5 Steps to Happiness
From time to time, filmmaker Anton Hecht sends me one of his short films with the request to share it with you. I’m always glad to do so, as he is reliably creative and produces superb and quite enjoyable films. This one – Happiness is a Harmonica – is part of a wellness initiative of a community inviting people to take five steps toward greater health, wellness, and happiness. I’m still not totally sure how playing the harmonica contributes :), although I think that the various people and folks playing it – actually, learning to play it – are engaged in one or more of the various steps. And all of them are engaging in one of them, which is learning something new.
Despite my fuzziness on the connection, though, I was very intrigued by the five steps themselves and commend them for your consideration:
Connect with others
Be active
Keep Learning
Give to others
Take notice of what’s around you.
Good advice anytime, but especially if you have a harmonica available. 🙂
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Harmonicas, an accordion and all the generations being creative together!! Pure joy. Thanks for sharing!
Wait, we must not forget the trumpet too!!
The project aimed to promote the NHS’s 5 Steps to Wellbeing mentioned and encourage people in and around the town centre to practice new ways to support their health and happiness. Research suggests that building 5 ways to wellness into your daily life can add 7 1/2 years to your life. The film did fulfill all of the steps in one way or another.
The arts development approach is a subtle and elegant way of drawing people from diverse backgrounds, ages and experience into the engagement of a process which in turn can relay an important and lasting message. This developmental approach depends on building levels of trust with participants, enabling those involved to try new things and achieve more than they imagined possible at the outset, whilst leaving a positive and memorable imprint on the consciousness of the individual; ergo, they are more likely to continue or expand their experience and to advocate it to others.
Breathing is integral to life and is vital for both many artists (breath control is intrinsic to dance, music, actors use vocal projection etc) and athletes in order to achieve their ultimate performance. Harmonicas depend on the control of breath and are easy to play so people can be taught relatively quickly.
I hope this explains why we chose harmonicas, as well as doing something that hopefully catches the imagination and makes people smile!
Marie Wisson
Arts Development Team
Gateshead Council
Wonderfully helpful. Thank you, Marie!
I would think also that, because harmonicas are portable and inexpensive that people might be more likely to continue to play.