A happiness exercise

Every morning, a small group of elderly Japanese ladies meet to cheer each other up. How they do it is so simple, it’s hard to believe. Together they say ‘I am happy, I am happy’ over and over. Then they say ‘ I am laughing, I am laughing, I am laughing’ till they start to laugh, often a bit forced at first.

And then the laughing starts to build and build, till their tummies start to wobble, their heads roll back and the tears drip down their happy cheeks. They say the good feelings last all day.