Why overthink happiness? My happy place project is a simple act of creative joy.
The happy place I paint reminds me of somewhere that fills my heart with joy. I use colours, textures and materials that I love working with and seeing together. I use them as breaks from my creative work. I sit on the floor of my office and I paint until I'm happy with what I've made. It's a wonderful and simple process that is relaxing and inspiring - my imagination wanders - worry and doubt take a break too.
Sometimes when I'm done painting, what I've made sits on my desk and I JUST LOVE IT for a few days. After I've had my time with it, we take it to a location that also brings joy – a Happy Place. (this is the part that hubby likes best – the 'where are we taking it? can we take it now?' adventure part) Once it's in a happy place, we leave it for someone to find.
Happy Places are personal and picked after the artwork is done and in my hands. The common theme in selecting a happy place for the 'drop' is that it stands out as a happy memory or experience. A happy place usually involves a road trip, hike, or adventure of some kind (our favourite thing to do together). Once we're there, we leave the artwork for someone to find. Our hope is that the happiness I had in making it, and the joy we found in adventuring to its hiding spot, continues forward to the person who finds it.
Simple, right?
Each piece is left with a tag. The tag says, 'Hey stranger, Have a happy day!' 'Take me home and love me.' There's a hashtag written on each piece too; inviting finders to see all the other places that David and I have branded 'Happy'. (Just like in life, some people will. Some people won't.)
My happy place project is deceptively, and intentionally, simple.
Think Happy. Make Happy. Share Happy. (Repeat.)
If it ever feels unhappy, stop doing it.
Thanks,
Have a happy day!
Chris & David
The happy place I paint reminds me of somewhere that fills my heart with joy. I use colours, textures and materials that I love working with and seeing together. I use them as breaks from my creative work. I sit on the floor of my office and I paint until I'm happy with what I've made. It's a wonderful and simple process that is relaxing and inspiring - my imagination wanders - worry and doubt take a break too.
Sometimes when I'm done painting, what I've made sits on my desk and I JUST LOVE IT for a few days. After I've had my time with it, we take it to a location that also brings joy – a Happy Place. (this is the part that hubby likes best – the 'where are we taking it? can we take it now?' adventure part) Once it's in a happy place, we leave it for someone to find.
Happy Places are personal and picked after the artwork is done and in my hands. The common theme in selecting a happy place for the 'drop' is that it stands out as a happy memory or experience. A happy place usually involves a road trip, hike, or adventure of some kind (our favourite thing to do together). Once we're there, we leave the artwork for someone to find. Our hope is that the happiness I had in making it, and the joy we found in adventuring to its hiding spot, continues forward to the person who finds it.
Simple, right?
Each piece is left with a tag. The tag says, 'Hey stranger, Have a happy day!' 'Take me home and love me.' There's a hashtag written on each piece too; inviting finders to see all the other places that David and I have branded 'Happy'. (Just like in life, some people will. Some people won't.)
My happy place project is deceptively, and intentionally, simple.
Think Happy. Make Happy. Share Happy. (Repeat.)
If it ever feels unhappy, stop doing it.
Thanks,
Have a happy day!
Chris & David
