March 3rd is I Want You to Be Happy Day (It's Not All About Me)

I Want You To Be Happy Day

After having taken time to reflect on yourself and your own life on March 2^nd's Old Stuff Day, I Want You To Be Happy Day is for taking time to think about someone besides yourself. Generally speaking, our society is one that has an "all about me" mentality. We're a spoiled bunch and want our coffee NOW!, our dry cleaning NOW!, or the driver in front of us to MOVE IT! because doesn't he or she realize we're a princess?! Our technology has enabled us to get most of what we want faster and has created people who expect instant gratification.

Living in this society forever (so far), I can attest to finding myself thinking or acting in typically selfish ways at times. Even though, I never mind waiting for a good latte at my favorite coffee shop and am generally a rather patient person. Overall, I could work on being less self-centered and a better listener. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves that we fail to notice others around us.

What will you do for someone on I Want You To Be Happy Day? Here are eleven suggestions if you're too selfish to think of anything on your own...I'm half joking, but no, seriously:

1. Say 'I Love You' to someone special.
2. Smile at someone.
3. Hold the door for someone at the store.
4. Volunteer
5. Call to ask how a person is doing.
6. Really listen.
7. Give someone a compliment. Be genuine or they'll likely know you're faking even if you think you're a good actor.
8. Spend quality time with someone and actually spend time with them instead of having side conversations the whole time via stupid texting or on your laptop.
9. Offer positive encouragement to someone in need of it.
10. Say hello to a stranger.
11. Take someone to lunch or buy them a coffee. (The only idea that might cost you a couple of dollars)

When we think of others and do something for others to make them happy, we ultimately feel better about ourselves. That's especially a bonus for those who really need the action to benefit themselves in some way.

All smart alec-ness aside, I Want You To Be Happy Day is a good day to remind us that someone can sincerely benefit from our random acts of kindness. When we take strides to help others or do little things so people know they are important in this great big world of people, they are likely to take that warm feeling of care and acceptance and extend the same kindness to someone else. I suppose you could say it's the pay-it-forward concept. A happy world is a better world.

Two Other Holidays on This Day

If Pets Had Thumbs Day

March 3^rd is also If Pets Had Thumbs Day. Obviously they could do more things with their hands. My ferrets still couldn't open doors because they aren't tall enough to reach most door handles. Unless of course they were strong enough to grasp a chair and pull it to the door so they could reach the handle. If our pets had opposable thumbs, they could develop better fine motor skills. I have to say that our chinchilla has rather good fine motor skills already. I also have to say that our other critters are very skilled just as they are. If our ferrets had opposable thumbs I might try to get them to pick up their own poop. I would imagine if pets had thumbs they would be able to do many things with their "hands" just as we do. It would certainly be a different world. I can't ponder on this holiday further. Feel free to add any profound insight in the comments section.

Peach Blossom Day

March 3^rd is also Peach Blossom Day. According to Holiday Insights (n.d.), Peach Blossom Day may have originated in Japan. In Japan, a Doll Festival takes place on March 3^rd and Peach Blossom Day apparently is linked with not only the peach trees blooming but is about girls and their bloom into young adulthood (Holiday Insights, n.d.). I appreciate the peach orchard for its fruit. A walk through a peach orchard at blossom time would be visually enjoyable, fragrant, and a fine signal of the entrance of spring.

References:

Holiday Insights. (n.d.) Peach blossom day. Retrieved from http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/March/peachblossomday.htm