{video} The questions kids ask

I look at my 14 month-old daughter, Waverly, and sometimes I am filled with such joy that I cry.  She stares at me curiously while I do this, tears rolling down my cheeks. What I find wonderful (among many other things!) about this lovely, sweet soul, is that she reaches her dimpled little hand out and instead of touching my tears, she touches my smile and smiles back at me with such chubby cheeks and tiny new teeth that she resembles a Disney chipmunk.

Waverly babbles at me all the time and I wonder what she will actually sound like when she discovers she can say words other than Mama! Dada! and Wow! Will she ask me who Emma is? (Wave often stares in the air giggling and I like to think that our dog, Emma, who died just before she was born is still with us.) Will she look up at the sky and ask how far it goes? Will she wonder how her hair grows long on her head but no where else on her body?  I look forward to laying in the grass, looking up at the sky and having these talks with Waverly. Little kids asking big questions is such an extraordinary thing. I think they have the universe in their souls.

Last week, I came across a New York Times opinion documentary "How Does Life Live" from Kelly O'Brien, a Toronto-based independent filmmaker and mother.  In this beautifully shot film, Kelly features her youngest daughter, Willow, and the curious questions that she asks. It's just beautiful. There is something so pure and joyful about a child's voice. Watch and feel your heart get a little bigger and a little happier.

Happy Video: Grandpas in a Donut Shop singing from "The Lion King"

My grandfather (Pepe) left such an indelible imprint on my heart that I still today have a soft spot for grandpas. I came across this video of grandpas in a coffee shop singing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and I like this even more than the original. I hope you enjoy it too.

happy video: the happy parrot and the beach boys

With all the negative news online lately, sometimes we just need a moment of pure joy. Since discovering this video yesterday of a happy parrot dancing to the Beach Boys classic "Wouldn't it be Nice," I keep turning back to it because  he is just so happy and bouncy. I can feel the happy vibes just starting to pulse through my body as I watch this.

I hope that whatever kind of day that you're having, that this video adds just a little bit more happy to it,

happy monday video: pixar's "piper"

This animated short played prior to Disney's "Finding Dory." It's so beautifully made and such a sweet story about not letting fear stop you from participating in life.

Enjoy!

the best feel good video of Christmas 2016

Every year there is a video that captures the feeling of the Christmas season so clearly. This year, it is this video. I don't want to give away too much so just turn up your speakers and watch.

happy video: toddlerography with james corden and gwyneth paltrow

I love toddlers. They have zero cares about the way they look. Their confidence levels are in the stratospheric range. So, when I saw this video of toddlers leading James Corden and Gwyneth Paltrow in a dance class, I laughed harder than I have all week.

May your weekend be as happy as a toddler with an open space and a favorite song.

Monday's happy video

When I start to feel myself getting in a bad mood, one thing to get me out of the funk is to watch a happy video. This one, of news anchors laughing, is one of my favorites. The Today Show anchor at 23 seconds in is my favorite. His reaction to Grumpy Cat is everything.

Happy Monday!

happy video: tonight you belong to me

The first time I watched this video of a father and his daughter singing. I smiled through the whole thing. It's an innocent, sweet snapshot into a moment which I imagine was taken just before bedtime.

Whenever I need to to get out of a bad or sad mood, this is one of the videos I turn to. It's impossible to be sad when you see the connection between these two.

May your Monday be an easy one.

happy video: i'm such a happy chewbacca

"I'm such a happy Chewbacca!" followed by ROARING HILARIOUS LAUGHTER won the internet last week. Why? Because it was a moment of sheer, pure joy shared by a mom (Candace Payne) who bought herself a birthday present - a Chewbacca mask. She puts it on in the car, sees herself and breaks down laughing. Last week, I saw the hype online and thought "So, she laughs. OK, fine. We all do." Then I watched the video and as soon as she does the head tilt (like a dog who is trying to understand what you are saying) when she sees herself on her phone (as she records a live Facebook video) that's when I lost it too. I watched the video at my desk. I watched it while waiting in line at Ikea. I watched it in bed right before I fell asleep. I watched it and I felt happy.  I realized that it's rare that we see an adult in a moment of such pure happiness. Maybe that's why we like watching puppy and baby videos. They're not afraid to be in the moment of joy.

I'm not the only one who likes this video. Over 100 million people have watched "Happy Chewbacca Lady." I read the comments on reddit and Facebook and with every comment criticizing her crazy laugh, there were hundreds defending her with comments like "You only wish you could be as happy as her / Is it weird that I'm jealous of her family? I wish I had a relative who is this awesome / Her absolute joy from the moment the video started really made me feel like I should be a slightly less cynical bastard as I go about my life."

Watching this made me realize three things:

1. Being around happy people makes you happy.  It's impossible not to laugh along with Candace. She's just do darn happy that it's catchy. It's like being with someone who yawns. Hang out with people like Candace and you're bound to be happier.

2. Own it. You want to fly your freak flag? Do it. Own that thing. Candace didn't care what people thought about her laughing alone in her car wearing a mask and talking to herself. Yes, she refers to other people in the parking lot but she is owning that moment of joy and nothing was going to distract her from the fact that this Chewbacca mask was the best thing she ever bought.  I've had moments in life when I have wanted to be free and be silly but I was afraid of what people around me would think. Next time I want to laugh out loud or enjoy a moment, I hope I remember Candace and own it.

