It is the season of outdoor carnivals, markets and festivals. But, I was waiting for Alnowair’s most of all. They aren’t trying to market or sell anything. It is in no way another outlet for companies to try forcing me into buying another thing I might not really need. Instead, they just want me to be happy.

Really! The people behind Alnowair have one goal, and it is to spread positivity. And they have been doing it for five years now.

Scheduled to take place last month on a Saturday, the weather on Friday turned into one of Kuwait’s famous mega-dust storms that could scare away even the most battle-hardened desert dweller. But the believers in positivity walked their talk, stayed positive and set up anyway. It might have been their good vibes and karma that actually forced the weather into a perfect spring day.

Photo courtesy of Alnowair

So, on the 17th of March I found myself amongst my tribe, people who want to be merry. There was a lot of yellow too, from tee shirts, signs, to even the candy floss. The yellow parade, which has become their hallmark, included thirty cars, three buses and thirteen bikes to be exact.

Photo courtesy of Alnowair

They drove around to spread the smiles. Then they were posed under the Kuwait Towers in the shape of a smile to create an iconic photo. The carnival was the of cial kick off for their #onemillionsmileskuwait campaign. Alnowair wants people to find one million smiles in the wild. Snap a photo of any two items that could be eyes and just add a yellow smile. From there, you simply add the hashtag and share on social media! It is gratifying scrolling through the pictures on Instagram, from the mundane to the novel, all of them make you smile.

Photo courtesy of Alnowair

Alnowair’s efforts are not just for the likes and shares, but their efforts are based on a science-based approach to retraining your mind for a more positive outlook. People who were told to notice happy faces reported feeling happier, sleeping better and scans of their brains confirmed the change!

Photo courtesy of Alnowair

More than a 1000 people showed up for the carnival to enjoy the festivities and the planned games. I especially loved the sumo wrestling, the crazy mini golf and the game where you tried to throw a ball into a cutout smile. I failed miserably, but still had a lot of fun! Live music was played all day and people danced like no one is watching. It didn’t matter if you came alone or with friends, it was like a huge family reunion. Kids and the young-at-heart were equally entertained and had a good time.

Photo courtesy of Alnowair

It was uplifting to see so many companies supporting the initiative. Zain Kuwait, Touristic Enterprises, Fantasy World, NIU Kuwait, AAB World, The Body Shop Kuwait, Monstariam, Rauch Kuwait, Scoop-A-Cone, Cozmo Entertainment  and Gshock Kuwait are all part of the movement.

I can’t wait for the next one because the boost of good-feels carries me for weeks.