People driving around Vancouver the week of March 14 may notice billboards popping up with reminders to “Think happy. Be happy,” or “Something wonderful is about to happen.”
These positive messages are going to be sprouting up on 56 billboards in 41 cities as part of the Smile Across America campaign from Vancouver nonprofit The Joy Team and Natural Life, an artisan market based out of Florida.
The campaign’s goal, as stated in a press release by The Joy Team, is to help Americans celebrate and rekindle their inner joy in honor of International Day of Happiness on March 20.
International Day of Happiness was created by the United Nations in 2012 to recognize the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal human goals.
The Joy Team was founded in 2010 with the mission of building community by spreading joy, optimism and inspiration. It has been a part of delivering more than 2,450 Happy Packets to the staff of organizations serving the community through The Junior Joy Team, given more than 4,400 jars of joy-wrapped peanut butter to hungry kids through the PB & JOY Project and staged the annual international Chalk the Walks.
Organizers say they hope seeing positive messages on billboards will inspire people to have happier thoughts and beliefs.
“One positive message can make a huge difference in someone’s day,” said Michele McKeag Larsen, founder of The Joy Team, said in the press release. “Our affirmative billboards have inspired people, made them smile, helped them celebrate birthdays and deal with cancer, memorialized loved ones and even saved a life at least once. Imagine what 56 of them across the U.S. can do.”
To find out more about The Joy Team, visit thejoyteam.org
