August 8, 1998: Secret Society of Happy People is Founded

A Brief History

On August 8, 1998, Pamela Johnson of Irving, Texas, founded the Secret Society of Happy People, an organization committed to the expression of happiness and for its members to remember and think about their happy times. “Happiness Happens” is their motto, with “Don’t Even Think of Raining on My Parade” as an alternate. Every August 8 is International Happiness Happens Day.

Digging Deeper

The SSHP is determined to express their happiness and encourages others to do the same, in spite of the unhappy campers that do not want to hear about other people’s happiness. Too bad! You’re going to hear about their happiness whether you like it or not! Members are encouraged to express this happiness “as loud as they want.”

You know that bubbly girl from accounting that is so cheerful it drives you nuts? Maybe she is a SSHP member. The mailman that refuses to join with in crabbing about the weather, even though it directly affects him? Probably a member.

The SSHP received International attention with a controversial move in 1998 by disagreeing with life guru Ann Landers who advised readers to refrain from including happy letters and notes in with their holiday cards they were sending friends and relatives. Incredibly, the SSHP managed to get Ann Landers to rescind her ban on happy notes with greeting cards and got her to endorse the practice. People around the world who regularly read Ann Landers’ column were exposed to the ideals of the SSHP and many thousands joined the movement, representing at least 34 countries.

Pamela Gail Johnson has a blog (http://sohp.com/ask-pamela-gail/) to help people turn unhappiness into happiness (Yeah, winning the Power Ball would do it for me!) and she has authored 2 books on the subject of happiness.

In addition to Happiness Happens Day, the entire month of August has been designated Happiness Happens Month. On August 8 of each year a Happy Thon is arranged, and the Society has also come up with lists of the 100 Happiest Events, Inventions, and Social Changes of the Century. If all this happiness is not enough for you, you can be comforted by knowing that the 3^rd week of January is Hunt for Happiness Week, approved by 7 state governors.

Now it is your turn to make me happy by passing this article along to all of your friends and relatives and telling them about History and Headlines! (Hopefully reading our articles makes you happy.)

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