If you’re happy and you know it…admit it! Don’t bother clapping your hands or stamping your feet. Admitting it does the job. Or so it seems.

There’s got to be power in just simply admitting you are happy. It seems that in this generation – where there is constant advertising about what we need and deserve, we end up feeling entitled. Extras become necessities in our minds. Through advertising, we are told that we should have that nice car, a bigger TV, quicker internet, and more clothes. It’s just that all these extras, which we can actually live just fine without, become basics. That’s when we feel disappointed, even upset that we don’t have the resources to get those seemingly ‘basic’ items. Dashed expectations bring unhappiness.

Well, you’re about to get a heck of a lot happier right now! It’s August and this month is Admit You’re Happy Month. Interestingly, the four weeks in August are nationally known as National Simplify your Life Week, National Smile Week, Friendship Week, and Be Kind to Humankind Week. With just one quick look at the names of the four weeks, it’s easy to see that all these national August weeks focus on happiness. Simplifying your life greatly increases happiness. Get rid of all the extra noise, spend quality time with your loved ones – that’s bound to bring you to appreciate all that you have. Smiling can do the trick too! You know what they say, “Fake it ’till you make it”. Smile even if you don’t feel like it, you’ll feel it soon enough. Friendship week is to enjoy your friends. Life is busy and just letting those dear friends in brings extra happiness to your heart. Lastly, giving is the ultimate gift. Be Kind to Humankind Week brings us happiness even if we may be giving of ourselves to others.

Nurses, in my opinion, practice Be Kind to Humankind every day on the job. Caring tirelessly for the sick and healing is oh so hard but is also super rewarding. I’m sure you nurses know what I’m talkin’ about. Reward yourself with some scrubs, to make that shift just a little easier. So far, Cherokee Luxe has been receiving awesome reviews. Check it out.

So tell us, what makes you happy?