Monday, April 7, 2008

Happiness

Please answer the following questions. You must answer on your own and also write a comment to another person's response in your own response. Please write well keeping fluency and conventions in mind.

What is true happiness? What do you need to be happy? Is there a correlation between success or money and happiness? Ten years from now I will consider myself happy if....

35 comments:

kyndral said...

What is happiness? By dictionary definition, happiness is a feeling of joy. This is true, but surface level only. I believe a deep meaning of happiness is a personal emotion or thought. Each individual is going to associate happiness with a different event or feeling, creating their own definition for the word in the process. Happiness is something that everyone defines in their life, as different from person to person as opinions of the next election are.
How do I gain happiness? Wealth? Maybe, but I believe that money cannot make a person happy. A wealthy person can be happy, but the root of the emotion will not lie in money. Society claims that wealth, fast cars and big houses will bring you happiness. I have to disagree. Money brings stress and worries, cars can be broken or stolen and houses burnt and destroyed. Happiness is something that lasts, it is a lifestyle. You choose to be happy, or unhappy. Many view rain as a 'downer', but I see it as perfection; a chance for me to run and dance as the water droplets cleanse the world. It's all about perspective. So, ask a happy person how they view the world and then ask a wealthy one. Would you get the same answer?
Ten years from now I will consider myself happy if I have a good job and enjoy life. If I can run around throwing a frisbee just for fun. Or skip down the sidewalk singing Disney songs because I want to be five years old again. I will consider myself happy if I do not lose the personality that makes me, me. If I can still run around in the rain, twirling and laughing for absolutely no reason at all. Happiness is a choice, have you made one?

Shelby M. said...

I agree with Kendra along everything that she said. True happiness in the eye of the person because everyone has their own personal preference of the emotion. Every person ties in happiness with their own feeling or emotion and what makes them happy. All people define happiness in their life, but everyone’s is different.
My needs for happiness are not cars, houses or money or things that our society claims to make your life better and happier. I disagree with that. Like Kendra said, all those things can be ruined and the whole purpose of happiness is to never go away. My happiness is just enjoying life with my family and friends, Doing well in school and creating a good pathway for my future to be and do what I want. To answer Kendras question. I don’t think that you would get the same answer at all. In ten years I would consider myself happy if I’m still enjoying life and made the future I planned as a kid, if I followed that “pathway.”

Rick Maestas said...

True happiness is satisfaction in its purest form. Until now, the responses have seemed to state that you can't be truly happy with money, a nice house and a new car, but the consensus in modern America is that these are the things you can surround yourself with to achieve happiness. When a man in his 60’s retires, he digs into his 401k, gets a townhome on a golf course and buys himself a Cadillac. With a lifetime of experience of behind him, these are the things he chooses to do to live the rest of his life in happiness. When an up and coming star makes it big, they buy a mansion, sports car and continue doing what they have done to get themselves in the position of fame and stardom. If Bono from U2 decided he wanted to spend the rest of his days in the Irish countryside, he would take Alison Hewson and their kids, move into a simple cottage and be able to live a comfortable life on the money he made from his first album Boy.

Ten years from now, I will consider myself happy if I have accomplished more than I have accomplished up until today.

Anonymous said...

Reading Kendra's response I came across about the question will money make me happy? Genuinely yes, because money is the connection to happiness. Money allows more opportunities to achieve happiness. At that thought money triggers greed which can lead to a drastic drop in your state of happiness causing distress in your life and those lives that orbit around you. So to conclude this thought, money can be a portal to happiness but it needs to be regulated.

True happiness is a state of mind that puts you in a complete state of relaxation and joy (free of worries). True happiness is a realization that your life is great at that one moment in time and it happens to occur quite a lot in our human lives. What do I need to be happy? Just the thought that at that given moment of feeling happy I know that my past and future actions excited me into this state of happiness. Success is a very generalized term, so in any one person's life success will in someway be linked to happiness. Success triggers the state of joy and ego.

Ten years from now I will consider myself happy if at that given point in time I am enjoying life at that moment. Happiness doesn't have to be a widespread event taking up ounces of your life, it can come and go in differentiated times. Happiness is a mysterious element that triggers joy at any given moment. Savor it.

amuramoto5 said...

True happiness is the feeling of joy. I believe that in order to feel happy you must at some point in your life feel rejection or sad. Just like in order to fully succeed you must fail. I agree with Kendra in saying that Money can not make a person happy,however I also agree with Madison when he explains that money gives more of an opportunity to achieve happiness. Without money being happy would be extremly difficult becuase you have the stress of supporting your family and yourself. Many people believe that money is happiness; when really money can only help contribute to achieving happiness. Money can't buy friends, family, love, support or any of the necessary requirements of being happy. This leads me to a question. What are the necessary requirements of being happy?
In ten years I will consider myself happy if I have no regrets. I will consider myself happy if I have lived my life to the fullest and am continuing down the right path. I will be happy if I know I've helped others in times of need, and have a family that loves me. I will know I'm truly happy when I can look back on my past and know that everything happened for a reason and everything that has happened has made me who I am. I will know I'm truly happy when I never have to hide my personality from someone else and I am comfortable with who I have become.

