Reshaping Our World Blog
A collection of thoughts and reflections.
Recognition & Partners
We have proven the effectiveness of the Happy Community Project Tool Kit. Our success has been recognized internationally by several universities and organizations. Our partners are critical to our success.
May your day be filled with many smiles
BlogWe used to say “Are you busy?” Now we say “Are you well?” I think this is going in a good direction.
We used to say “cheers” as way of saying “Farewell or goodbye”. Now we say “Be safe”
I hope when this pandemic has passed, we will take these greetings one step further.
I hope we say : ”Are you happy?” when we greet people
And I hope we say : “May you have many smiles” when we mean, goodbye.
Many smiles to all of you
Barry… Read the rest
Good News at Happy Community Project
BlogThis picture is of a woman in a seniors home who is reaching out to help others.
I am writing to express my hope you and your families are safe, in good health and sharing in the community spirit of looking out for each other. And to share what the Happy Community Project has been doing while we ready ourselves for when we can more freely move around.
There is lots of good news while we go through these strange times. Most of us are safe and well, if not somewhat lonely as we limit our excursions outside our homes.
Even with these restrictions, it has been inspiring to see how people have stepped up to look out for their neighbours. There are hundreds of stories filled with compassion and imagination, some are down right funny. Here is a one minute video on someone’s creative thoughts on how to make a Corona virus mask. I hope it brings a … Read the rest
What Happens After Covid 19?
BlogMany of us are finding more time for contemplation these days. There are many people wondering what happens after Covid 19. How will this change our communities?
The Happy Community Project™ was developed to strengthen our communities in a time of disruption. Here we are and I have been one of those wondering how our communities will come out of this.
I have been watching how people behave during this time of intense change. I have noticed is there are three general behaviors: altruism, selfishness and wariness.
We are hearing about many incidents of neighbours looking out for each other and many incidents of people reaching out to strangers. For example, there is the truck stop owner who is being supported by her community to provide free meals to truckers. There is the person who reached out to a stranger to give her comfort when she had just been told she has a terminal illness.
There are thousands of wonderful … Read the rest
Is It time for a Grand Experiment?
BlogWith an estimated 50,000 Nova Scotians, over 500,000 Canadians applying for benefits, and an estimated 20% of employees suddenly finding themselves out of work with no fault of their own, is it time for the government to try an experiment they have been musing about for years?
We have been predicting disruption to the work force for many years now. We thought it would come from technology, to our surprise it comes from nature. The effect is the same – depression era unemployment.
As a solution for this problem, many thought leaders, social scientists and economists have been suggesting a simple and proven to be effective solution.
Guaranteed income for all. The way this works is every citizen with a social insurance number gets a monthly check from the government that enables them basic income for food, shelter and transportation. There is no bureaucrat looking over your shoulder asking what you are doing with the money. People are trusted … Read the rest
Being a Happy Community with Corona Virus
BlogThe main purpose of the Happy Community Project is to deepen the culture within our communities for fellow citizens to take care of each other. We are going through a test period of why that is important.
There are people who are in self-imposed isolation and others who are in quarantine. Soon there will be many more.
How do they get their basic needs taken care of? How do they get social interaction without violating their isolation? How do they pick up prescription renewals? How do they get someone to pick up a few things at the grocery store?
Others are suffering financially, their businesses, homes and ability to feed themselves are at risk. How do they get the support they need?
We as a society are coming to understand that we are dependent on each other. There is no “I take care of me – You take care of you!’. There is no ‘they should…’, It is up to … Read the rest
The Politics of Belonging
Ideas, Musings and DetailsThe goal of the Happy Community Project is to strengthen the connectedness, belonging and caring across many communities. More and more, we are hearing that our future depends on it. And more and more experts are telling us the Happy Community project is going about it in the right way. For example, George Mombiot talks about the importance of the ‘politics of belonging’ where people do things together.
We know from experience and talking with thousands of people that we all want the same thing. We want to belong in a community where we can find friends and know that others care about us.
We also know that communities have the power to strengthen their connectedness, belonging and caring for each other. We have proven this in Windsor Nova Scotia, Kolkata India. And after just a few weeks, Stewiacke Nova Scotia has already attracted dozens of people committed to making their community a stronger community.
In 2019, I made … Read the rest
Reflections
BlogI recently heard an interview with Margaret Attwood where she said two profound things:
Fear gets more respect than love
and
It takes courage to be decent.
My first reaction was to question whether this was really true. And then I looked at my own experience.
I could see in myself how at times I chose ‘expedient’ over ‘love and decent.’ How I let things slide when I could have stepped up or how I ignored someone I could have helped. I have had to acknowledge my own fear and where it comes from.
But I know I am not alone in my fears. The Happy Community Project has provided many experiences for me to also test the truth of these statements.
For example, when we attempted to initiate the Adopt a Grandparent Project, one in four people would tell me that they were afraid to be a neighbour. They told me that they were afraid of being wrongly accused … Read the rest
Sad News
BlogWhat is Happening with the Happy Community Project?
Many of you have been asking me what is happening with the Happy Community Project. Over the last two months, we have focused on two major things: Making plans and engaging our municipal and provincial governments to financially support the Happy Community Project.
We are excited about the plans we have been making and disappointed that our governments have not provided financial support.
Where the money Comes from
We have done what other experts and communities thought was impossible and believe is amazing – we have turned our community into a “Happy Community”. Our community citizens and local businesses have made this possible with their efforts and their money. Our local business community has generously donated about one third of our costs. Their support has been critical to our efforts. I have personally financed most of the other two thirds.
For 30 months, I have been asking for support from our councillors … Read the rest
A Piece of the Puzzle
Blog– Peter Chaisson’s story
By Fadila Chater
The jigsaw puzzle lay in pieces on a table at the Windsor Regional Library. It waits for the day anyone—man, woman or child—would put it together again. Days go by. An occasional hand appears and fiddles with a piece or two. For months, the jigsaw puzzle remained scattered and neglected. Until one fateful day.
“It’s evolved to the point where you have people from different aspects of society—people who did not know each other—standing around that table, putting together a jigsaw puzzle,” Library clerk Peter Chaisson says. We sit and chat at the library, where he’s worked for the last seven years.
“You know, finishing it, enjoy finishing it, waiting for the next one to come out. People probably would have never interacted if not for that puzzle sitting on the table.”
Without sounding too cheesy, the jigsaw puzzle, when complete, is like a happy community. A library, whether it’s a local … Read the rest