happy new year to all! what more should i say? of course i want you all to be happy. but what does that mean? what does happiness mean? so many different things to different people. “contentment with one’s situation,” i read somewhere today, “is the greatest happiness one can have.” definitely, that is one great happiness. one among many – and a happiness that may seem meaningless to some.
since there seem to be so many ideas around happiness, i thought i’d see what some of our readers say about it. here you have it:
- rivka mentions ayn rand’s question of whether an individual has a right to happiness.
- leprechaun makes a connection between happiness and luck
- christa from giggle on says we’re responsible for our own happiness; similarly, dan says happiness is a choice.
- donna finds joy and happiness difficult to come by after spending years in a cult.
- marja talks about the happiness that washed over her after her garden party that launched her latest book, a firm place to stand, about her experience supporting others and being supported in mental illness (neat tidbit – i was in the middle of writing this sentence when tina, who had originally introduced me to marja, phoned me up out of the blue)
- “joy and purpose is found in living a life looking outward and upward; not inward” says meri ellen
- in the anorexia forum, supportive messages:
- “your body needs food! you are very underweight and your body is probably screaming for nourishment! i know it is soooo hard to eat but you have to. you need more than what you are consuming right now. you want to gain your life back. you want to be healthy and happy! anorexia takes both health and happiness away and you do not want that. you want to enjoy life and live it to the fullest :)”
- “health and happiness is the most important thing in life- not what you look like.”
- the same person talks about overcoming the voice of anorexia, eating a snack, and the happiness that brought being proud of herself for that
- andrew wonders whether there is a connection between income levels and health
- “happiness happens when you’re not worrying about it.” says hibs
- chelle feels she’s found the secret to happiness: live in the moment.; let go of all your grudges; don’t be the judge; accept what happens as a bigger plan in life; want less; help others
- chollie feels that happiness starts with humility
- snow thinks that happiness is elusive, and that people often fake being happy
- and lastly, i just got a message from a friend who said, “i’m so happy i’m not starting a new diet today!”
quite the grab-bag. what’s your take on happiness?
image by carf