Thursday Inspiration: Bright Side of the Road

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artwalk

Imagine our surprise when we stumbled upon this amazing public art installation right around the corner from Happier Headquarters. Our CEO Nataly happened to be on a photo shoot when she passed by this new garden space.

Titled Bright Side of the Road this “guerrilla gardening” is a part of Fort Point’s Art Walk and was created by artists Michael Moss and Claudia Ravaschiere. It brings a burst of color (and happiness) to a previously unused space. They chose to use the color orange because it represents enthusiasm, creativity and vitality – some of the same reasons why we chose Happier orange to represent us! I think this side yard is the perfect addition to our neighborhood. You can find it between buildings on 345 Congress Street. Feel free to stop by to see us too around the corner at 319 A Street.

Learn more about Art Walk here and see more sources of inspiration on my design blog!

Help us support Boston and The One Fund

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BostonStrong_blog

Dear Happier and Boston community,

Happier is a Boston-based happiness company, so when our beloved city was torn apart by the Marathon tragedy our hearts were broken. But we were uplifted by the countless acts of courage, kindness and the outpouring of support for Boston we saw from our community in Happier. (We shared a few of these moments on our blog a few days later.)

We believe that moments of beauty and goodness and yes, even happiness, can be found in even the bleakest of situations. Help us help those who need our support by telling us how Boston makes you happier.

For every happy moment you share in Happier during the week of May 13th about how living in Boston or working in Boston or just thinking about Boston makes you happier, we’ll donate $1 to The One Fund.

The Boston moments you share will become part of a Traveling Wall Of Happy Moments that we hope to share with the hospitals that helped the injured and are continuing to help the healing. Life is made up of moments. Share yours with us. Together we can make Boston stronger — and happier — again.

Please share your happy moments from the Happier app. To download it, please click here.

Thank you,

Nataly & the Happier Team

What makes you happier, Brian Kalma?

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We’re pretty psyched to talk to Brian Kalma this week and find out what makes him happier. Not only do we think he’s a pretty awesome part of the start-up scene in Boston (currently cranking over at Ministry of Supply), but he is a kickass UX designer who got his stripes at a little-know company called Zappos. Follow Brian on Twitter @krianbalma.

briankalma2So Brian, what makes you happier?
I have found that what tends to boost my happiness levels are moments when I see progress towards goals. I used to think the pathway towards being happier was purely about following passions, while I still believe it is a pathway I am starting to learn that there are many happy moments that live outside the boundaries of passion.

Have you realized something about being happier that maybe you didn’t when, well, you were younger?
Yes, basically I learned how much my attitude in general aids my ability to be happier. When I was younger I waited for things to come to me, and when they did not I was sad or upset. As an adult (by age only) I realize that I control my ability to be happier way more than I ever could have imagined in my younger years.

You spent a good part of your career at Zappos, a company whose tagline is “Delivering happiness.” What did you learn there about being happier?

Simply put I learned how the happiness of others can assist my ability to be happier. Thus nudging me even more in the direction of positive thinking and action.

As a user experience designer, what are your favorite parts of your job?
Seeing people smile using products I design. Also, I get kicks out of solving defined problems, makes me smile!

Favorite happy food of all time?
Chicken cutlets!!!!

Thursday Inspiration: Sky Art

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skyart

French artist Thomas Lamadieu said, “My artistic aim is to show a different perception of urban architecture and the everyday environment around us, what we can construct with a boundless imagination”​.

Lamadieu photographs architectural cityscapes and imagines characters within the space of the open sky. It reminds me of when I was a kid and we were told to look up the sky to see the characters appearing in the shapes of the clouds. Remember how happy we’d be spotting a whale, a rabbit, a dinosaur! I was delighted to find that there is a Cloud Appreciation Society that continues to document these findings! Take a minute to look up to discover something in the sky or the clouds. Perception and imagination can completely affect our happiness.

See more sources of inspiration on my design blog!

How to be happier: Thank someone

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Try this:

Think of one person right now who has done something that you appreciate and thank them.

It doesn’t have to be a big thing or something that happened recently. A colleague bring you a coffee back? A friend text you when you needed a virtual hug? Your kids clean up their dishes without being told ten times? Your spouse or partner make you smile with a little unexpected gift?

Once you have this person in mind find a way to say thank you. If you can do it in person, awesome. But an email or a text or hey, even getting an old-fashioned paper card to send to them is great. If you want to get all fancy you could find a small gift to give to them (a cup of their favorite drink might be as fancy a gift as you need to think about).

There’s a lot of research that shows expressing gratitude helps you feel happier. But try thanking someone today and our bet is that you won’t need to read any of it :)