Commuters driving through Eagle on January 29 may have noticed a group of adults and kids wearing yellow shirts and holding signs. It wasn’t a protest, or a call to endorse a political cause or candidate. It was simply a “Happiness Sprinkling.”
A happiness sprinkling involves participants dressed in yellow holding signs with positive messages like “You Rock,” or “It’s going to be okay.” Bright Future’s Buddy Mentors Program joined with Eagle River Youth Coalition to bring the event to the valley as part of the efforts to celebrate and promote National Mentoring Month. National Mentoring Month is an annual campaign aimed at expanding quality mentoring opportunities, and to connect more of our community’s young people with caring adults.
Happiness sprinklings began in Anacortes, Washington and have spread throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Participants, also called “happiness ambassadors,” add their signatures and messages to the signs to be passed on to the next sprinkling.
The event was brought to the valley by Bright Future’s Buddy Mentors Program Manager Janet Casson who originally participated in happiness sprinklings in Denver.
“I have been fortunate to take part in five happiness sprinklings,” said Casson. “Every time, I have heard from at least one person who said, ‘I so needed that today.’ What this tells me is that we need to give and receive these simple but potent messages every day. Every day.”
Photos from this inspiring event are below, and more information on happiness sprinklings can be found here. For more information on Buddy Mentors, visit the program page or email Janet Casson, Buddy Mentors program manager.
