What are Open-Source Happiness Packets?
People are generally much more loved than they think they are. Especially when things don't go according to plan, other people almost never think as harshly of you as you might think of yourself. It's easy for us to complain when bad things happen, and yet we're often fairly silent when things are good. Open-source communities are no different, especially when our main communication channels are textual and virtual.
The feeling that you made a difference, that your work matters and has value, and that the people you work with are happy to work with you, is an awesome feeling. With Open-Source Happiness Packets, we're trying to spread that feeling.
How does it work?
Openly expressing appreciation, gratitude, or happiness to other people can be difficult. This is especially true when you don't know them very well. Many of us come from cultures in which people are not open by default about such feelings, and naturally feel uncomfortable or even creepy to share them.
Open-Source Happiness Packets is a very simple platform to anonymously reach out to the people that you appreciate or to whom you are thankful in your open-source community. Your message can be sent anonymously if you feel uncomfortable to share your name with the recipient. Of course, we encourage you to share your name, but it's completely optional!
Happiness Archive
If both the sender and the recipient agree, we can publish the Happiness Packet on the website. We hope to build an archive of open-source happiness that communities can draw inspiration from.
As an example, here are two random messages from our archive:
Anonymous message
You've been involved with Fedora for a while now, and ever since you became involved, you've made your own impact inside of the community. Thanks to you, we're better able to understand the Fedora community from data and metrics, and now you're getting to mentor someone else in the same way that someone mentored you. I'm happy that we have people like you in the Fedora and open source communities. Thanks for all you do… we're lucky to have people like you!
From Julie Kane to Jenica Rogers
This is a little piece of fluff, but I wanted you to know I'm thinking of you and sending some support and happiness your way. You make life better for a lot of people, me included, and you might not know all the ways you do that, only the ways in which it's hard. You are loved and cheered on -- and so very very cared for. Thanks for being Jenica!