A day of pure happiness is coming your way.

Did you know there is a day specifically dedicated to celebrating "happiness"? That's right, March 20th , which is just around the corner. Do you already know how you'll celebrate?

Actually, it's not a very well-known date or a fact everyone is aware of, but here we'll tell you why we specifically celebrate happiness on that day and not any other.

In 2012, the UN proclaimed this date as a commemoration of happiness and the importance of the well-being of all human beings, looking after their physical, emotional, and mental health to foster it through good life habits.

According to the history of this celebration, more than 40 years ago in the Kingdom of Bhutan, a small Asian country, there was a 16-year-old king who proposed using a philosophy based on happiness within his government for his people. So, he invented his own scale or concept to measure it, which he called Gross National Happiness.

TheGNH is a standard of living indicator used internationally as a complement to the Gross Domestic Product. To calculate it, several important aspects are considered, such as culture, health, education, psychological well-being, government, the vitality of its people, environmental diversity, and the use of time.

But,what is happiness really? According to various studies in psychology, philosophy, and economics, the conclusion has been reached (which may vary depending on the approach) that it is a positive emotional state, personal well-being, life satisfaction, and the absence of distress. It is associated with interpersonal relationships, a sense of purpose or meaning in life, achieving personal goals, enjoying pleasurable activities, and the ability to face challenges effectively.

Some studies have shown that factors such as income, health, work, social relationships, and the physical environment contribute significantly to people's happiness.

Over the years, we have learned that happiness is not eternal or constant, but rather small moments in our lives that can be likened to a roller coaster, often valued after having experienced sadness. As the saying goes, to be able to value or know certain things, one must live the opposite to know how to differentiate the moment and thus be able to appreciate it.

By this, we don't mean that we should enjoy and party every time sadness or anger visits us, as these are moods that are experienced day to day, but it is equally important to allow ourselves to feel those emotions, embrace them, and then let them go. This way, when happiness arrives, we will know how to capture it in moments and take it as memories that we have a very happy life.

But we promised to tell you why it is celebrated specifically on March 20th, and that is because that day coincides with the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Equinoxes are times of the year when day and night are of equal duration all over the Earth.

But it is no coincidence that this day was chosen to celebrate and commemorate happiness, as equinoxes mark the beginning of a season and are moments of balance and harmony in nature. That is why the arrival of spring was thought of as the perfect day for the whole world to have the same goal and to relate it to renewal, growth, and hope in our lives.

You won't disagree with us, and we mentioned it before: the little things in life are what mostly bring us that happiness we are all looking for.

For example: the delicious aroma of coffee in the morning, finishing your workout, soaking up some sun, the ocean and the beach, lingering over a meal with friends or loved ones, a delicious dinner alone or with your favorite person, buying a ticket for your next trip, wearing a new outfit, your best friend's wedding, a hot shower, the first bite of your favorite food, finishing a hike with an incredible view, going to a concert, eating dessert, and so on.

We could name a thousand and one ways to make every day a happy one.

So, to help you celebrate this day the right way, here are three foolproof recommendations to get it off to the best start:

1.- Take advantage of the day to do an activity you really love and enjoy. This will help clear your mind, relax, and focus on being present. Enjoy this time for yourself or invite positive people to share it with you; believe me, good energy is always contagious.

2.- Exercise. It’s the best way to release endorphins in your body. You’ll relieve stress and step out of your routine for a while. We recommend checking out last week’s blog post, “Ready, Set, Sun,” for some ideas on how to get active in the city.

3.- And finally, and most importantly, “be grateful for everything you have.” It’s key to finding balance in our lives—living with gratitude, even for the everyday things that bring us happiness.

See you soon!