweet woman who works at a store in the mall that is closing for good. I don't know if she does or doesn't really need that job, but it is coming to an end and she's as pleasant and helpful as if was their Grand Opening. People are scrounging thru the racks of deeply-discounted clothing and she floats happily thru the store, tidying up the messes they create and answering the same 'how much is this?" question 500 times, even though there are signs everywhere telling you the price of everything. What I admire most about her is that both times I've been in that store, she's sweet as pie. I like people who put that kind of happy energy out in the world around them and I wanted her to feel my gratitude thru that Little Happy.


I realized something yesterday. I'm pretty shy and feel a bit awkward passing these Happys out and it really dawned on me why. If someone came up to me and handed me a little feltie whatnot, I'd be hesitant to accept it. I'd wonder what the catch was. And I expect other people to act the same way and I don't want to be made to feel embarrassed by them rejecting my gesture. While I was thinking to myself, 'what a shame if people can't just take my happy without suspicion' I quickly realized -- 'it's exactly how I would react".


Passing these Happys out will make me a more open person - looking first to understand, rather than to be understood.


Happy Thursday to you all.


~girlgolite

Monday, February 23, 2009

Rainy Day, Happy Day


Hello Happy People


I gave a Little Happy to my favorite Costco employee today. She always has a big, bright smile for me when I show her my membership card on the way in and she always says something nice - and more meaningful than just a robotic 'have a nice day'. She tells me I have a nice smile and she looks me in the eye. She definitely seemed like someone who I should share a Little Happy with. She accepted it with delight. The happy little buzzy feeling I get from these exchanges lasts for quite a while and makes me that much friendlier to those whose eyes I meet.


If you join our newly formed Yahoo group (button to join is on the upper right of this blog), you'll receive frequent updates and you'll have access to my basic little instruction sheet on how to make your own Little Happys, if you so choose. I've opened up to the idea of our Happy Ambassadors making their own versions (whether near replicas of mine, or their own vision) so that the Project isn't squelched by my limited manpower. If you do want to make your own, I'll be happy to send you the little hangtags that go along with them. I'm always just an email away. Just keep everything appropriate and G-rated if you're going to link it back to Happygolitely, that's all I ask.


Happy branches are forming and our happy little team is growing. One and all are welcome.


To echo the words of that dear Oscar winner last night, "Choose Love".


~girlgolite

Friday, February 20, 2009

Spreading Happiness

Today was the first time I really had a chance to get out and share Little Happys myself. I had a work engagement in downtown San Francisco and loaded up with a hot-off-the-presses batch. I ended up giving them all to homeless people - it just seemed they needed them the most of anyone I saw. I realize these folks probably don't have computers, so I won't know the stories of these happys - but I do know each time I passed one out, I felt like I was giving that person a little bit of my heart and it was a wonderful feeling. I also left a happy in a random brochure holder - we'll see if that one reaches someone who ends up telling their story.

The original intent of this Project was to brighten peoples' days. I got some really nice smiles out of the folks I gave them to - and that alone was worth it. While I'm sure homeless people appreciate and need any change I might be able to give them, giving these cheerful, colorful happys felt much more personal and I looked them in the eye in a way I don't when I'm giving them a few coins.

I can't WAIT to pass out more.

~girlgolite

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Happy Flowers Blooming

Somos internacional!! We have our first Happy Ambassador outside the US - welcome to our newest Happygolitely Team member in Argentina! We've also added another in Ohio!

Working diligently on batches of Happys. Exciting things brewing and more to come soon! Working with lots of great people to help our project grow wings.

Happy to all,

girlgolite

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

ANOTHER Happy Ambassador


The Happygolitely Team has branched out to Wisconsin! Yet one more Happy Ambassador has joined our cheerful ranks. Yay!!


Okay - posts from here on out will be about the giving and receiving of these Little Happys (and any other Happy Stories I hear) - so start sending me your great happy adventures. I intend to start Happy Campaigning throughout the SF Bay Area in the next week (lotsa Happys to make before then!) - especially on Valentines Day...Happy L♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ve.


Come on Get Happy!


girlgolite♥

Monday, February 9, 2009

Three New Happy Ambassadors!


Welcome to my three new happy ambassadors - from two states other than my own (Texas and New Jersey!) - who have enthusiastically accepted the challenge of passing on Little Happys to the world around them.

One of our new Happy Friends in Texas has already been passing out her version of Happys - here's what she wrote and I found it inspiring:

"I like to smile at people who are frowning and see them smile back, I randomly gave my bus driver a mixed cd once and valentines candy on valentines day. I gave a convenience store worker a gift card around christmas and he gave me back a bottle of wine...you never know how many people just need some human compassion in their lives. ;-)"

Well said!

I can't wait to start getting lots of Little Happy stories. There is joy in anticipation!!

-girlgolite♥

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Free Little Happys, too!

UPDATE 02.12.09 - THE PAPER HAPPYS JUST WEREN'T AS EXCITING - SO I CHANGED THE FREE OFFER TO TWO FELTIE HAPPYS AS LONG AS I RECEIVE A SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED ENVELOPE (WITH 83cents) TO THE HAPPYGOLITELY PROJECT ADDRESS. CAN'T SCRIMP ON HAPPY NOW CAN WE??


Thought you all might like to see what the free version of Little Happys look like. They're essentially pictures of the little feltie ones. The back has directions if people would like to participate in The Project...but hey - it's always okay if people just want to love their Little Happys and do nothing more.

I'm still sending out FREE feltie versions to those who want to be Happy Ambassadors - and I have room to add on a few more. Let me know - I'm only an email away (girlgolite@gmail.com). I'm especially interested in getting these out beyond the borders of California and the US.

Happy Happy! girlgolite♥

Friday, February 6, 2009

Little Happys Set Sail Tomorrow


Tomorrow I will send out the first batch of Little Happys. These aren't yet people who've ordered them - but a select and special few who I've chosen to set the course for these Little Happys to filter out into the world and into the hands of those for whom they were meant. I hope to send many, many, many more such packages.


Blowing on that giant dandelion of happiness!

~girlgolite