World Mental Health Day (today) seems like a good day to reflect on our Happiness project from earlier in the year.

We started this project by trawling through online advice/tips/lists from reputable organisations such as Beyond Blue and Headspace … and did our best to group the ideas into a compact list of some practical things that have been shown to improve mental health and build a sense of happiness. We ended up with 12 key messages.

Then we made them into a little rhyming poem (of sorts) … with some cute animated images … just because. And we also created an A3 poster.

Our story starts with wrangling control of the seemingly uncontrollable by making your own list - that is making yourself a plan.

Then looking after yourself physically - sleeping, eating and exercising well. I don’t think these need explanation. We all know they’re the building blocks right?

The next little bracket of ideas focus on human connection - taking the time to keep up with your friends, making new friends - your neighbours are a great place to start (particularly this year), and helping out others - volunteering has been shown to have a positive effect on depression, life-satisfaction and well-being.

One interesting idea is the value of spending time in nature - did you know this is a proven way to reduce stress and lessen the symptoms of anxiety and depression? We’re so lucky in our neighbourhood to have access to endless stretches of green space along the local rivers and creeks.

And then there’s the impact of a smile - when you smile your brain releases dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. A smile reduces your own stress and improves the mood of those around you.

Next we explore creativity. Making the time to do what you love and putting yourself out there to learn new things contributes to an upward spiral of positive emotions, psychological well-being and feelings of flourishing in life.

And finally, we end with gratitude. Gratitude helps people feel positive emotions, relish good experiences, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.

Amazing right? We were quite chuffed with all the things we managed to squeeze in there.

If you’d like one of these posters for your wall pop past ACC. We printed about 300 and have kept refilling our collection bin - I think there are about 30 left. Again we’d like to thank Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy Community Bank for supporting this project. It really has proven particularly relevant in 2020.

And if you’d like to watch the full animation with community voices (it’s pretty cute) click here.

A good way to break the hold of feeling irritable and cranky about our current collective dilemma is to laugh.

The old adage applies - if we don’t laugh we will cry. Well some of these films and books have made me laugh so hard I have cried tears of laughter!

A few favourite comedies suitable for watching with the kids are Mrs Doubtfire, School of Rock and Big.

With older children Meet the Parents and Hot Fuzz are great.

For adults, Bridesmaids and Something About Mary are such cringeworthy, funny films. Also the new movie by Will Ferrell, Eurovision (on Netflix), is definitely funny, cringeworthy, lightweight entertainment.

And then there are some books with humour to help us through. Literally making you laugh out loud while you read them.

• The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

• Bossypants by Tina Fey

• Lets Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

• Why not me? by Mindy Kaling.

Finally, let’s finish on a bit of a “Dad” joke:

“What did the right eye say to the left eye?’ Between us, something smells.

Yikes it’s easy to get caught up in negativity on social media of late isn’t it? It’s tricky ‘cos we’re all a bit anxious and cranky. So here’s a little tip -.to help you take that step back.

Just ask yourself, before you hit send:

Peace, love, good vibes and internet happiness neighbourhood friends!

1. The blossom appearing on some of the fruit trees in the front garden at ACC.

2. This message from Prince Charles ‘and his wife’ (who knew Buckingham Palace was thinking of us).

3. That some people who collected and read a ‘Blind Date with a Book’ book from our first week on the street dropped them back at ACC - it wasn’t obligatory but we’re very pleased to be facilitating reusing and recycling!

And also … we got a grant from Yarra Valley Water for a water tank in the front garden … and a whole lot of water-saving plumbing upgrades around the Centre - how unreal! We’ll get cracking on facilitating this when we can be back on site regularly.

My oldest darling India, is in year 10 now … but in Grade 5 she had a teacher (thanks Nicole) who suggested that naming 3 good things each day was a helpful practise for your mental health. And a good conversation starter. Indi brought this advice home. Since then we’ve been doing this pretty regularly. If we sit down together for afternoon tea. Or at dinner time.

When we first started the kids were a bit silly about it, with lists like 1. recess, 2. lunch and 3. home time. But even these responses gave me a chance to ask questions. What happened at recess that was fun? Who did you play with today? etc. Creating a little bit of space for us all to stop and listen to each other. And start conversations that could lead anywhere …

5+ years later the kids can always come up with a good list instantly, and it truly makes my heart sing that the positive is right there front and centre in their minds. They get it that the joy can be tiny, and that actually whatever they say is ok …

So, 3 good things.

This lockdown at our house we have fallen in to just shopping locally, which for us means Station Street. No Coles. No Aldi. No Woolies.

The good things that I think about when I head down there?

1. The walk itself

2. Knowing that we are supporting local businesses, and

3. The chance to (hopefully) say hello to neighbourhood friends along the way!

Also … this lavender in our street cheers me up every single time I pass by.