We have been married for 25 years, have three boys and live just outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Despite the ups and downs of marriage, raising children and just getting along in this life we have been “very happy”. However, we realize our happiness was not a gift, but rather, a process whereby we learned basic principles of happiness and worked hard to incorporate those principles into our lives.
This year we decided to take what we’ve learned and develop a way to share it broadly. The result is Hapacus™, a program designed to teach happiness principles in small group settings. We invite you to learn more, track our progress, add your voice and join us in our journey towards greater happiness.
To learn more go to www.hapacus.com
About Virginia
I am by nature a happy person. However, that positive temperament has been challenged by an abusive father, divorced parents and a variety of other hardships that stretched my ability to remain upbeat, optimistic and hopeful.
I was raised on a dairy farm in Montana until I was 13 and then bounced from location to location with a father who shredded the fabric of our family of 9 children during the 27 years my parents were married and beyond. Not surprisingly, those years took a toll on my psyche, perception of relationships, and my view of the world. However, in 1986 I met my husband and together we have carved out a life together that has renewed my faith in mankind and my feelings about what it takes to be happy.
I feel so strongly about the work it takes to be happy and the fact that we can be happier that I left my very stable job to work with my husband on Hapacus™. It’s a risk. Many may think I’m crazy, but if I can share what I’ve learned with others it will be worth all the sacrifices.
About Bob
Although I’ve always been an optimist, I’ve struggled with enduring happiness (optimism and happiness are not the same thing). That’s surprising given that by all external factors I’ve had an ideal life. I am the oldest of 9 kids, raised in a safe and secure middle-class neighborhood. My parents, who are still married after 47 years, have always been loving, kind and attentive. I was able to get a great education at two major universities, including two graduate degrees, and I have been an executive at two of the largest U.S. companies and a CEO of a healthcare IT company. I’ve traveled the world, have 3 great boys and have experienced financial success and remain in good health. Despite all that, however, I’ve found that enduring happiness is not automatically granted as a result of these external circumstances.
Because I have struggled with happiness, and because I truly seek happiness, I’ve made it my hobby to study what makes people happy. I’ve studied various religions, eastern philosophies, and ancient philosophers, and constantly analyze my own experiences while incorporating the various things I’ve learned. In spite of all my study I didn’t find anything that pulled it all together for me until I came across the new field of Positive Psychology. As I began reading the materials emerging from Positive Psychology I found a body of literature I could trust that linked the various happiness principles I’d already tested. As a result, my life began to change.
Now, after more than 10 years of studying Positive Psychology, applying those concepts, and seeing the resulting happiness in my life, I’ve decided to construct a program to share these principles with others. I feel my life’s purpose is embodied in Hapacus™. My corporate background, training experience and knowledge about start-up businesses has allowed me to create a program that will help you be happier and assist you in sharing these concepts with others.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can join the Hapacus™ movement, go to www.hapacus.com
