It started as a dream, and suddenly it was Happyning! On March 17, 2022, Happiness Studies Academy students and graduates came to Miami, Florida to meet each other in person. The excitement could be felt in the air, smiles, hugs, and jumps of happiness.

Here is a glimpse of the experience!
 
Iris Shapira, our star emcee, led the entire event with so much grace! The program, which was broadcasted live to Happiness Studies Academy (HSA) students and graduates around the world started with very moving words by Yuval Kutz, president of HSA; a welcome from our club’s president, Tami Muller; and recognizing the events committee, club volunteers, and our amazing sponsors.

The excitement was building to start the first live webinar that was actually live on stage with our beloved teacher, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar. We learned about small but frequent interventions and how they can affect our happiness. Everyone took something to heart and felt enlightened, whether physically in Florida or virtually in other parts of the world.

Our next activity, sociometrics, was designed to break the ice and get to know each other better. Nancy Kirsner and Phoebe Atkinson led the way and were able to take the group’s interaction to another level. People encountered others with the same interests as the questions and dynamics that arose. Sealed with love, the dynamic ended on a rainbow of colors held by everyone in the room.

We continued with a moment of introspection as we encountered our highest self when Medea Galligan led us in meditation with the purpose of finding the gift we want to share with the world.

After that calm and recharging experience, we all needed some physical activity. Everyone participated in either outdoor yoga led by Medea or high intensity super fun Zumba led by Vasi Penna. Among the dancing guests was our very own Tal, some of the event's organizers, and our president, Tami.

The day continued with a picnic lunch, collective art, and the pinnacle of it all was when when we celebrated our fellow graduates. As the Pomp and Circumstance March was playing, each graduate was called to receive their certificate and hugs from Tal and Yuval to the crowd applauding! Unforgettable!
 
What a day it was! We all needed to rest and relive those moments of pleasurable emotions as we were getting ready to party the following day.

The party was filled with surprises!

Yuval Kutz proudly announced that after 20 years of planning and dreaming, registration for the world's first Master's Degree in Happiness Studies was open! We couldn't believe it! We were witnessing history in the making along with the president of Centenary University, Dr. Bruce Murphy Ed. D., our cherished teacher, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, and Dr. Martin Seligman, the founder of Positive Psychology, who very emotionally expressed his respect and admiration for Tal for being "the master teacher of happiness."
 
Everyone enjoyed the party! Students, graduates, teachers, friends, and family members were dancing to music from around the world. Music was the language we spoke, and dancing together felt so good! 

We all said good night with tired feet, knowing this magic wouldn't disappear when the clock rang midnight. This fairy tale come true is staying with all of us.

If you were there physically or in your heart, this experience will not be forgotten and was surely on everyone's gratitude journal that night and for many more to come. 

A Message From Our President
Tami Muller

I would summarize this extraordinary experience in two words: LOVE and CONNECTION!

All of us who were able to attend — see, talk, and hug outside of the Zoom boxes — reported the same feelings. The feelings you have when you see an old friend, someone you already know so well, someone with whom you're connected on a deeper level.

If you were not physically present this time, please know you are an integral part of who we are always and were there in our hearts.

We are already planning our next retreat, and I can't wait to see everyone very soon!