Parker C said...

While I could restate the definition of happiness in different words than the previous comments, its themes and basic principle would be roughly the same. Instead, I want to address what is necessary for happiness. Is happiness a choice? Frankly, I’d have to say no. One does not wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and decide “I’m going to be happy today!” Furthermore, you may argue that being happy is the persona and attitude a person takes on. No. That is being optimistic rather than pessimistic; not being happy. Thus happiness is attained by external factors that influence a person’s attitude. What does this mean? On the surface, it would seem that the individual has little control over the external factors that would intern provide happiness. However, the control is bestowed in the decisions the individual makes in regards to the external factors that they surround themselves with. Therefore, happiness falls under the sphere of influence beyond that of solely the recipient.
In regards to previous comments, Kyndra yields an image of happiness as being that of her childhood. This could be favorably argued because childhood is most usually a happy time in a person’s life. Playing of this perception, is there a sense of innocence that correlates with happiness? However, antagonizing the notation of childhood happiness, is it possible that the sheltered style of childhood creates false happiness? As a child, the world’s alignments such as terrorism are foreign to you. During this time, children ore often unaware that millions of other children face life threatening circumstances each day while you enjoy the security of a relatively safe childhood (specifically in the Littleton bubble though many do not like to admit : ). While you may argue, ahhh but it’s not our choice rather a good fortune that our childhood lies in euphoric happiness! Yet, does the level of happiness that results after a child in for sake of example Littleton, receives a brand new toy really compare to that of the happiness exemplified when a desolate child in an impoverished country receives the same toy?
Furthermore, Madison’s perception that happiness lies in a state or relaxation while mine is that when adrenaline courses through my blood proves the individuality of happiness. Ten years from now I will be happy if I am pursuing my passions by positively impacting the lives of those around me. Could this mean in order to achieve personal happiness, we try to fulfill it in others?

Maryanne E. said...

What is true happiness? Strange how such a simple question is so difficult to answer. Happiness, by many standards, is good fortune; pleasure; contentment or joy. However, notice the dictionary doesn’t list true happiness, and it shouldn’t because true happiness doesn’t have a definition. One does not have the ability to define something simply by it’s name. Happiness is a feeling but true happiness is deeper then a raw emotion. Oddly enough, I relate this topic to stereotypes. In class we were given a list of names, everything from Cathy to Jose, and with those names came certain expectations. Jose works in the agricultural business and Cathy is a secretary. Naturally when asked what true happiness is, we relate it to things that ignite the emotion of happiness. Everything from family, snowboarding, soccer, friends, even my favorite food pasted through my mind, but how am I to know what true happiness is if I have never experienced it? If the things I enjoy in life don’t have lasting effect, why immediately relate them to a true happiness? Does true happiness even relate to time and how long it lasts? I would have to agree with Kendra, I believe true happiness is a choice and a lifestyle. I also acknowledge that I can only speak for myself when I say I will not find true happiness through material entities.
So true happiness is different for everyone. Good. It would be a shame if we all wanted the same things from life. Personally, to attain this “true happiness”, if it is in fact attainable, I would need the mountains, lakes, forests, oceans and everything else in this big beautiful world. I find there are few moments when the stress of school, friends and family leave my mind, and in those moments I find a happiness beyond description. I won’t say that I’ve experienced a happiness that lasts forever, but I have experienced happiness that resonates in my mind, and in my mind I return to those moments again and again for release. I find nature has a big role to play and in life I couldn’t see myself finding any happiness at all without it. Success and money appear to be inhibitors in the fact that they run the society I’m constantly trying to forget about in those moments of bliss. However, I don’t criticize their role in our society and understand they’re necessities of basic survival. Perhaps true happiness isn’t attainable because of money and success? Maybe all we can do is settle for those moments we hold sacred in the depths of our minds and happiness will come and go on its own terms?

GaryE said...

True happiness is feeling totally comfortable with your life. Feeling that you accomplished everything that you set out to do, and not struggling to much to be who you want to be. To be truly happy means that no one can end your happiness easily. You can shake off most upsets and dilemnas in life and are passionate about the things you love most. happiness varies from person to person and is truly for an individual to decide if they are happy or not. Also if someone is happy then it shouldnt matter what others think of that person. If that person enjoys what they are doing then they should continue doing it. Whether being powerful or humble as long as you are happy not alot less matters.

katie s. said...

