Happiness is Free! What my 9-year-old Daughter Did to Prove it.
The other day Natalie went to school carrying the paper bag that you see in the picture. She filled her bag with small pieces of paper containing quotations about happiness and happy faces. I asked her what she was going to do with it and she said: I am just going to give these to anybody who wants them.
So she went to school with her happy bag and a big smile on her face. As always, I was impressed by Natalie’s thoughtfulness and self-confidence.
At her return from school I asked about the happiness bag project and she said: It was fun, some kids wanted more than one paper, but other kids didn’t get it and kept asking why I was doing that. I told her not to worry because not everyone understands everything that we do. She said: I know 
Then a happy surprise came out a few days later. Natalie received the letter above. It was given to her by two students from a higher grade than Natalie. They not only got Natalie’s idea right, but they were also able to look beyond the bag and see Natalie and her uniqueness. I was blown away by this letter, even now as I write this I have a couple of tears in my eyes. (I covered the girl’s second name for privacy)
Natalie is one of my biggest inspirations. Something that I admire about her is that she doesn’t keep her ideas in her head. Natalie takes action, she’s always thinking about how to make of the world a better place and she does concrete things to make it happen. Her Free Happiness Bag project is a great example. Her idea was simple and easy to materialize. But that’s the nature of happiness, all it takes is a small action to manifest. Don’t you agree?
I hope that this post makes you happy
Oh! Thank you Natalie for sharing your goodness with the world. And reminding us to share it!
Last weekend was such a busy time for me that I sat around and watched things on the computer on Sunday evening. One of them was the documentary: Happy. Then a bunch of TED talks too. All about what creates happiness. What does? Us! Horray! It’s so easy.
I see too that the note written to Natalie’s new friends was written on my birthday! Goodness!!! Super! More about that coming soon to a PO Box near you;)
They say that the best things in life are free and, just like smiling to someone you pass on the street, you never know what the ripple-affect will be. Best wishes, Natalie!
Wwwwaaawwwww!!!!!!! que hermosa idea tuvo Natalie! Hay días en que es tan necesario un gesto especial que haga sonreir y olvidarte de las preocupaciones y sin dudas ella lo logró, ya que al solo leer esto estoy sonriendo y pensando en cuanta felicidad irradia Natalie que tiene de sobra para repartir!
Tenés una familia preciosa y realmente me alegro de haberte encontrado un día en internet, ya que nos hacés partícipes a todos de los momentos lindos e importantes de tu familia así como también de los que no lo son tanto, y siempre el arte, el amor y la unión familiar están presentes, gracias :)!!!!
Un abrazo a todos y en especial a la Natalie por esta idea genial!
What a WONDERFUL idea! How proud you must be of your little girl! So glad that some friends reciprocated and sent her free happiness in return
Love to you & Natalie
this post made me very happy. I think Natalie is one of your greatest creations yet!
That’s so totally fantastic!! I have a big smile on my face reading about Natalie and her amazing idea
aleka
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Natalie is sweet and amazing. I love her idea.
Hi, Elsita (almost birthday girl!). It made me very happy to learn that Natalie’s friends (surprise new friends!) appreciated what she did–and that they expressed their appreciation. Only recently I thought that to have a gracious friend is one of life’s great blessings. Natalie’s sharing spirit will be her golden key to friendship’s kingdom. I want to express my appreciation to you, Elsa, a Queen in that kingdom!
P.S. Happy birthday a little early
Thanks a lot my friends for your comments! Natalie just read each one with a smile on her face
Elsa Mora recently posted..Happiness is Free! What my 9-year-old Daughter Did to Prove it.
Natalie is magical. Her friends are right. She is sweet, creative, and unique. Good job, Momma Elsita.
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You and Natalie has inspired me. My mother-in-law has cancer and my husband and I have been trying to figure out what to give her for Mother’s Day. Reading this gave me the idea to make my mother-in-law a book of happiness that she can look at when she finds herself in the depths of fear and depression. Thanks to you both!
Krista, I’m so sorry to hear that your mother-in-law has cancer. Your idea of making a book of happiness is brilliant. When my close friend Debra was sick with cancer all she wanted was positive things around her. It really made a difference.
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What a thoughtful, creative, and special lady Natalie is! I also admire her taking action, that’s something many well-intentioned adults struggle with. And I have to say that spreading happiness, particularly at her age, is so important. There are always children who need it most but don’t know where to find it or who to reach out to, and having someone like Natalie in their class can make all the difference in the world, and she may not even know it.
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WOW! just WOW!
That is so inspiring. Happy, happy, happy!
Way to go Natalie … spreading goodness and thoughtfulness.
I found this post via Patricia at http://magentamatters.blogspot.com/2013/05/link-love-friday-and-my-promise-for.html#comment-form
and I am so glad. This really makes my day.
What a beautiful gift your daughter gave, and what a gift that was returned back to her. To be seen and acknowledged. A powerful lesson, this took my breath away.
Also, she is absolutely stunning and I love her sunglasses as well.
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That’s such a lovely idea! It made me smile.
You must be really proud of her.
Link exchange is nothing else however it is only placing the
other person’s webpage link on your page at appropriate place and other person will also do same in support of you.
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