Two residents will be getting up close and personal with the Dalai Lama and other special guests to learn about happiness this week.
Catherine Tribe, a visual arts teacher at St Paul’s High School, and Penny McKee, a drama teacher and celebrant for The Vow Factor, are in Brisbane for The International Conference on Human Happiness and Its Causes from June 16-17,
The conference will also feature Dr Jane Goodall and renowned Australian identities including Bettina Arndt and Maragret Pomeranz.
The conference, which the teachers are attending with financial assistance from St Paul’s, takes a holistic look at the nature of human happiness from a scientific, spiritual, emotional, psychological angle, Penny said.
“In our capacity as creative arts teachers (and celebrant) we are very interested in the role that living a creative life has on one’s happiness in people of all ages, and we are both excited that such an international platform has been given to the study of a fundamental human desire and need,” she said.
“We both hope to take from the conference ideas and inspiration to share with our colleagues and to provide our own food for thought in our professions.”
Catherine said she believes that the very essence of life is the pursuit of happiness.
“Whether one believes in religion, the self, science or any other credence we are all driven to the experiences that make us happy,” she said.
“I am especially looking forward to hearing the views of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as he has overcome great adversity and suffering to now be acclaimed as the happiest and most compassionate person in the world.
“If I can target what makes students happy I am confident their learning will be enriched and in turn they will value school as a place of growth and happiness.”
Penny said we all have a creative gene and too often as adults we allow that gene and its potential to lie dormant.
“Too often young people lack experience in and later the confidence with a meaningful engagement with the creative arts,” she said.
“Access to a creative pursuit such as painting, writing, photograph or dancing will almost certainly guarantee happiness on many levels.
“As a community, our challenge is to normalise and sustain engagement with the creative arts for everyone.
“If we were to swop the media room for a studio and a plasma for a canvas, we might have a gorgeous mess, but we would certainly have some happy individuals.
“Going to The Happiness Conference validates my belief in this intrinsic human desire and its multiple benefits for everyone and allows me to further examine the idea of creativity behind happiness.
“Working with Cath Tribe and other like-minded colleagues in the Port Macquarie area will ensure that engagement with the creative arts is as normal as going for a surf or playing a game of golf.”
