[2022-03-20] Launch of the Jenesis Happiness Award
Today, March 20, is International Day of Happiness—a day designated by the United Nations to recognize the importance of happiness and well-being in the lives of human beings around the world. As explained by the folks at dayofhappiness.net:
In 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which recognised happiness as a "fundamental human goal" and called for "a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples".
In 2012 the first ever UN conference on Happiness took place and the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which decreed that the International Day of Happiness would be observed every year on 20 March. It was celebrated for the first time in 2013.
I've been celebrating International Day of Happiness for quite a few years, often using it as the day to launch, or announce the winner of, the Happiness-at-Work Award. I launched the first Happiness-at-Work Award in 2009 and ran it annually until 2017, tying it to the International Day of Happiness in the later years. I would invite my colleagues—first in Natural Resources Canada, where I worked in the early days of the award, and then across the federal public service—to nominate individuals who brought happiness to them and others. I would name the winner of the award to be the person who received the most nominations. It was so fulfilling to read the stories of my fellow employees as they described the kind, thoughtful and selfless things certain individuals did for them. And it was a pleasure to inform one person that they were especially appreciated by their colleagues.
So, in that spirit, today, I am launching the Jenesis Happiness Award. I know that it can be hard to feel happy when so many people in the world are facing strife, when we are all still mired in the pandemic, and when our own struggles or those of loved ones may be bringing us down. Nevertheless, even in the midst of our own challenges, we often recognize the happiness that someone brings to our lives. It could be a family member, a friend or a stranger, such as the person who helps us find the exact thing we need in a crowded store, the family member who helps us complete a project, or the friend who lends a supportive ear.
This contest will run from March 20 to May 2, the start of Mental Health Week in Canada. You can nominate anyone, anywhere, who makes you happy. You can send your nominations to me via email (jenhollington@gmail.com) or in response to my posts about the Happiness Award on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.
When you send me your description of your nominee's good deeds, please indicate whether I can share your story and your name with the nominee or whether you would like to remain anonymous.
Of course, nothing stops you from telling someone how wonderful they make you feel. But my experience is that the Happiness-at-Work Award—and I expect the same to be true of the Jenesis Happiness Award—is that people often engage when given the opportunity to publicly thank someone who makes their life better.
I'll take some time after May 2 to compile the nominations and to announce the winner. The more nominations I get, the longer it will take to share the results. I'll come up with an appropriate prize for the winner in due course.
Have fun with your nominations. Show the people in your life who make you happy just what they mean to you.
