By Samantha McKenzie

Spring is here. The birds are chirping outside my window. The trees are blossoming outside of my door. The parks are getting populated with people and the smell of the “new” is in the air.

I’ve always been a huge fan of learning new things, but when I stumbled upon an article that suggests it leads to greater happiness, I was reinvigorated to find better ways to make my 24 hours more meaningful.

According to Vanessa King, a positive psychology expert, human beings have a natural desire to learn and progress which leads to happiness and well being.

“Learning can help us build confidence and a sense of self-efficacy. It can also be a way of connecting with others too,” King writes in an online article. “Psychologists call it mastery.”

Studies say that adult learning has a positive impact on self-esteem when it meets the need of the learner and when the learner is at a stage in their life when they are ready and receptive to benefit from it.

This happiness takes place when new learning opportunities meet up with your creativity. Together the two stimulate ideas and connect us to other areas of interest.

The experience is similar to going on a first date with someone you have chemistry with. We all can remember that feeling: It made us happy.

Spring always does this for me. Something about the warm weather that ignites my desire to get my hands into something. Learning can be intoxicating. It makes me feel free.

My daughter, a self-proclaimed crafter, has volunteered to teach me how to make lip balm. She’s already purchased the ingredients (beeswax, scented flavors and coconut oil) and has penciled me in for the weekend. This should be fun.

There’s  more on the list, like starting an herb garden and mastering my photography skills. Today I got my first tutorial in using the GoPro (this is a must have if you’re hosting a large event).

The giddiness has begun. See you on the other side. What’s on your “new” things to do list?