Happiness Circle helps find light at the end of the tunnel

On the verge of death from complications — including double pneumonia, cytokine storm, and a heart attack — from COVID-19, Yardley Wang wasn’t thinking about the people who made him miserable or how much money was in the bank.

He was thinking about the people he loved, and the people who made him happy. 

Five years later, Wang and his wife Lisa Lieberman-Wang are grateful he survived and that they have more time together. Lieberman-Wang said many people hold on to past trauma and experiences. She said not everybody has tools and resources at their disposal to make a change.  

Because of their experiences, along with a friendship with Nevriye Yesil, they joined a newly formed club — The Lakewood Ranch Happiness Circle. 

Photo by Madison Bierl

Led by Yesil, the goal is to meet monthly and create a space for community members to bond, to feel lighter about their lives, and to put effort into whatever brings them happiness. 

“Nev is bringing people a different understanding and skill set to live their best lives right now,” Lieberman-Wang said. “They don't have to spend years in shame, blame and therapy, or anything else — they can literally have what they want right now.”

Yesil, who has a Master's in happiness studies, doesn’t do lectures. She instead shares her wisdom through natural conversation. 

“Whether it's gratitude practice or mindfulness, taking care of the body, or eating healthy, it's all part of the whole being,” Yesil said. “That's what I do — I hit on all different areas of happiness, not just on the physical. It is mental. There's the relational, there's the emotional. They all are part of the whole being.” 

Yesil said the purpose of the group is to encourage members to not rush through life.

“It’s actually about slowing down, savoring the moment, and enjoying the things you're doing,” Yesil said. “Often we think about the tomorrow and the yesterday, so the beauty of the now gets lost.” 

Vivian Martinez, who met Yesil through playing pickleball, attended the first meeting of the Lakewood Ranch Happiness Circle. She said she is often rushing around, trying to find a good work-life balance. She said she is a caregiver to everyone and sometimes lets her own needs slip through the cracks. 

At the meeting, she created a vision board to visualize her goals. Key items for her to work on included being more present with family and focusing more on herself. She described this year as her “year of me.” 

Martinez said everybody who attended the meeting was open and vulnerable sharing their emotions and goals. She felt there was no pressure and the members invite anyone interested to join, or even to just observe. 

“Somehow you feel drawn in to participate,” Martinez said. “Even if you're a little apprehensive, you can just try it out. It's a very warm and inviting atmosphere.” 

Wang is Yesil’s pickleball coach and he said she is always looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.

“Even in learning, she's always smiling and always happy,” Wang said. “When people are learning things, they get frustrated, but there's no frustration with her.”

Photo by Madison Bierl

Scott Smith, Yesil’s fiance, said it has been a privilege to see her start the local group. He said she is like a pebble in the water that has a ripple effect. He said it is her destiny to help others find and embrace happiness in their lives. 

“It seems to me that so much unhappiness in life has to do with focusing on something in the past or fearing something that's going to happen in the future,” Smith said. “Where happiness seems to be living is in the intersection of presence meets gratitude.” 

He hopes everyone who attends meetings of the Happiness Circle walks away with at least one new friend. 

Lieberman-Wang said finding happiness is about choosing a path and then putting yourself in proximity of the people who will support you.

“If it's being happy, then stay around people who are happy,” Lieberman-Wang said.