Have A Happy Hour

Be Happy:  Have A Happy Hour

Whatever thoughts are causing you pain, they are only thoughts.

You can change a thought. Happiness is a daily decision.  

-- Andrew Matthews

This morning I read an article in the Philippine Star Column of Soul Train by Katrina A. Holigores entitled “Have a Happy Hour:  The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation launches a new campaign. and was inspired to share this with you.

The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF) was set up in 2007 by Jeanne Goulbourn and a group of friends from various sectors in memory of her late daughter, Natasha Goulbourn who suffered from depression.  This foundation aims to educate and inform people all about depression – what causes it, how to manage it and how to heal from it.

Just recently, NGF has launched its new campaign, “Be Happy!”  The movement aims to bring light to depression by empowering every person to consciously make an effort to find happiness in their lives.  People are encouraged to set aside an hour each day to be happy or give happiness to others and live happier lives one day at a time. 

The foundation is trying everything to catch people who may be on the road to depression.  As Jeanne Goulbourn realized after the sudden death of her daughter, “Depression is a condition that knows no social class; it could strike anyone regardless of intelligence, educational attainment and financial standing.” 

Dr. Lou Casimiro-Querubin, a psychiatrist at The Medical City depicted depression as a hidden illness, which does not confine itself to a specific group of people.  According to Dr. Querubin, the symptoms are so common that it is easy to mistake them for an ordinary feeling of “the blues” that we all have at some point in our lives.  Physically, there may be frequent headaches, fatigue, disturbed sleep, lack of energy, dizziness, pain, gastrointestinal complaints, sexual dysfunction and menstrual problems.  Emotionally, there may be a constant “low” feeling, anhedonia or inability to derive pleasure out of things that used to give one great satisfaction, a sense of guilt, hopelessness, low self-esteem, impaired memory, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, anger and irritability.  It takes anywhere between two weeks and two years for these symptoms before the onset of a major depressive episode. (Source: Manila Standard Today June 1, 2011 issue)

It is a fact that one in seven individuals will suffer from depression at least once in their lifetime.  However, the trouble is… they are not even aware of it.

Depression can take on many forms, and it can take root from something seemingly trivial.  Each person has a different perspective on how they view life, how they see and handle things that come their way.  One thing can have a deep impact on me, but could be a no big deal for you.

I’m sharing this “Be Happy!” movement with you because infertility is a very stressful event in a person’s life and could lead to depression if we do not consciously make an effort to fight it.  Some would not understand why infertility can lead to depression, but those who are in this infertility journey will surely agree with me that at one point in their lives, they have experienced depression – the feeling of hopelessness, sadness, anger, pessimism and a general loss of interest in life.

So, this “Be Happy!” movement is very helpful for us... It serves as a reminder for us to give ourselves a Happy Hour each day.  It enables us to break away from the pressures, the worries, and the burden of infertility or life in general and deliberately change our thoughts from sadness to happiness by doing something that makes us happy.  Or at least, through this conscious effort to be happy, we find a way to deal with our “lemons” with more positivity.  Having a “happy hour” is essential to keep you balanced and healthy in body, mind, and spirit. 

There is a My Happy Hour page on Facebook where people share their stories about how they spend their happy hour for that day.  As of the moment, there are two hundred and two people who liked My Happy Hour including me.  With the help of social media, more and more people will be aware of this foundation’s core mission – What is it that you do or can do to go from sad to happy?  Here are what some people have written so far:  Spending quality time with family and friends.  Eating good food.  Trying something new.  Playing games.  Sleeping.    And like me, writing my latest blog post and sharing it with you.  It’s basically just about making yourself happy or someone else happy.

Let us help each other rise through the pains and heartaches of infertility and learn to appreciate and see the brighter side of life.  Let us reinforce each other in celebrating the little joys of life as we journey through infertility.  Let us find joy in the simple pleasures of life.      

So, how about you?  How will you spend your happy hour?  Go forth and make you own happy hour, share your story and inspire others to do the same.