Do you know about the Museum of Happiness? It seems, to us, such a timely venture. As they put it, ‘The Museum of Happiness was born in 2015 after its co-founders, youth and resilience mentor Vicky Johnson and mindfulness trainer and author Shamash Alidina met at the Vauxhall Community Centre in 2014 and realised that they shared a vision to spread more peace, love and happiness in the world!’

A not-for-profit organisation, they base their work in research-backed positive psychology, ‘focusing on mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude and self-care’. Scooping lots of awards, from a World Peace Award to the East London Innovator Award (and one of Facebook’s Top 100 Community Organisations in the World, they generally focus on live events. And we know what’s happened to THOSE…

So now, their ‘Miles of Smiles’ campaign is seeking to put together 1,760 community stories, photos and happy memories of things we feel grateful for. The intention of this campaign is to connect, spread some smiles and share the science and power of gratitude, at what is a tough time for the whole world right now.  

And YOU can take part, simply by uploading a photo to social media. Here’s how, according to the Museum of Happiness…

Picture 1: Take a photo of something you’re grateful for. Or why not get creative? Draw and then photograph what you’re  grateful for (a great exercise to do with children!)

Picture 2: 16 or over? Take a selfie of your smiling face!

Picture 3: Under 16? Brilliant! We want as many young people to learn the power of gratitude, but please no visible face shots of those under 16 (sorry). Why not draw your smiling face instead?

• STEP 1 Add your photos to your Instagram or Facebook post

• STEP 2 Copy the text in the grey box below

• STEP 3 Edit it and add what you’re grateful for! Hashtag it #milesofsmiles so the Museum of Happiness can find you!

• STEP 4 Nominate three friends to ensure as many people as possible learn the power of gratitude! : )

Then copy one of the texts below, in your Instagram or Facebook caption…

• I am grateful for ... add your own words, here

• 
Let’s create a Mile of Smiles and make it a kinder, happier world together! I nominate (friend one, friend two, friend three). Use the hashtags: #milesofsmiles @museumhappiness

•  Scroll down their site following the link here for free resources to discover the benefits of gratitude

We love the Museum of Happiness’s quote: ‘We can’t stop the waves, but we can learn to surf,’ from Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Quite so…

For further resources and to find out more, visit museumofhappiness.com/miles-of-smiles

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