Quick, think of something to focus on this year.
The presidential election? The worrisome economy? How about the environment, isn’t that top of mind in 2008?
All timely answers, to be sure, but none of them is what I’m looking for today.
Happiness, now there’s a thought. Happiness probably didn’t pop immediately into your head, huh?
Don’t laugh. It’s a hot topic, happiness. It’s one that’s being taken seriously in the halls of academia. When Harvard University offered Psychology 1504, “Positive Psychology” — basically, how to be happy — in the spring of 2006, it was the most popular course on campus. With about 900 students enrolled, it was a bigger draw at Harvard than even Introductory Economics, according to The Boston Globe.
At Everett Community College, happiness is not only getting its own day, it’s getting a whole year.
“In the Humanities Center, it was a faculty collaboration to find a theme for the year. We chose happiness,” said Joyce Walker, an English and humanities instructor at the college. “We had a number of possible themes, but there was a groundswell for a focus on happiness.”
With the help of student clubs, the Student Activities Office and other departments on campus, the theme triggered the idea for a daylong exploration and celebration of happiness.
Tuesday’s Happiness Fair is a free campuswide event sponsored by EvCC’s Humanities Center. The schedule includes a thoughtful panel discussion, “What Is Happiness?” at noon in 120 Baker Hall, moderated by EvCC philosophy instructor Mike VanQuickenbourne.
At a recent philosophy discussion with students, Walker said VanQuickenbourne raised the question, “Does happiness matter?”
“Our culture’s attitude is instant gratification,” said Walker, who contends that in some cultures the notion of happiness, as many of us see it, isn’t valued.
Walker shares views with Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, psychotherapist and author of “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Frankl, she said, wrote that if you go searching for happiness, it eludes you.
“Instead, happiness is the byproduct of a meaningful life,” Walker said. “But we don’t treat it that way in mainstream America. We go for it.”
Students in a Humanities 101 class will get a serious look at happiness through lectures by EvCC history instructor Tom Gaskin, sociology instructor Margaret Riordan and biology instructor Elliot Stern.
Biology, sociology, history, how fun can all that be?
Back to the Happiness Fair, the Student Activities Office in the Parks Student Union will have a free hugs table from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In Whitehorse Hall, members of the Math, Engineering and Science Student Association will be “camping out” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. “They love to camp; they went to Yellowstone last summer,” Walker said. “Rumor has it, they’re going to make s’mores.”
Outside the Jackson Center, photography instructor Ellen Felsenthal will host a petting zoo — she has pygmy goats.
Asked about personal happiness, Walker, 54, took a moment to think.
“I love my work. It’s a great source of joy,” Walker said.
One of her humanities courses, Surviving the Holocaust, brings speakers to campus to tell harrowing stories of World War II Nazi concentration camps. “Since high school, I’ve been interested in Germany, and how it was all possible,” she said. Learning about the Holocaust, she has delved into the best and worst of humanity.
“It’s also important to have distance from work,” Walker said. She and her husband set aside every Saturday — winter and summer, rain or shine — to get outside. They hike or go cross-country skiing. “We go no matter what,” she said.
Walker looks forward to Tuesday, sure to be unlike any other work day. “When people hear the topic, they get really excited,” she said.
“As long as it doesn’t snow, I’ll be happy,” she added.
Columnist Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460 or muhlstein@heraldnet.com.
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