A few months ago, I attended a workshop on personal and company values. I’ve always believed in living true to my values and creating experiences that allow me to express my authentic self.

One of the things I commit to is: 🎉 Create Fun, Happiness, and a Little Magic. 🎉

Happiness isn’t just something we feel—it’s something we can actively create and share. Below are 8 of my favorite recent experiences that taught me valuable lessons about spreading happiness.

1. The “I Am Awesome” Project ✈️

On a flight to AwesomenessFest, I started an impromptu social experiment—capturing photos and messages from 50 passengers. Armed with a purple hat and a handmade “I am Awesome” sign, I sparked conversations and new friendships, proving that happiness is contagious.

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2. New York Mets Fans Send Us a Message 🏈

In response to my fun on the plane, my housemate James took things further—recording an entire carriage of American football fans shouting in unison: “We miss you Andy and Kate!” Seeing an English guy step out of his comfort zone to spread joy across cultures made the moment even more special.

3. 1,800 High Fives in 3 Hours 🙌

On National Happiness Day, a friend and I set out to spread joy outside Liverpool Street Station in London. With handmade signs announcing “FREE High Fives”, we high-fived and low-fived over 1,800 people in just three hours. The best part? Watching people’s faces light up as they joined in the fun.

4. One Poster, Two Happy Nicks 🏆

We made a huge “Go Nick” banner to support a friend in a triathlon in Thailand. After the race, we went out for dinner—only to discover that our waiter was also named Nick. Thinking the sign was for his amazing customer service, he was thrilled! We played along, making both Nicks feel like winners.

5. Meeting People with a Rubber Chicken 🐔

At an international team meeting in Nuremberg, we needed a way to find each other in a busy station. Solution? A rubber chicken attached to a stick. Not only did it make our team laugh, but passersby couldn’t resist squeezing it—instant happiness, delivered.

6. Birthday Bus Stop Surprise 🎂

When our housemate asked us to meet her at the bus stop to help carry bags, we saw an opportunity. Instead of just showing up, we greeted her with a handmade “Happy Birthday” sign and a full-blown singalong. The best part? The rest of the bus joined in.

7. Group Massaging in a Theme Park Queue 🎢

After 30 minutes in line, we decided we all deserved a little stress relief. So we formed a massage circle and got to work. The reactions? Some laughed, some looked confused, and some secretly wished they could join in.

8. The Crab Dance Phenomenon 🦀

A crab once crawled over my foot in Thailand, and instead of freaking out, I did a little dance to get out of the way. It became an inside joke to “move like the crab”, it then escalated into a parody self-help video encouraging others to join in and dance the “crab-dance”. Because sometimes, the best way to spread joy is simply to be silly.

What These Experiences Taught Me About Spreading Happiness

Creating fun, joy, and a little magic in public can be uncomfortable at first, but the ripple effect is always worth it.

If you want to make others happy, here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Use Props 🎭

Handmade props—whether it’s signs, costumes, or silly accessories—make everything more fun and engaging. They also help people feel like they’re part of something special.

2. Invite, Don’t Force 💡

Offer happiness as an invitation, not an obligation. Not everyone is ready to join in, and that’s okay. The key is to let joy spread naturally. The right people will engage, and the impact will ripple further than you can imagine.

3. Set a Time, Then Let It Go ⏳

Set a clear timeframe for your happiness mission. If fear makes you hesitate, commit to just 10 minutes. And once the moment is over, don’t force it to continue—happiness is best when it’s spontaneous and in the moment.

Happiness doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple gesture, a silly prop, or a random act of kindness can change someone’s day—or even their life.

💡 What’s one small thing you can do today to spread a little magic?

Drop a comment below and share your own random acts of happiness!

Go Make Someone Smile