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make someone happy: no. 01

Make Someone Happy - No.01: Up in the Air

 

I'll never forget that morning 11 years ago as I watched the world change forever. As I took the subway from Brooklyn into Manhattan on my way to work, I watched it all unfold from my stalled train under the Manhattan Bridge. The ability to see the strength in people and the joy we can bring to one another when we're down came alive for me after that day.

For the last few months, I've been thinking a lot about what brings me joy. Sure, I love a good polka dotted top or a great hair accessory…but making other people happy really tops that list. So, I've decided to start a new series called "Make Someone Happy". Once or twice a month, I'll share something you can make, do, say, or give someone simply to bring a smile to someone's face. Maybe it's something you do for someone you love…or maybe it's a for complete stranger. Those moments of happiness are so important to give others…especially on a day like today… 

ps. Special thanks to Jihan from Geronimo Balloons for being my special guest & for letting us film in her beautiful studio!

{video by Modshift, music by "In Love" by The Hugs – licensed from With Etiquette, my dress by Anthropologie, shoes by Kate Spade from a past season, belt is vintage, hair pouf by Ban.do.}

82 comments

  1. What an adorable way to perk up someone’s day! I really think there needs to be more secret happy making in stranger’s lives. Well done!

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  4. I love the new design. The video was super fun.
    I’ve been thinking a lot about cultivating joy lately. Thanks for sharing some of yours with us.

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  7. Too cute! Can you bring some balloons by my office 😉
    I’d have loved to see the looks on the peoples’ faces who stumbled upon your sweet surprise.

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  16. Joy, what an inspiring idea. I think your joy is contagious, so look forward to more posts like these. Thanks for the thought behind this series.
    x Elena Randomly Happy

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  19. What a beautiful idea! My dad always told me growing up that “random acts of kindness” are the essence of being a good person – that those little moments are what truly speak to our integrity. I’ve always tried to keep that in mind going through my daily life, but I love your idea of making sweet things to make someone smile. I’ll absolutely be tuning in!
    xo,
    Morgan
    seemomogo.blogspot.com

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  32. This made me smile from ear to ear! Along with your cheery new logo, and the blog turning a new leaf, there’s plenty to be happy about. Can’t wait to see more from this series.

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  36. Love this! Just watching definitely made me happy! One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to send birthday cards — I am pretty sure those have been making people happy all year and it’s so fun to do!

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  37. LOVE this! I wish more people would do things like this or simply just smile or be friendlier to people they don’t know! A little kindness goes a long way

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  38. I love this idea. Lately I’ve started thinking about my New Year’s resolution, which in the last few years has turned into a challenge of sorts. In 2011, I read one nonfiction book a month to kick start my love of reading again. This year, I’m making a layer cake each month (good posts for my infant blog). While I think I’ll institute another cooking challenge for fun, I keep feeling like I should do something in my personal life to reconnect or stay connected to friends and family. Something small, but something meaningful. I’m excited to see what you have to share.

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  40. such a cute video, joy! and i love the idea of making people happy. thanks for sharing this and encouraging me to step beyond the ordinary to add some extra happiness to the space around me.

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  50. This is a fantastic idea! The world today needs something to bring in more smile power!
    You reminded me a bit of the movie “pay it forward”- if you haven’t seen it, do so sometime, it’s totally worth it!
    I will try to make some of your ideas true here, in Cyprus, our small island in the Mediterranean!

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  52. So lovely and absolutely inspiring!! Big love for this idea, sometimes it can take just the tiniest thing to make someone’s day turn from bad to good. I’ve had a pretty rough day but this bought a smile to my face and reminded me that actually its not all bad. Thank you!

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  53. Lovely, lovely, lovely !
    I love that idea of just finding something joyful and you don’t know who put it there 🙂
    What a great series to start, we all need that kind of stuff !!

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  62. This is wonderful, the idea and the video concept 🙂 You even inspired me to start my own series of post of such beautiful things at happyby.blogspot.com. Thank you Joy!

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  66. This is such a great and worthy project! Today I’m discussing service in class and I think that I’ll show them this clip. I believe that service is about connection and connection in turn makes people feel happy and valued. Thank you!

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  73. I’m looking forward to this series! I love this idea and I’m especially glad that you started it on 9/11, because for me it’s always been a most special day being that it’s my birthday! Thank you! : )

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  75. …spread love with baloons 😉 I like it. I’ve allways loved balloons, just yesterday I posted about a different way to surprise with one, nice balloons made in Mexico!

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  76. I love love love this new series, makes me happy just to think about it! please keep sharing these ideas. plus the video + music was super cute

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  78. Love this, Joy. Maybe you would like the project I’ve recently started, The Blank Canvas project. People sign up, and I send them a small blank canvas. Then they leave it somewhere in public, and snap a photo, which they send into the site. Then hopefully people will find the little canvas in its new home (which has the web address printed on the back of the canvas) and become involved too, spreading positivity and happiness exponentially!
    http://www.thebcp.org

    Reply

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