anniversary event but an entire month-long program packed with numerous activities, centered on the “science of happiness.” “It’s a fact that happiness is good for your health and wellness,” Reed says. “Given this, we decided to motivate people to experience more happiness.” The grassroots program featured kick-off parties in Goldendale, The Dalles, Hood River and Stevenson. People enjoyed ice cream, hand massages and stations for coloring, moments of silence, gratitude, and interesting information on happiness — including the science behind it, the strategies to achieve it, and the benefits of making it a habit. Participants also engaged in the “Meet-a-Future Friend” activity, which gave people like Kelsey Culbertson and Rachel Rabey a structure for meeting and creating an instant connection. “I went to the kickoff event at the Hood River Library on a whim,” Culbertson says. “It was sort of out of my element, but I thought I’d just pop in, and I was so happy I did. I happened to meet Rachel, and it turned out our girls are about the same age. Since then, we’ve had opportunities to get together and gone to our respective daughters’ birthday parties. She’s just someone who radiates nice, positive energy and has a lot of openness. I thought she’d be a nice person to get to know better, and ever since then, it’s been a very easy friendship.” This year even the skeptics might want to take the challenge, joining in on what’s both a fun and effective way to grow personally while contributing to their community. Last year, participants noted that “The Daily 3” led to greater self-awareness, brought about a surprising sense of inner calm, plus instilled within them a new desire to accelerate the value and gifts they bring to the world. “Although most people know on some level that they have a choice in how they react to anything that comes their way, many people are unaware of the power they have to grow inner-strengths such as compassion, gratitude, resilience, confidence, calm, etc.,” says social scientist Ellen Donoghue, Ph.D., who offers classes (available through Hood River Community Education) on cultivating inner strengths. “In learning these skills, they can actively reduce sensations of anxiety, fear, doubt and judgment in ways that greatly enhance a lasting sense of well-being, or happiness.” While such classes might be attractive to some people, Gorge Happiness Month offers a diversity of ways to get involved either individually or as a business/organization — or both. As Edwards says, there’s something for
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