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

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

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

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

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

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♥

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♥

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♥

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