Meet the Bristol couple who want you to be happy
David Clensy meets the married couple who are hoping to spread a little happiness across the city
I had half expected to find Ken Dodd, sitting behind a desk with a pair of tickling sticks shouting “happiness for everyone!” But in fact, when I arrived at 77 Stokes Croft, the headquarters of the “Happy City” initiative, I was actually met by a plumbers’ merchants.
Sinks, showers, pipes, plugs, u-bends – the range of their stock was impressive, but not much sign of the “happiness” I had been promised to find here.
After a quick phone call, I realised my mistake – the Happy City HQ was upstairs – but surreally, you have to walk through the bathroom/heating centre to find it.
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It’s like Mr Ben, with cisterns.
“It’s not entirely irrelevant,” Liz Zeidler says when I finally arrive at the first floor office. “When it comes to happiness there are two types of people – radiators and drains.”
I sense it has become a well-used quip.
Married couple Mike and Liz Zeidler founded Happy City three years ago, following on from a growing interest among politicians internationally in finding a new way of measuring the “happiness” of a population beyond simple financial GDP figures.
The couple, who between them have a diverse background in sustainability, international development work, cultural projects and, in Mike’s case, six years on the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, felt a calling to do something to lift all our spirits – they have gone on to build the initiative by working with community groups around the city to discuss what makes people happy, and how happiness levels can be lifted without relying entirely on money to bring contentment.
“We’re not saying we’re able to make everyone happy, or that everyone can be happy all the time,” Liz says. “After all, if we never had any sadness in our lives, we wouldn’t understand the concept of happiness. But we just want to help Bristol to be a city where success is measured in ways other than purely financially.”
Mike adds: “Certainly ‘happiness’ is a difficult word, because it’s clearly subjective. We could have used another phrase, like well-being, but we believe that actually, as humans, what we’re all constantly searching for is happiness. But with the single exception of the tiny nation of Bhutan, countries all over the world base happiness levels purely on wealth – and as we know, money alone doesn’t necessarily make you happy.”
Sitting on the sofa at the Happy HQ, Mike, Liz and I go on to have an hour-long, deeply philosophical, but perfectly happy conversation about happiness – what is happiness? Can we ever be happy? Are we essentially unhappy animals? Could we have evolved without a constant drive to be more happy? What role does religion/secularism have in our happiness and our resilience towards sadness?
But I’ll spare you having to read about it here – after all, it’s so subjective a debate, you may as well just have the conversation for yourselves. And as Liz and Mike tell me – it’s not really about them – their dream is that within five years the Happy City initiative will take on a life of its own, with Bristol leading the way ahead of other cities having the debate, such as Santa Monica and Derby (an unlikely pairing) where similar initiatives are also stepping out on the path to civic bliss.
But the real reason I’m here at the happy factory is to find out about Mike and Liz’s latest project – a Happiness List for Bristol, designed to counter the annual display of unadulterated greed, envy and avarice that is the Sunday Times’ Rich List.
“Every year, on the third Sunday in April the Sunday Times publishes this list of the top 100 wealthiest people,”Mike explains. “It’s based entirely on celebrating these individuals on the basis of how much money they have in their bank, not on the value of their work or their sense of fulfilment.
“A couple of years ago the Independent on Sunday launched a national Happy List to counter it. We thought it was such a good idea, that we should do the same thing for Bristol.”
They are calling for nominations from members of the public for people they know who do good, selfless work for their communities. “We want to cover a wide range of people doing good work,” Liz says. “As long as we get enough nominations, it would be nice to create a Top 100 happiness champions for the city each year, which we would publish on the same weekend as the Sunday Times’ Rich List.
“We want to celebrate what they’re doing by including them in the list, but we also want to ask them to answer a series of set questions, so that we can try to understand if, as we suspect, that their selflessness, their devotion to making other people happy, also makes them happy and contented with their lives.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to spread some of that happiness even further by sharing their wisdom.”
