Create Your Own Happy

This ‘meaty’ and quite long book has multitudinous suggestions about how to make yourself and others happier.  If one is in need of such, then it must follow that one is not cheerful nor contented, and the creative suggestions here could well go a long way to helping children (adults too) find their own road to being happier, fulfilled individuals.  Divided into three sections, almost half the book is concerned with making oneself happier (18 individual recommendations), and the other half is used for suggestions as to how to make others happy and, finally, how to help make a happier world.  In the long first section, we learn about such things as personality strengths, using exercise, making a ‘happy jar’ to remind oneself of all the good times, and decluttering – as well as many other ideas. The second section tells us about saying please and thank you and complimenting others, being kind, handling cyberbullying (and ordinary bullying), being a good friend, etc. and the final section covers such things as recycling, growing your own food, upcycling, making your garden a good place for creatures of all sorts, etc.  It is emphasised in the book that you can start anywhere you like and that it isn’t necessary to do everything suggested.  Most pages are full of colourful illustrations that add lots of ‘happiness’ to the whole, and there are explanations too of the scientific reasons as to why these things should help. Creative activities abound, and I like the idea of a whole family using the book to update their expectations of happiness.  A world of happiness waits for those using the book with serious intent!