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When Laura Lavigne signed a lease on the Center for Happiness' Ballroom in 2011, she was aching for Community. Her kids were growing up and she could feel a painfully strong yearning for more Connection.
She was not sure how it would play out but she knew that for sure, the first things she needed a container. Very soon, the Ballroom became a beautiful, welcoming, safe container for ... whatever wanted to happen. As the months passed, Connection happened as a small group of passionately supportive people started to gather regularly at the Center for Happiness for workshops, classes, or a piece of chocolate and a hug. Barely a year later, the Happiness Sprinkling Project was born, and then one late Tuesday night, again yearning for Connection, Laura launched the 90-day Gratitude Attitude Challenge, on Facebook. Within days, another community was born, online this time. After 90 days passed two things became obvious: 1) there was no way 90 days were going to be enough (the group still exists, grows and thrives) and 2) Laura had a knack for creating fertile containers for Community. Since then, new communities have been formed, each with its own Form of the same mission: to bring Joy, Ease, Community and Kindness to anyone that crosses their path. Countless lives have been enriched, deep friendships born and nurtured as the lines between online and off line have become beautifully blurred. |
I felt a real sense of joy when I entered the center last night. You have created a very special atmosphere and space for people to come together. It was like a warm light of happiness overcame me. Thank you for that.“
“I don’t know what life would be like without the 90-Day Gratitude Group or without the Center for Happiness” “I love all my concerts and I put my heart into my singing always. But sometimes there is a special gathering of people, or the place and time simply evoke a certain atmosphere that makes my songs seem more natural and right. All those things happened at the Center for Happiness. I just talked as if I were talking to a friend in a coffee shop, telling stories and mentioning whatever came to me in the moment. As I sang it felt like every one of us was living inside the notes and lyrics. It occurred to me about halfway through that what I was experiencing was the sensation of a roomful of people having no separation between us. I remember telling the audience about this – though I do not know if I articulated it very well at the time. That probably didn’t matter, because they knew already” - Michael Tomlinson “I love The Center! The feeling I get just walking through the doors is amazing, not to mention how I feel after I have taken one of the classes that I am very quickly becoming addicted to! You have created a wonderful place and I am so very happy that I found you!” “Thank YOU for touching people’s lives the way you do with your loving energy. Without you and your creation of the Center for Happiness, this, and all other happiness “adventures,” would not be possible.” |
THE essences of our communities are:
Simplicity, joy, community, generosity and kindness.
Here are some of our current Happiness Communities:
YOU, yes YOU are invited to join in the goodness - or to create your own (and we will be glad to help with that)
The Happy Café:
The (free) Happy Café is very simple.
We get up very early to bake delicious pastries.
We create a pop up café in a location that is likely to foster lots of Joy.
We make sure to have music, bubbles, smiles, small tables with flowers, too.
We hand out pastries and invite people to sit for a while and enjoy the moment, connect with each other if they'd like.
The 90-Day Gratitude Attitude Challenge
Affectionately known as The Gratitude Page and hosted on Facebook, this is an online container for us to share "the gifts" we have received that day. Simply. This community, now international, has been a very important support for many of its members. We deeply believe that stating our Gratitude each day is a clear path towards more Happiness in our lives. What are you grateful for? Come on over.
A Day in Happyville
We inspired artists, music makers, cotton candy spinners, giant bubbles whisperers and more to create one magical day at our local park. It took work and it made hundred of smiles. We would be happy to shar with you what we have learned in creating this bouquet of happiness.
Lighten Up!
Born from Laura's deep belief that the objects in our lives should either serve us or delight us in order to make room for Joy and Magic, this Facebook group borrows its name from one of her signature courses. This group is designed for us to offer the things that no longer belong in our lives, or ask for the ones that will. There is no money exchange and no barter and in the process, some lovely interactions have lead to friendship and of course, Community. If you happen to live near Anacortes, WA, come on over. If you don't, consider creating your own.
Happy Ice Cream Day
Simple: on a sunny day, we show up at a beach park and serve hundreds of scoops of free ice cream. Add a little music, hula hoop and many families, and voila! The joy meter is pegged.
