Author: Stephanie Hills

  • It’s fun to pun

  • Citizenship and contribution

    I call this website Happy Nation, not because it’s about a particular country, but because nationhood implies citizenship. Citizenship is a way of belonging that includes loyalty and duty towards the group to which you belong.  Just like nations, social groups – households, communities and workplaces – all thrive when their citizens are active contributors. […]

  • Going the extra miles

    A lady in Victoria went into her local council office recently, as she was having trouble understanding the local buses.  One of the council employees took the time to walk with her up to the bus stop, but it was clear that she wasn’t going to get home in a hurry.  So the thoughtful worker […]

  • Helpful motorist

    Mary was out driving and while she was stopped at a red light, the car just died.  It was a busy intersection, and the traffic behind her starting growing. The guy in the car directly behind her started honking his horn continuously as Mary desperately tried to get the car to start up again. Finally, […]

  • Is your support group helping you grow?

    Nowadays it’s relatively easy to connect with others who share challenges that we thought were unique to us. It can be wonderful to find people who understand what we’re going through and who can share tips for getting by. Support groups can be a great way to uplift one another, pool information and help educate […]

  • Not the End of the World

    Not the End of the World. How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet by Hannah Ritchie Environmental problems are an emotionally charged topic, but solutions require a clear head, all the relevant information and an understanding of the complex interweaving of economics, science, and social justice. Hannah Ritchie has done […]

  • Life these days…

    *According to my latest Bank Statement, I have enough money to live in luxury for the rest of my life. As long as I die tomorrow. *Just booked a table for our wedding anniversary for me and my wife. Bound to end in tears though – she’s not much good at snooker. *I must be […]

  • Uplift Your Thinking Style (a series of 2 online workshops)

    Do you ‘overthink’? The ability to think is one of our greatest gifts, yet often we spoil our own experience by thinking in negative ways, resulting in anxiety, depression or low self-esteem. Luckily, negative ways of thinking are habits that can be unlearned. In these two online workshops, learn and practise thinking in ways that […]

  • Gratitude

    It’s been shown that the more grateful we are, the happier we are. Yet gratitude is something we’re not particularly good at. Bad news grabs our attention more than good. If your performance review mentions ten things you’re doing well and one thing you need to improve, you’re likely to focus on the one negative […]

  • Familiar complaints