365 Ways to Live Happy (33 page)
Make a difference in the life of a child by choosing to sponsor a child. You might choose sponsorship through an established charitable organization like World Vision, Children International, or Save the Children, which provides schooling, medical care, and training in economic opportunities for a disadvantaged child's family. Many children in the world struggle daily to survive. They don't have even the basic necessities. Your commitment and support will literally change a child's life and add meaning and purpose to yours. People who feel their lives have purpose and meaning, according to psychologists and social science researchers, are generally happier and have greater life satisfaction.
Mirror for a child the wonder that life is going on all the time, happening in every moment, and that there are incredible things to notice all the time, all around. Point out the way the light shimmers on dew drops clinging to an elaborate spider's web, the scent of lilacs after a hard rain, the majestic flight of eagles, the taste of a freshly cut watermelon, the pattern of a piece of gum stuck to the pavement, the vibrant color of a peacock feather, or the sizzle of a marshmallow toasted over a crackling fire. Noticing details helps fire a child's imagination and natural inquisitiveness about the world.
If you enjoy kids and love seeing them excel in sports and teamwork, show your support. If your school district has youth sports teams that compete with others within your district, go out to the games and be a vocal supporter. Cheer loudly. While the kids appreciate you rooting for them, you can savor the joy of doing something for them that requires a small investment of time and makes you happy.
Show your enthusiasm. If you love your job and would like to share your appreciation for your work, contact your local high school and offer to participate in its annual career day. Junior and senior high school students are already thinking about what their life's work will be, and some are already taking the courses they will need to get on the right track when they enter college to pursue a degree in their chosen fields. You can highlight what you do and what kind of educational background is helpful. Not everyone is fortunate to find work that not only is challenging but meaningful and pleasurable. That's worth sharing.
Many parents encourage their children to tackle homework right after school when lessons learned during the school day are still fresh. But other parents allow their children to wait until after the evening meal to hit the books. Child educators and development experts say the key to academic success with regard to homework is regularity. Good study habits enforce the sense of self-discipline and responsibility. Try to establish a routine place for doing homework (on the island in the kitchen, desk in the child or teen's room, or dining room table, for example.). Also, establish a particular time when homework is to be done. Don't be a drill sergeant but rather supporting and helpful. Eliminate unnecessary distractions such as televisions, radios, and cell phones (long phone calls or text messaging can eat up hours). Helping your children develop good study habit skills will be an important factor to their future success in school, college, and life.
If you find happiness helping others, consider reaching out to a family with a child with autism. Such families and their children will need a lot of help in life. About 1 in 150 children has an autism spectrum disorder, according the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (which includes researchers from a dozen institutions, including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health). Offer support in whatever ways you can; for example, by driving the parent and child to therapy appointments, shopping for groceries, or babysitting the child so the parents can have a break.
Perhaps you enjoy traveling and have already seen and experienced some of the world and have even shared your stories with your child. Take it a step further. On your next family vacation or outing, go someplace where your child can learn about a unique culture. It doesn't have to involve international travel. For example, you could plan a trip to Pennsylvania to see the Amish country, the Four Corners in southwestern United States where the ancient Pueblo people lived, or to New York or Connecticut — the ancestral home to the Mohegan tribe of Native Americans. Your child will have amazing stories to share with his friends and classmates and you' have the happiness that comes from knowing that you've given your little one a gift of a lifetime.
Children who are taught respect at home are more likely to show respect toward others outside of the home. Explain to them why families and societies need rules, and authority figures to follow and enforce those rules. Help them understand how respect is earned. Demonstrate for them how to show respect through listening attentively, valuing others' opinions and ideas, and showing consideration to all. Explain how certain actions like pressuring someone to do something they don't want to do is being disrespectful. Teach your children that when you are respectful toward others, the world is a happier, nicer place for everyone. Let them know that when they are respectful, it makes you happy.
You don't need to leave home to experience another culture. You can open your heart and your home to a student from abroad. When you host a high school, college, or graduate-level student in your home for an academic year, you get more than a just a houseguest. You will be gaining priceless exposure to another culture and family through the exchange program. Welcoming host families that can provide a safe and supportive environment for a foreign student are vital for international exchange programs to work. The happy memories during your host year will likely last forever.