logo
Happiness? It's about people, not possessions, author says

Happiness? It's about people, not possessions, author says

Published: 7:45am, 22 Feb 2025 Updated: 7:47am, 22 Feb 2025
Joy is often presented online as being tied to status, material possessions and personal achievement.
Scroll through your Instagram feed and you will see flawlessly curated snapshots of 'happiness': gleaming watches, fast cars, designer handbags.
American positive psychologist Stephanie Harrison sees this as an outdated vision of happiness. She wrote New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong to challenge the way we think about self-fulfillment.
The book, which became an international bestseller, draws on hundreds of studies to offer a life-changing guide to finding happiness. Stephanie Harrison is a positive psychologist and the author of New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong. Photo: Alex Johnston It has sparked a movement dedicated to redefining what it truly means to be happy; the book's dedicated Instagram page, instagram.com/newhappyco , has 955,000 followers.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Skibidi', 'tradwife' added to Cambridge dictionary
'Skibidi', 'tradwife' added to Cambridge dictionary

RTHK

time2 days ago

  • RTHK

'Skibidi', 'tradwife' added to Cambridge dictionary

'Skibidi', 'tradwife' added to Cambridge dictionary The Cambridge Dictionary definition of 'skibidi' acknowledges the difficulty of pinning down a specific meaning to the term. Words popularised by Gen Z and Gen Alpha including "skibidi", "delulu", and "tradwife" are among 6,000 new entries to the online edition of the Cambridge Dictionary over the last year, its publisher said on Monday. Cambridge University Press said tradwife, a portmanteau of traditional wife, reflected "a growing, controversial Instagram and TikTok trend that embraces traditional gender roles". The dictionary also took on the challenge of defining skibidi, a word popularised in online memes, as a term which had "different meanings such as cool or bad, or can be used with no real meaning". The gibberish word was spread by a YouTube channel called "Skibidi Toilet" and is associated with the mindless, "brain rot" content found on social media and consumed by Gen Alpha's overwhelmingly digital lifestyle. The dictionary defined delulu, derived from the word delusional, as "believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to". As an example, it cited a 2025 speech in parliament where Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the phrase "delulu with no solulu". "It's not every day you get to see words like skibidi and delulu make their way into the Cambridge Dictionary," said Colin McIntosh, Lexical Programme manager at the Cambridge Dictionary. "We only add words where we think they'll have staying power. Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the Dictionary." Other new phrases include "lewk", used to describe a unique fashion look and popularised by RuPaul's Drag Race, and "inspo", short for inspiration. Work from home culture has given rise to "mouse jiggler", referring to a way to pretend to work when you are not. There is also "forever chemical", man-made chemicals that stay in the environment for years and have gained traction as concerns grow about the irreversible impact of climate change on the health of humans and the plant. (AFP)

4 things trending this summer, from Labubu to Dubai chocolate
4 things trending this summer, from Labubu to Dubai chocolate