AHH
Anacortes Happy Hour. Another Facebook community, AHH is based on the idea that we often have one hour to give to someone, and that this one hour could make a huge difference in someone's life. In this group, we can ask for one hour ("I need someone to come over and weed my flower bed"), or offer an hour ("I have some time Wednesday afternoon and would be happy to run some errands for someone.") Again, if you are near Anacortes, come on by. If not, you may want to create your own.
Community Dinners
Decide on a low-cost restaurant and make a general invitation for people to come over and share a meal.
Laura's Happiness Retreats
Fly (or ride a ferry) somewhere beautiful and experience Connection, Joy and Transformation.
Dinner en Blanc
Community Potlucks
Same as above, but in a park or a private venue. Everyone brings a dish. We have found it to be much sweeter when the potluck is "family style" than "buffet style." Not as quick but it allows everyone to start eating at the same time, as well as to interact as they pass the dishes to one another. Asking for set up help and clean up help is a great way to foster Community as well.
Gratitude Potlucks
Same as above with an emphasis on Gratitude. We take turn sharing what we are grateful for. These potlucks sometimes include a simple joint project such as sending postcards to someone who is not well.
The Happiness Sprinkling Project
Our Biggest, most beautiful project.
The Happy Café:
The (free) Happy Café is very simple.
We get up very early to bake delicious pastries.
We create a pop up café in a location that is likely to foster lots of Joy.
We make sure to have music, bubbles, smiles, small tables with flowers, too.
We hand out pastries and invite people to sit for a while and enjoy the moment, connect with each other if they'd like.
The 90-Day Gratitude Attitude Challenge
Affectionately known as The Gratitude Page and hosted on Facebook, this is an online container for us to share "the gifts" we have received that day. Simply. This community, now international, has been a very important support for many of its members. We deeply believe that stating our Gratitude each day is a clear path towards more Happiness in our lives. What are you grateful for? Come on over.
A Day in Happyville
We inspired artists, music makers, cotton candy spinners, giant bubbles whisperers and more to create one magical day at our local park. It took work and it made hundred of smiles. We would be happy to shar with you what we have learned in creating this bouquet of happiness.
Lighten Up!
Born from Laura's deep belief that the objects in our lives should either serve us or delight us in order to make room for Joy and Magic, this Facebook group borrows its name from one of her signature courses. This group is designed for us to offer the things that no longer belong in our lives, or ask for the ones that will. There is no money exchange and no barter and in the process, some lovely interactions have lead to friendship and of course, Community. If you happen to live near Anacortes, WA, come on over. If you don't, consider creating your own.
Happy Ice Cream Day
Simple: on a sunny day, we show up at a beach park and serve hundreds of scoops of free ice cream. Add a little music, hula hoop and many families, and voila! The joy meter is pegged.
AHH
Anacortes Happy Hour. Another Facebook community, AHH is based on the idea that we often have one hour to give to someone, and that this one hour could make a huge difference in someone's life. In this group, we can ask for one hour ("I need someone to come over and weed my flower bed"), or offer an hour ("I have some time Wednesday afternoon and would be happy to run some errands for someone.") Again, if you are near Anacortes, come on by. If not, you may want to create your own.
Community Dinners
Decide on a low-cost restaurant and make a general invitation for people to come over and share a meal.
Laura's Happiness Retreats
Fly (or ride a ferry) somewhere beautiful and experience Connection, Joy and Transformation.
Dinner en Blanc
Community Potlucks
Same as above, but in a park or a private venue. Everyone brings a dish. We have found it to be much sweeter when the potluck is "family style" than "buffet style." Not as quick but it allows everyone to start eating at the same time, as well as to interact as they pass the dishes to one another. Asking for set up help and clean up help is a great way to foster Community as well.
Gratitude Potlucks
Same as above with an emphasis on Gratitude. We take turn sharing what we are grateful for. These potlucks sometimes include a simple joint project such as sending postcards to someone who is not well.
The Happiness Sprinkling Project
Our Biggest, most beautiful project.
