When you ask people around the world what makes them happy, these are just some of the answers.

Seeing them happy makes me happy.

Yellow "Happiness" and arrow painted on gray brick pavement.
Photo credit: Photo by D Jonez on Unsplash – Happiness is over there.

For International Day of Happiness, the United Nations released a video highlighting what it means to be happy around the world.

With more than 7 billion people on earth, there are 7 billion unique definitions of happiness.

For some, happiness takes the form of relationships with others. And for others, it’s a connection with nature, hobbies, or material possessions.


Happiness can be the weather.

It can be music.

It can be clean air and relative safety.

It can be as simple as life itself.

The point is, it’s up to each of us to figure out what makes us happy as individuals.

The theme of the third annual International Day of Happiness is connection with others. (The previous two have been “reclaim happiness” and “happy heroes.”)

See more stories of what makes others happy in the video below.

Culture

A stranded traveler stepped outside O’Hare for a cigar. He came back with a kitten and a problem.

Nostalgia

This unforgettable December 1964 performance from The Seekers is two minutes of musical perfection

Generations

Model Paulina Porizkova asks us to imagine a world where ‘older beauty’ is admired and respected

Culture

In 2013 a fan with autism explained to Whoopi Goldberg how her ‘Star Trek’ role transformed his life