I agree with all the people that say that happiness is defined differently from person to person. Happiness for homeless people could have a lot to do with money. Happiness could also be achieving something; it could be something as little as getting good grades in school. For some people I think succeeding in something can lead to happiness. For example getting good grades could lead to getting a college scholarship.
Ten years from now I will consider myself happy if I have a job and a family and am having fun with life.

Nick E said...

True happiness is a state of comfort. If you are comfortable with your life, then you are happy. I think peoples comfort levels range drastically, for instance one man’s comfort may be living alone in the woods making him truly happy where as another man’s comfort is within a large city surrounded by people and noise. So to say that you NEED money to have happiness, I don’t buy it, I mean it probably wouldn’t hurt, but it’s definitely not a necessity. In some cases I think money could even make you unhappy because if you have enough it could rule your life and not let you see the real things in the world. I agree and disagree with a passage Madison wrote; he said that money is a portal to happiness and directly connected. I could see how living in America could make many think like that, but I think it’s to each his own. I mean if what you strived for was not money related, then what significance would it have on you. Also, I think a lot of happiness is chemical. Your body is constantly swarming with emotions and happiness is a balance of all of them. It’s obviously impossible to be happy if your stressed, mad, upset, etc., so you must find that path of life that makes you truly happy whether it be money oriented or not. Success is different for everyone, I feel like success and happiness is hand in hand, but it’s all a matter of personal opinion. In ten years I’ll consider my self happy if I am leading a stress free life, have a solid job, have love for life, enough money to support a family if need be, and just an overall inner peace.

TSchulze3 said...

To me happiness is the feeling of accomplishment when you truly achieve something you've always wanted to. When you try and try to get that A you pour your heart and soul into it and finally when the report card comes you get your A. Happiness and success tie into each other to be successful is to be happy. Not the success you think mind you but wealth in perhaps deeper forms than mere money and power. To be happy is individual and everyone strives for different things but most people have several things in common such as friends and family etc… I agree with Kyndra most Americans associate happiness with money. They think they’re pursuing happiness in wealth but they end up either in debt or never having enough money. If that’s happiness I want no part. I like Rick’s mental picture of the old man with the caddy and the golf cart. I think that would be fun, but at what cost? Is money worth the struggle? Nearly everyone is trying to find a job to make easy money, myself included, but for most people they don’t exist. I believe people need to find something else to make them happy: a person, a job they truly enjoy, a family, whatever… However I don’t find money to be evil, it doesn’t ruin happiness; greed ruins happiness. Greed takes over capitalists and gives people the drive to do anything to get their ever so important money. People sell drugs, steal and other things when there desperate for money greed causes them to disregard the well being of others or even themselves to obtain greenish fabric with numbers printed on the surface.


In years to come I will be happy if I…
have a family and can provide for them well, marry the girl of my dreams, my child(ren) love me and I have a good relationship with them, am a great dad and husband, have money to help those I care about and love, change lives for the better, like my job, pursue my dreams, watch my kids achieve theirs, am tan , truly enjoy life and love, live life to the brim and when I’m old and grey I can die without any regrets, and many other things but these, I believe to be most important

NickyM said...

Happiness is a feeling. Something that comes and goes. Everything can not perfect for ever. It a feeling someone gets and they never want that one moment to ever end.
I feel what a person needs to be happy is different for everyone. It could be the simplest thing to one person or something extraordinary for someone else. It that one thing you love doing or its the one person that makes you smile more than anyone else.
I feel money and success can have something to do with happiness but deep down i don't think is has to do with success and money. Happiness is something more than just money and success.

Ten years from now I will consider myself happy if....
I have a successful job and i like what i do. Having my life together and being able to balance work and social life. Having the smallest amount of stress possible. I have structure but also be able to have fun and keep things inte4resting. I need excitement and new things happening all the time.

I love how Madison summarized this,

"Happiness doesn't have to be a widespread event taking up ounces of your life, it can come and go in differentiated times. Happiness is a mysterious element that triggers joy at any given moment. Savor it."

This is exactly how i feel. Happiness cannot be a permenate thing. It comes and goes through out your life. It’s something that comes up and is to be enjoyed and remembered.

Stacey B. said...

On the surface happiness can be described as a feeling of great pleasure, contentment and joy. The problem with the surface definition is what is pleasure etc to the people in this world. Different people find different things that bring happiness into their world. So I agree with pretty much everyone who has commented before me. Happiness is defined by the individual. Is a persons life "complete" once they have happiness? Does happiness end? When are people finally happy with what the have?

