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Embargoed: 00:01 Monday 18 January 2010
London – 14th January 2010
Optimists challenge “The Most Depressing Day of the Year”
Hundreds of Optimists across the world pledge to cheer up their fellow citizens. From London to Sydney, New York to Johannesburg members of The Optimists Society plan to do good deeds, smile, say thank-you, try something new and spread good cheer.
The party season has ended, lots of us have eaten and drunk too much, summer is but a distant memory, the big freeze continues, the bills for Christmas are about to slam onto the mat and all those resolutions you were so keen on 3 weeks ago are now looking like a right hassle...
With all this going on you could be forgiven for thinking that the 3rd Monday in January might be a bit of a downer, the most depressing day of the year, a really “Blue Monday” even... but hang on, wait a second what it actually means is... It’s International Optimism Day again!
Last year’s day organised by The Optimists Society as their counter to the media obsession with the idea of Blue Monday was hailed a huge success. Optimists joined together across the world from the UK to Canada, Qatar, China, USA and Australia, performing random acts of the kindness, taking part in laughter workshops and generally bringing cheer to those around them.
Helped enormously by open minded members of the press who realised that not all news has to be bad and saw the value of promoting something positive. TV, Radio, Press and Online coverage reached millions.
This year the society continues to promote the message that no matter how bad it might look, it could always be worse, and that positive action is always a better solution than apathy. And together with partner Shinetime are also offering laughter yoga sessions to anyone who wants to learn.
Hundreds of members across the globe have already pledged to make this year’s International Optimism Day bigger and better than ever. Agreeing to:
-Write a list of simple things that make you happy and share it
-Write down 3 things you’re grateful for
-Call someone you haven't spoken to for ages
-Say hello to someone you see every day, but never speak to
-Say yes to something you'd normally say no to
-Do something random and lovely for a complete stranger
-Spread the word and get your friends to do the same
Society President James Battison says: “The success of last year’s day, the support and messages we received from all over the world, gave us the confidence to take the society to the next level. We now have a training facility in London and plan to launch a global tour of Optimism training days taking our message -based on the theories of positive psychology- to our members across the world”
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Notes to editors:
Reporters wishing to interview James Battison or to arrange for a laughter yoga session should email halffull@theoptimistssociety.com or call 07717 788666
About The Optimists Society:
The society was founded in February 2008. Following the success of last year’s Optimism Day the society became a global movement, with over 2,500 members in 48 countries across 6 of the world’s 7 continents (All they need to complete the set is an Antarctic Optimist, know anyone who counts penguins for a living?)
The society is three things:
§ AN IDEAS BASE - a network of like-minded positive thinkers and doers who share ideas on how to solve social issues and alter their perspective on the world, ensuring they are best equipped to deal with life’s challenges in the most positive way possible
§ A SUPPORT STRUCTURE - to help members overcome the obstacles and negativity that life throws at them along the way - through meetings, an online social network and training programmes
§ A POSITIVE BRAND – promoting positive action and solutions based thinking. Looking to take society from a culture of me, me, me to one of we and oui! (That’s yes in French in case you didn’t pay attention to what Mr Martin taught you in class 4c)
About Shinetime:
§ Shinetime was established in 2005 by Leela Bunce
§ Leela is a trained Laughter Yoga facilitator and member of the Laughter Network – a group of professionals who use and promote laughter in their work
§ Shinetime provides uplifting, playful, stress-busting workshops and sessions to organisations large and small, nationwide
§ More information: www.shinetime.co.uk
About ‘Blue Monday’:
§ ‘Blue Monday’ is a name given to a date believed to be the most depressing day of the year, calculated using many factors including: weather conditions, debt level, time since Christmas, time since failing our new year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and feeling a need to take action
§ The date typically falls on the 3rd Monday in January
§ In 2010, ‘Blue Monday’ will fall on January 18th
PHOTO CREDIT
Please feel free to use all photos supplied - photo credit is not required.
FURTHER INFORMATION/INTERVIEW REQUESTS
For further information or interviews with James Battison please contact:
Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
JustListen2This Publicity Relations
London, UK & Philadelphia, USA
Tel: (UK) 07960 850645
(USA) 1 215 459 5060
E.Mail: rio@justlisten2this.com
http://twitter.com/LucaDiCaro
www.justlisten2this.com
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