Years ago I was playing in a rugby semi final against St Pats town on a cold, windy, rainy, Wellington morning in Evans Bay. We were winning 8-5 and defending our line for the final 10. For those final 10 minutes as we battled against the enemy there was unity, camaraderie, there was a deep rooted collective effort to defend the line in order to win.

After the time was up, the whistle blew and we had won. During that moment I felt an exhilaration that we had won, had made it to the final, but more so had stayed united, stuck together and had won as a collective.

Being part of a team is a unique experience. It can be a participation type feeling, forced based feeling or a deep rooted camaraderie type of feeling. Regardless of the feeling, being part of something bigger than yourself, no matter how big or significance is a feeling of contribution. The feeling on contribution towards a common goal and is an amazing feeling and although sometimes the success is limited, going into battle, win or lose, but if everyone is on the same path and everyone is giving 100% to achieve that, then the simple collective effort is enough to give a feeling of growth and progress and direction, and can in many ways contribute to the search for happiness.

Being part of a team and collectively working towards a goal is an community objective and whether that be towards a Super Bowl or your local div 2 soccer team, contributing to something for something bigger than yourself can truly create a success in the search for happiness.

Thanks,

Dean