What the world needs is s’more happiness

– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young –

About a month ago, a lady in the medical field, who sees not just the physical ailments in the communities, but also the mental and emotional ones, asked me for a favor. She wanted to know how to spread happiness around.

Well, I’m not one to back down from a challenge, so I pondered on that for a bit.

See, I think many in the communities I’m part of, aren’t aware that there is a lot of depression and sadness, stemming from different things. Sadness isn’t limited to losing a pet or a loved on, and depression doesn’t just creep up from losing a job or having a medical issue.

Depression comes in many forms, especially if you’re a teenager. I’m not quite sure why, but it seems like most adults have forgotten how hard it is to be a teen – more so now, in this world of social media, where everything you do is scrutinized by everyone.

It really isn’t easy being a kid. Your body is constantly changing and your mind is struggling to keep up, making you forgetful, and parents “just don’t get it.” Hey, I know what that feels like, I remember thinking the same things and muttering them to myself. Playing devil’s advocate, I also know it’s no picnic being an adult, with all the responsibilities there are.

Anyway, teens and even middle schoolers, are under a great deal of pressure. What are your plans? They’re 12, they don’t need a plan, OK? When I was 12, I just wanted to hang out with a friend or listen to music, I didn’t know for sure what I was going to be in life. I wanted to be a teacher, but things happened and here I am.

Don’t get me wrong, I think education is incredibly important, but so much is put on children at such an early age. Those poor kids, I can’t imagine what they’re going through now. They have to hold down sometimes two or three jobs to pay for their own car; attend academies for college credits; do mountains of homework; be part of school functions, athletic or nonathletic; volunteer in the community; and have their whole life paved out for them, instead of choosing what they want to do.

I’ve always been a big believer in letting a kid be a kid. That doesn’t mean they can’t learn a good work ethic at home, while being responsible and a decent human being. But there’s plenty of time for them to figure out what they want to do with their life, who they want to be.

With all that extra stuff piled on them, they still have to deal with worrying about what their peers think of them, how they look, how they’re dressed. It seems trivial to me now that I’m a full-fledged adult, but at the time, that was really important to me and it really affects your mental state, wondering if you’re liked and wanted.

This, readers, all leads to depression. Maybe adults can relate to most of that, after all. Regardless, when tasked with finding a way to spread happiness, I turned to what I like – stickers!

There are a lot of cute and appropriate stickers for every occasion on Amazon, but one caught my eye and after a quick consult with a couple younger kids, I knew I’d found a way to bring some happiness to all ages. I placed my order and awaited the arrival of happy s’mores stickers.

Who doesn’t love s’mores and who doesn’t want free stickers? I don’t care how old you are, if someone gives you a s’mores sticker, you will smile.

In the short time I’ve had them, younger kids, teenagers, middle aged and older adults’ faces have all lit up like a Christmas tree, when gifted with the adorable stickers. I carry a roll of them in my camera bag, so I have them with me at all times.

If you see me out and about, feel free to ask for one (as long as my camera bag is with me), I’ll be happy to hand some out. I know it may not be a long-term fix for sadness and depression, but a happy sticker may make an impression on the receiver and those who see it proudly displayed on clothes/personal items.

As long as we try to spread happiness to everyone, in whatever way we can, I know we can make the communities we live in a better place. Like the wise Grandmother Willow said in Disney’s Pocahontas, ripples of change start small at first, then become bigger.

I’d rather be a ripple, than a still stream and if a happy s’mores sticker is how I create waves of change for the better, well, then Amazon will stay in business for years to come!