The pictures were wonderful and creative and sometimes moving. I think almost of all them were sold with some very spirited bidding on the favourites (we ended up with two).

But there was something special and magical about an evening that ended huddled in conversation in an Italian restaurant down the road. It was creative and altruistic. It was a joint project of friends for the benefit of others. It allowed three individuals to express themselves. And the result could be shared with family and friends where they could also make a contribution. The end result? Smiles, laughter, connection with everybody sharing in the success and about US$ 9000 raised for charity for sick children.

The evening reminded me of one of the surprising results that psychologists had found when studying people who are happier than others. They had started with the premise that unhappy people - because they identified with suffering more easily - would be more altruistic. But without exception, they found the opposite: happy people were more likely to exhibit that trait. As Martin Seligman noted in his book Authentic Happiness, "When we are happy, we are less self-focused, we like others more, and we want to share our good fortune even with strangers. When we are down, though, we become distrustful, turn inward, and focus defensively on our own needs. Looking out for number one is more characteristic of sadness than of well-being."

It's not clear what is cause and what is effect but the results suggest that if you want to be more happy, try exploring the joy of giving. It's a win-win scenario for both you and the object of your gift.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re looking to put a little more well-being in your life.

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