I’ve gotten some questions about how I came up with the name “Happiness Runs” and “Running on Happy.” In response, here’s the short (and the long) of it!
When I was a kid, I had the privilege of going to Birch Trail Camp in the great North Woods of Wisconsin. It was a beautiful place — physically, mentally, and emotionally. My brothers had attended camps in Michigan and Wisconsin, and because I wanted to be just like them in every way conceivable, I decided my first year that I would go for eight weeks.
I had a horrible first session. My cabin mates and I fought all the time. None of us got along with each other. Our counselors were fun but not great with 12 year old girls and all the hormones that come along with them. It was disastrous to say the least. When my parents came to visit for visiting weekend, I desperately wanted to go home. I cried and cried and cried and cried. But Richard & Barbara (aka, Camp Mom and Dad — the phenomenal directors of camp BT), promised me that if I stayed for the second session, they would turn things around for me. I was reluctant, and I literally continued to beg my parents to take me home until the moment they left, but between Mom and Dad and Camp Mom and Dad, I stayed.
Thank god Richard and Barb held up their end of the bargain. I had a waynar, tonar, FULL TILT second session. And the rest, friends, is history.
Birch Trail Camp was the single most important aspect of my history to this day. I kid you not. I am who I am because of this wonderful place. I made the best friends, I learned so much, I figured out who I was, and I navigated the treacherous pre-teen and teenage years with grace. Or, whatever amount of grace a pre-teen and teenage girl can muster! Lol.
It is because of this influence during my formative years that when I’m down, or troubled, or I need a helping hand, I call on my favorite memories of this place. And right away I feel better. So it is fitting that one of the simplest, silliest songs of BT has stuck with me to this day.
Happiness Runs.
Happiness Runs is a gesture/repeating song. Each time you sing it, you get faster and faster. And at the end it’s pretty hilarious. I’ve begun teaching my kids this silly song because let’s face it, it’s fun, and a quick pick me up. And this winter has left plenty of time to attract cabin fever and feel down in the dumps! Here’s the shortened version of it. If you went to BT, please feel free to sing along. 🙂
“Happiness runs in a circular motion,Love is like a little boat upon the sea.Everybody is a part of everything anyway.You can be happy if you let yourself be!”
I also call on this phrase a lot because the last year has been quite a year of growing for me. I’ve learned a ton about myself. I’ve gone from having major FOMO to being quite happy and focused on my running, my family, and on the next chapter of our lives. So you see, happiness does run in a circular motion. If you send happy vibes out to the world, happy vibes will come back to you.
And now you know — Happiness Runs. 🙂
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Do you have any favorite childhood memories, or favorite songs you used to sing?
