In this time of modernization, when so many of us are so focused on material things, the people of Bhutan recognize the increasing need for deeper values to foster wellbeing, security, and happiness. When I was in Bhutan for the project to create a community for elderly monks, I encountered a short description that captures that spirit at a small village elementary school.

The time to be happy is now

The place to happy is here

The way to be happy is to make other people happy

What a beautiful message for children to learn at school.

People in Bhutan did not have much in the way of material goods, yet I could see the determination and dignity in their eyes. They have a lot to teach us about how much we all have to share with others, and how sharing brings a gift of ” sense of happiness” back to us.