The Post is to regularly publish some of the responses that come back from nominees, before finally publishing the full list of happiness champions for the city in April. Our first Happiness Champion is Marian Liebmann, see panel right. The first happiness champion, Marian Liebmann, tells us about her life, below.
But I have just one more question for Mike and Liz about their admirable, worthy if somewhat ambitious project – does it make them happy?
“Yes,” they both say simultaneously, before erupting into laughter.
“Well,” Liz adds, leaving a pregnant pause, “most of the time.”
Happiness Champion: Marion Liebmann
Our first Happiness Champion, Marian Liebmann, 70, of Westbury Park, volunteers in art therapy, mediation and restorative justice
"I work part-time as an art therapist with adults who have mental health problems. I am also a volunteer mediator with Bristol Mediation, and a trainer and consultant in restorative justice. I have been helping with Restorative Bristol, an initiative to make Bristol a restorative city, where mediation and dialogue are the preferred ways of sorting out conflicts and crime.
"I run workshops on art therapy with anger and conflict issues.
"I’ve also done a lot of work overseas, training people in mediation and running art therapy workshops – in places like Serbia and Russia, five countries in Africa, many countries in Europe.
"I’ve lived in Bristol for 45 years – I came for a job and never left, as I love living here. I have a husband, a daughter and two grandchildren.
"I’m a Quaker and belong to the Redland Meeting. My favourite way of getting round the city is on my bike.
“I also like walking, swimming, badminton, going to the theatre and seeing my friends.”
Question and answer
What are the most important ingredients for living a happy life? Good health, happy family, good friends, healthy environment, physical exercise, worthwhile work, helping others.
What’s your top tip for boosting happiness in the everyday? Talking to people.
You have inspired and motivated others. What motivates and inspires you? Other people making progress despite difficulties, for example, my mother and other Jewish refugees escaping and starting again in a strange country.
What’s your favourite quote or saying? A 1,000 mile walk starts with one step.
What makes you smile about Bristol? The wacky things people get up to.
What do you love about the area where you live? Trees and their shapes, in all the seasons.
If someone had just moved to the city, what hidden gem would you share with them? Henleaze Lake.
What group, project or idea in Bristol has made you think ‘Wow!’? City of Sanctuary
If you could make one big positive change in Bristol, what would it be? A good cheap public transport system.
What gives you hope? Working with young people. My daughter.
What three things that cost no money do you value most? Good health, my friends, going for walks.
What’s made you laugh loudest in the past month? Satirical humour helps keep me sane.
You’ve answered our questions – what great question would you ask us to make us think? What would you like to teach or pass on to the next generation?
Anyone wishing to nominate somebody for the honour, should email happylist@happycity.org.uk. For more information on the Happy City initiative visit their website at www.happycity.org
19 Comments
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by Jazz12
Saturday, March 23 2013, 12:45AM
“Wednesday 20 March 2013 was the first United Nations (UN) International Day of Happiness - http://tinyurl.com/bssd7sk - when really there should be 365 happiness days each year.”
by TeaLover
Friday, March 22 2013, 10:38AM
“Well HorfieldHarry, I have to say that my perspective is completely different. Looking at all the rich lists makes me think of my shortcomings and on the contrary watching people do selfless work inspires me.
I have met a lot of rich people. Most of them are not happy, they are self absorbed and insecure. I never could stand hanging out with people like these. The only rich people that would be very pleasant and friendly, were the ones doing selfless work and offering to others (even if it was not their money).”
by whippetslick
Monday, March 18 2013, 4:42PM
“Funny how it is always the skint people who believe there is 'something more' to happiness...”
by HorfieldHarry
Sunday, March 17 2013, 9:08AM
“John Lennon may have said "money can't buy me love", but at least he had enough to create a refrigerated room in the Dakota building purely for his and Yoko's fur coats. This is often mentioned because journalists think readers will be as interested in this fact as in his hippy utterances.
