The UN created the International Day of Happiness in 2013 – celebrated on 20^th March each year. It’s not just a day for us all to do our best to be happy, or make others happy. It’s much more than that, and in 2015 the UN launched 17 ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ focusing on essential components of happiness and well-being: an end to poverty, the reduction of inequality, and the protection of our planet.

Spring is the season when new growth begins and changes happen all around us. The days are longer and brighter, they are starting to get warmer – although not today, it’s freezing out there! – snowdrops, daffodils, and crocuses are starting to bloom and our emotions are lifted.

Is Happiness Overrated?

A couple of weeks ago I read that the new global vice-president of creative, connections and digital at Coca Cola, Rodolfo Echeverria, said “What I can say about ‘Open happiness’, and happiness as a concept, is that it’s overused," he said. "Everything is about happiness – there are so many books about happiness, there’s Pharrell’s ‘Happy’. Happiness is an over utilised word in current, contemporary culture."

Grieving Celebrities

We’ve lost some huge celebrity names in the last few weeks. It all started when Motorhead singer Lemmy Kilmister died of cancer at 70 on 28^th December. And then it seemed we couldn’t switch on the news or check social media without hearing that another well-known person had died; Natalie Cole, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Dan Haggerty and Glen Frey, all gone suddenly and all too young. Each one led to a flurry of coverage and an outpouring of accolades and love from other celebrities and ‘ordinary Joes’ alike.