3.  "Y'all have an incredible day. It's the simple joys." This line hit me right in my heart. Since I started this blog, I've come to believe that simple things, simple joys are what make you happy. Rarely are we hit with those HUGE moments of life-changing joy, but every day we could have a moment like this. How extraordinary would life be if we got excited about simple things? What is the people around us, saw these moments of joy. I would love to live in a world like that.

You rock on with your bad self, Candace Payne. Thank you for the joy you brought to 100 million people and counting. I'm going to go play with my dog now and watch her lose it and give me that awesome dog smile when she discovers which hand the cookie is hiding in. Simple joys.

happy video: and the baby dances in the rain

A a non-native of Seattle I tend to complain about the rain. Not a great quality, I know. This morning I discovered this video of Kayden, a toddler thrilled by the feeling of the wet stuff falling from the sky. The next time I start complaining about the rain, I'm watching this.

It's all about perspective, isn't it?!

happy video: marcel the shell part III

If you haven't seen Marcel the Shell, it's kind of the sweetest, quirkiest video you've seen in a long time.

There's no way to describe it so just watch. I hope this makes you happy on this Monday.

If you're the kind of person who likes to watch videos sequentially, here are Marcel the Shell Part I and Marcel the Shell Part II.

Moment 2:32 just slays me. All the way through 3:15 ("Oh. God. I can smell his face.") Whenever I'm feeling less than happy I watch Marcel Part II. "Guess why I smile a lot? Because it's worth it." So simple. And brilliant.

happy video: dog surprised with 100 balls on his birthday

One of the greatest things about dogs is their complete inability to hide their emotions. Meet Maymo, who on his birthday received not just one, but 100 balls.  His delight is awesome with just one ball. Then two confuses him as much as thrills him. Then, 100 balls tumble towards him. Watch and get happy.

{happy video} The TED Talk: The Secret to Being Happy

I believe that every single thing that happens in your life happens exactly the way it should. There are lessons everywhere. Last night I stumbled across this TED Talk from Brother David Steindl-Rast, an extraordinary monk. The topic? To be happy, be grateful. Be inspired this morning by one of this planet's most inspiring individuals. It's 14:30 that could change your entire perspective.

happy video: kick off your monday with the "happy' supercut

Monday.

Oh, Monday.

When you're warm and cozy under the covers just knowing that it's Monday when the alarm goes off can make you want to just tuck in a little longer. Unless, of course, you're just a happy person in general who leaps out of bed in the morning ready to spread your joy. If this is you, you are amazing.

So, if Monday is not your favorite day of the week, here. Watch this. It's Pharrell Williams' song "Happy." In honor of International Happiness Day in March, happy people around the world lip-dubbed and danced their way through this song. See the giggles, the flubs, the sweet little happy kids, the doctors in scrubs, students, puppies, dads (who really tried) and even C-3PO getting their happy on.

I'm smiling as I type this. You will too. I know you will.

Here's to getting your week off to and happy start! Need a little more? OK. Think of three things that make you happy.

1.
2.
3.

Now :-)  !

{happy video: a happy dog, his angels and a little blind pig}

This morning I was looking out at another gray and drizzly day. The plan was to start running 4 miles again but I looking at the rain I thought "I just can't do it. I can't go out there. It's too wet. It's too damp. It's too cold." Then I thought of Spencer the Bulldog. I watched his video again and then I laced up my running shoes and went out there in the rain. Just because I could. Because he did.

This is the story of Spencer, the paralyzed dog. (Don't worry! This is a happy story.) Somehow when he was a puppy, through abuse or possibly being dropped, Spencer lost the use of his hind legs. He miraculously found his way to the doorstep of Linda Heinz, who adopted him and carries him around so he can see the world. But you see, Spencer is a curious dog and he doesn't want to wait for Linda to pick him up so he drags himself along the floor, causing some pretty damaging sores to his little hind legs.

And here is when angels came to Spencer's aid. While the extraordinary people at Westcoast Brace & Limb, are accustomed to making custom limbs for paralyzed patients, this time they made custom braces for Spencer, complete with little lime green crocs.

Watch what happens when they place the braces on Spencer for the first time. You may want to get your Kleenex as Spencer takes his first step and another and another.

And the next time you just can't get motivated to work out? Think about Spencer out on his walk with his best friend, Porkchop, the blind pig by his side.

happy video: what the fox says. really.

happy video: the baby seal moment

My friend, Sara Baker, is one the most brilliant people I know. She's smart, thoughtful and she can read people well. Today, she posted this video to my Facebook wall. I watched it and immediately felt joy, little bubbles of joy popping in my soul. It's a wonderful thing when a friend drops a happiness moment on you.

So, from Sara to me to you, enjoy this happy video of a reporter who unexpectedly finds himself cuddling with a couple of baby seals on a beach. I've been lucky enough to travel the world interviewing celebrities as a reporter for MSN but I would have given it all up to have one moment like this. To have the open kind of heart that attracts baby seals? Well that, that would be just about as good as it could get, I suppose.

Enjoy this wonderful bit of happy.

{happy video} Christmas flash mob

While flash mobs have been around for a few years, they never fail to amuse. It typically starts with one voice, one instrument and rallies into a melody of voices that inspires joy.

Here's to that feeling of joy in your heart as you enjoy this latest flash mob from Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.

{happy video} four year-old adelaide sings to imaginary fireworks

The backstory: Four year-old Adelaide couldn't sleep because she thought she heard fireworks outside her window. To distract her, her dad brought out the ukelele and while he accompanied her she sang "You Belong to Me" as they watched the imaginary fireworks.

Here's to Adelaide, her dad and the power of imagination. 

{happy video} the puppy who moos

Happy Monday. Here's something to start your week off right.