We read magazine articles about people who are of interest to us, and the mega-rich are often exceptional in their personality traits. That's why there are relatively few of them. Rich people are often risk-takers who lack the fear of failure that stops the rest of us trying to emulate them.
There are no terms and conditions in life that say that happiness is a guaranteed part of the package. Sadness and stress are just part of the natural range of experiences and emotions that we may encounter, as well as hopefully some relaxation, contentment and occasionally elation.
My own theory is that the secret of happiness is to have goals and to be making progress towards those goals. People who are unhappy either don't have something to work towards, or see unsurmountable obstacles in the way of their dreams.”
by walkingcoach
Sunday, March 17 2013, 7:44AM
“How very timely . . . your post on FB page was just after this one . . I am sure you will have both read it however here it is anyway for those doubting thomases out there . . .
http://tinyurl.com/c7abhwe
And as for me . . I am aware that Happy Cities have five steps to well being, here are 5 of my personal ones . . not in any particular order . .
1. Take a regular news break - (too much news either radio, tv, or printed, in the way it is currently presented is definitely bad for our health . . . use that time to do something creative, whether that's drawing a picture, writing a letter or playing with your child's plasticine . .
2. Do it my way . . I think it's really easy for us all to get caught up in doing something a particular way because that's how many other people seem to be doing it . . frequently that comes about because somewhere we are measuring or comparing ourselves with others, so as some wise person once person once said, "The oak does not compare herself to the beech, she simply appreciates her 'oakness' and values the otherness of the beech.'
3. Do at least one thing each day that makes your heart sing, even if it is only for 5 minutes. There are enough 'to-do's' and 'shoulds' in our lives already so making even just a 5 minute space to do whatever it might be that gives you a warm glow . .
4. At least once a week, if not once a day, try to do or say something kind and unexpected for someone else . . it doesn't matter what it is, it could be anything, from giving someone your seat on the train or bus, making someone laugh or calling that person that you have been meaning to contact for a while . .
5. Get some exercise outside, get out in the fresh air for at least 20 minutes a day . . whether it's walking to work, walking a neighbours dog, or getting on your bike . . exercise outside is proven to boost those feel good hormones . .”
by GanjaCrew
Saturday, March 16 2013, 4:00PM
“This link is restaurant advert not what it says on the tin.
Anyone wishing to nominate somebody for the honour, should email happylist@happycity.org.uk. For more information on the Happy City initiative visit their website at http://tinyurl.com/d9e69xk”
by green_man
Saturday, March 16 2013, 1:42PM
“I mostly agree with generaluseful and wholetruth. There's more to success than money and social progress does not equal growing the money flow through the economy by growing our GDP/GNP ! See http://tinyurl.com/dnyfh2
and also http://tinyurl.com/an3kwuh
Can we beat Robert F Kennedy's words on money flow growth as measured by GNP:
"The Gross National Product includes air pollution and advertising for cigarettes and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and jails for the people who break them. GNP includes the destruction of the redwoods and the death of Lake Superior. It grows with the production of napalm, missiles and nuclear warheads.
And if GNP includes all this, there is much that it does not comprehend. It does not allow for the health of our families, the quality of their education or the joy of their play. It is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike. It does not include the beauty of our poetry, the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. GNP measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country…"”
by generaluseful
Saturday, March 16 2013, 10:54AM
“I totally concur with @wholetruth about the number of negative comments on here although at least it has got one or two people thinking about the notion of 'happiness' and what it means. However, I would counsel those individuals to think a little harder and a little deeper about it, since they, like John Lennon's school teachers, have kind of missed the point. I fail to see what is remotely 'pointless' and 'vacuous' about the search for happiness in life. It has to be the ultimate goal. What is the point of money if you are not happy? What is the point of anything for that matter? All of the things that drive us as human beings, be they money, success (again another highly subjective idea), power, family or love are all designed to increase our feelings of happiness and well being. Furthermore, Mike and Liz Zeidler's desire to increase people's awareness of happiness and what it means to them, and a promotion of community links and sharing of ideas is anything but pointless. It is not a vague pink and fluffy notion as some nay-sayers would have us believe, but arguably the most important work going on in Bristol right now.
