'BEING' HAPPY vs 'DOING HAPPY'

Welcome back to the 2025 school year! The six-week summer holiday period has drawn to a close, and as we return to school with fresh uniforms, new class placements, and the excitement of what lies ahead, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the rhythm of these past weeks. For many families, summer holidays are seen as an opportunity to fill the elusive "happiness bucket" by doing—an endless carousel of holidays, play dates, activities, and adventures. These are, of course, wonderful and memorable experiences. Yet, there’s a hidden danger in the relentless pace with which we often approach this time.

Thich Nhat Hanh, the Buddhist teacher and author, offers a counterpoint to our modern tendency for constant busyness. He flips the well-known phrase, “Don’t just sit there, do something!” on its head, instead urging us: “Don’t just do something, sit there!”. This simple wisdom is a gentle reminder of the importance of simply being. As we prepare our children for their new adventures this year, it’s worth considering: Do we focus too much on doing happiness rather than being happy?

When we ask parents what they want for their child’s future, the answer is rarely tied to achievements, wealth, or accolades. Overwhelmingly, the response is, “I just want them to be happy.” But therein lies the key: happiness is not something we do. We are human beings, not human doings.

As the school year begins, life inevitably resumes its busy tempo. There are school routines, work schedules, extracurricular activities, and a seemingly endless list of responsibilities. Yet, amidst the hustle, I encourage us all to carve out sacred spaces—moments of stillness to pause, reflect, and simply be. This could mean a quiet family dinner, a walk together after school, or even a few minutes of shared silence before bedtime. These are the moments where we can model the art of being for our children and, in turn, nourish their wellbeing.

After all, true happiness doesn’t come from endless doing. It is found in the still, quiet moments when we allow ourselves to simply be.

Let us make this year not just about achievement and activity, but about fostering a sense of balance and presence, for ourselves and our children.

Wishing you all a joyful and mindful start to 2025!

Mr Casimir Douglas

Monday 27th January, 2025