South China Morning Post

time25-07-2025

  • South China Morning Post

4 things trending this summer, from Labubu to Dubai chocolate

These days, it seems like everything from what we eat to what we wear is influenced by a viral internet sensation. Here are four trends that we have spotted online and in the city. Ballet flats Frequently spotted on Hong Kong streets and at designer shows, these easy-to-wear ballerina-inspired flat shoes have been enjoying quite the resurgence. Perhaps last popular in the 2000s, Vogue has proclaimed the flats the 'it-shoe' of 2025. But where did the shoe actually come from? Its origins date back to the 1600s. Marie-Anne de Cupis de Camargo, a French ballerina of the Paris Opera, removed the heel of her pointe shoes, creating the now-standard ballet slipper. Ballet flats from Miu Miu. Photo: Miu Miu Modern iterations would not become mainstream until the 20th century, when American designers like Claire McCardell began creating their own versions alongside Parisian shoemakers such as Repetto. Quickly becoming associated with French culture and classic, feminine looks, ballet flats have remained a wardrobe staple throughout the years. Today, designers have breathed new life into the trend, playing with different materials and styles. You can find ballet flats made of mesh, crochet or even jellylike plastic – the possibilities are endless! Pistachio Featured in everything from egg tarts to ice cream, mochi, and drinks, clamouring for this nutty filling and flavour has caused a pistachio shortage, not unlike matcha. The main culprit, if you ask this author, has to be 'Dubai chocolate', more on that later, which uses the nut as a vital component in its filling. Even beyond menus, the soft colour has also found its way into the 2025 spring/summer collections of brands like Miu Miu, Prada and Alexander McQueen. A promotional photo for Godiva's collaboration with Pop Mart, featuring pistachio flavours and Kasing Lung's character Labubu from his series 'The Monsters'. Dubai chocolate Although this trend began in 2024, it does not appear to be on its way out. Dubai-based chocolatier FIX is credited for this variety, which combines a rich pistachio cream filling with crunchy kataifi pastry, stuffed into a milk chocolate bar. It was first created by the company founder, Sarah Hamouda, as a unique way to satisfy her pregnancy cravings. As the crispy kadayif-pistachio cream chocolate gained popularity, other leading chocolate brands such as Läderach and Lindt began producing their own variations. Social media helped propel the rise of this decadent dessert, and soon the concept was incorporated into various other pastries. In Hong Kong, Godiva launched limited-edition Dubai chocolate soft serves and milkshakes in partnership with one of the other biggest trends of the year – Labubu. Labubu Depending on who you ask, Labubu is equal parts ugly, frightening and adorable. Chances are, you have heard of the furry dolls that have become a global toy sensation, – but do you know about their connection to Hong Kong? Labubu creator Lung Ka-sing, at his studio in Kwun Tong. Photo: Jonathan Wong Labubu is actually the name of an elfish creature featured in The Monsters, a series by Hong Kong-Dutch artist Lung Ka-sing, or Kasing Lung. Born in Hong Kong, Lung and his family immigrated to the Netherlands when he was around six years old. To improve his Dutch, a teacher suggested that he read young adult books with illustrations, especially those about Nordic folklore and mythology. Lung used this mythology to create Labubu and her friends! In mid-2024, Blackpink's Lisa was spotted with a furry toy keychain and also posted about a collection of plush dolls produced by the Chinese company Pop Mart, based on Lung's design. This propelled the character into the spotlight, starting in Thailand, Southeast Asia and East Asia, but quickly sweeping the globe. Fans wait in long queues to grab Pop Mart bling boxes, where you can only discover what you have bought after opening the package. Resell prices have gone up exponentially, and there is even a whole market ecosystem dedicated to accessorising the dolls.

Hong Kong seems as stressed as ever in 2025, highlighted by my own ‘Bus Uncle' incident
Hong Kong seems as stressed as ever in 2025, highlighted by my own ‘Bus Uncle' incident

South China Morning Post

time28-05-2025

  • South China Morning Post

Hong Kong seems as stressed as ever in 2025, highlighted by my own ‘Bus Uncle' incident

Being scolded on a bus by a fellow passenger had not been on my agenda last weekend, but that is exactly what happened. A woman behind me had taken umbrage with my apparent slowness at boarding – except I had been waiting for the family ahead of me, who seemed confused about whether they wanted that bus. This led to my own hesitation, as I was not about to board first if they were actually going to get on – the Brit in me recoiled at coming across as a queue-jumper. Regardless, the woman berated me for looking at my phone and 'having my head in the clouds' before storming off to the upper deck, leaving a miasma of angry disapproval in her wake. Obviously, I proceeded to post about it on my Instagram stories, because I found it funny that this woman was flipping out over nothing – did we not, in the end, both still get on the bus? And, despite my clear and blatant disregard for her time, was her journey not still unimpeded? The episode brought to my mind a far older, more well-known bus incident. Nearly two decades ago, a rather put-out 'uncle' was filmed sounding off against a fellow passenger on a public bus in Hong Kong. Much of what he said cannot be published in this newspaper, but a few of his choice sentences – such as 'You have stress, I have stress!' and 'It's not settled!' – have since become catchphrases in the city.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store