And just for the record, John Lennon also said 'Money can't buy you love' or indeed happiness. People who venerate those individuals who are on the Sunday Times Rich List by virtue of their bank balances are buying fully into the idea that money DOES equal success and DOES therefore equal happiness. Indeed, some of these individuals are probably very happy and lead wonderfully rich and comfortable lives, often because they have been shrewd and hard working. These can be very admirable qualities. However, it would be wilfully ignorant to suggest either that individuals who contribute to the happiness of others through their hard work are lesser human beings because the form that work takes does not generate huge personal financial reward. If, as @HorfieldHarry suggests, their endeavours only serve to make people feel bad about themselves because they are not engaged in similar work, this is surely a sad indictment of the human race!
Nor would it be sensible to suggest that vast sums of money automatically make you happy as claimed by @whippetslick. Otherwise why would multi-millionaires commit suicide or wealthy heiresses ruin their bodies in endless rounds of binging and purging? Why is the Priory in business?? And why are their so many life-coaches being paid huge sums of money by corporations with even more vast sums of money to coach their high-earning staff in how to be more successful and thus happier individuals??? It seems that even the rich need to pay 'condescending' people to tell them how to be 'happy' after all.
Just to finish with another quote from a very wise gentleman, Douglas Adams:
"This planet has - or rather had - a problem, which was this: most of the people living on it were unhappy for pretty much of the time. Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were largely concerned with the movements of small green pieces of paper, which is odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of paper that were unhappy."
So, there you go. Let's stop looking at small green pieces of paper for the solutions to our problems and start looking at ourselves instead.”
by wholetruth
Saturday, March 16 2013, 9:47AM
“What a load of mardy bums, commenting on here!
HorfieldHarry - surely looking at a list of people with infinitely more money than you also reminds you of your shortcomings? The Happy List can serve as inspiration to lead a more fulfilling life in just the same way as a Rich List can inspire you to stop your pointless job and make a million. In fact, it's easier to achieve a place on the Happy List.
whippetslick - "pointless, smug and ultimately vacuous 'programme'"? The ancient Greeks (Socrates and his pals) didn't see philosophical debate around a worthwhile life as vacuous and many of them settled on 'happiness' as the main driver. You should think about broadening your mind. As for your John Lennon quote, here is another: "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life."
Aren't you quoting the same man who encouraged us to imagine a better world?
I think Liz and Mike are promoting a valuable new ideology in a money-driven society. They don't deny that money and comfort are important for a good, happy life, they just say that it isn't necessary to make it the priority. Focusing on money and material possessions over a sense of community, family, friends, connections and an awareness of the world around you won't make you happy. Who doesn't want to be happy?”
by wholetruth
Saturday, March 16 2013, 9:46AM
“What a load of mardy bums, commenting on here!
HorfieldHarry - surely looking at a list of people with infinitely more money than you also reminds you of your shortcomings? The Happy List can serve as inspiration to lead a more fulfilling life in just the same way as a Rich List can inspire you to stop your pointless job and make a million. In fact, it's easier to achieve a place on the Happy List.
whippetslick - "pointless, smug and ultimately vacuous 'programme'"? The ancient Greeks (Socrates and his pals) didn't see philosophical debate around a worthwhile life as vacuous and many of them settled on 'happiness' as the main driver. You should think about broadening your mind. As for your John Lennon quote, here is another: "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life."
I think Liz and Mike are promoting a valuable new ideology in a money-driven society. They don't deny that money and comfort are important for a good, happy life, they just say that it isn't necessary to make it the priority. Focusing on money and material possessions over a sense of community, family, friends, connections and an awareness of the world around you won't make you happy. Who doesn't want to be happy?”