Find your happy place, with or without a Cardigan!

What makes me happy? For the most part it’s pretty simple, fun stuff like being with family and friends (especially furry ones), feeling like I’ve helped others, accomplishing something unexpected, and exploring new places. What’s even better is when all of this can be done on a bike - bliss! Working out what it is that makes you happy and applying that across as many aspects of your life as possible is a huge step on your journey to joyful living.

I enjoy time alone, yet also draw energy from being with people and feeling like part of a community. Whether you’re a recent arrival to Singapore or a long-term resident, the inevitable expat cycle means that you constantly need to work on replenishing your friendship group and growing your micro-community. The good news is that, alongside a high friend-turnover rate, the Lion City tends to offer a faster friendtake-up rate, certainly much more so than in less transient cities.

I’m lucky to have my dog Cardigan, a small, furry companion who loves getting out and about and meeting people. Whether on a mission to walk the length and breadth of the island or simply strolling out for coffee, Cardigan’s exuberance always prompts feel-good vibes. Not everyone has a Cardigan however, so my advice to find your ‘in’ (and what I relied on BC, ‘Before Cardi’) is to throw yourself into as many activities, events or groups as possible and see whatand who - sticks.

Lending a helping hand is a huge part of ANZA. With hundreds of volunteers across the association, from organising our sports and sub-groups to volunteering for ANZA Action charities, ‘giving back’ is a great way to not only meet new folks, but to also get a joyful vibe. Maybe try a new activity, sign up for a course or tour, or put forward an idea for your own passion project and build a group from the ground up.

This edition of ANZA magazine is full of positive inspiration from within ANZA and in Singapore at large. So, lean into our community and make the most of all of our upcoming ANZA events this year. They’ll definitely provide happiness and might even be the place that you find your new best friend, furry or otherwise!