I don't think money makes happiness. Kyndra has a very good point. Money brings trouble and just drama in a persons life. Are people really happy to deal with paying off expensive cars and then worry about whether they should drive it or not? I like the point Parker brought up about how sheltered our little corner of the world is. We have it easy compared to the kids in Africa and such. They don't really have the option of enjoying their childhood. So their happiness is completely different then ours.

In ten years from now I will consider myself happy if... I still have my fun, joking personality and am just enjoying what I'm doing with my life.

Maryanne E. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
kelseyh said...

True happiness can be described as many things depending on the individual asked. Many have said that happiness can be described as a "feeling of joy" which is true but true happiness is beyond joy. But have you ever wondered what joy is? The same with happiness, jot can be described in many ways. Happiness to me is a feeling beyond joy, a feeling of accomplishment, the feeling of knowing that you are happy right where you are. To be happy, I believe that you have to be in content with yourself and happy with the decisions that you have made in your life. For me to have true happiness, I need to be around the people I love and that love me back.
I believe that to be successful you need to be happy to have true success and I do not believe that money should have anything to do with money. People should not have to rely on money to feel successful or to feel happy. Money may play a role in getting things that make you happy but for how long will those things keep you happy?
Ten years from now I will consider myself happy if I am in a place in my life where I feel that I have done the best I could have and that I have been true to myself through it all. I do not care if I’m not rich, or if I’m not the best at my job, as long as I have worked as hard as I could I will be truly happy.

Nick D. said...

Happiness is achieving and having things that a person desires or wants. Anybody in today's society can find true happiness if they accept the things they have or the lifestyle they live. Jealousy is a common trait and can emotionally block a person from achieving ultimate happiness. "How do I gain happiness? Wealth? Maybe, but I believe that money cannot make a person happy" says Kendra, and I agree with her statement but a person outside the wealth of another person can be unhappy because of jealousy. Money can create unhappiness but why does everyone want money, if Kendra says money doesn't result in happiness? Is it because of "bigger and better"? Competition to have the best thing and make others jealous?

Self-confidence, respect and appreciation make me happy. Yes, money and having the "best" things can make me happy too, they just don't make me as content as being respected and giving myself and others the same respect I receive. Family and friends will always make me happy because of the appreciation of my self and other's like Emily, my girlfriend. I respect that very profoundly.

Ten years from now I will consider myself happy if I am achieving my goals and excelling in my future at golf. Having or starting a family and being successful at the path I follow in life in the years to come. Having a strong love and relation with my family and friends. I am in hopes to possibly in ten years be marring the girl of my dreams.

Maryanne E. said...

Nick's comment about happiness being chemical is something not many people have mentioned, and should obviously be considered. Happiness is another emotion, along with being mad, stressed or sad. I just wanted to emphasize that I think life would be boring if all you ever felt was happiness. So yeah, get a job you love (or not) if that’s what floats your boat, love, get rich, eat ice cream, do whatever and get angry or mad or sad from time to time and do it passionately! When those little things in life that make you happy, like the rain or helping others, comes around, they’ll really make you happy. You’ll know what you have in the end. I know a really wise old guy who lost a great deal of money in a small amount of time and I asked him if he ever felt bitter. He said, “I came into this world with nothing, what I have now is a whole lot more then nothing”. It’s amazing that this conversation revolves around money. The funny thing is that money is a game! If Bill Gates went to the bank and tried to withdraw whatever billions in his procession it would physically be impossible. So yea money creates opportunity and money provides in our society. It’s important we all get that, but remember it is not the money that makes one happy, it’s what you do with it! It’s all about you and what makes YOU happy. Money doesn’t make a person happy.

LouiseT said...

Like my fellow comrades have stated, happiness is a state of good fortune, contentment pleasure or joy but the real question is how can one obtain such ease? Is there a correlation between happiness and true happiness? I agree with Kendra and Katie Jo that happiness is defined differently for each individual and their situation however, is true happiness universal? To obtain true happiness, one must find themselves in a state of ease and pride within their own hearts. One must feel a sense of accomplishment and comfort. Money is definitely not needed to become happy however for the most part, it doesn’t hurt. I completely agree with what nick had to say about money and happiness. “In some cases I think money could even make you unhappy because if you have enough it could rule your life and not let you see the real things in the world.” Money to me is a distraction that blinds you from what really matters in life and what truly will make you happy. Happiness and success aren’t always related either. For instance, Tom could be the CEO of a very successful company making millions of dollars a year however, he could hate his job not enjoying a single moment of it, thus not producing true happiness. Ten years from now I will consider myself happy when I look back on my life and know that I gave everything I could to become the best person that I can be.

AmyL said...

What is true happiness? This question honestly makes my head hurt. There are so many perceptions of true happiness. There are many people in this world that are living a life were they wear a mask that says they are “happy” when I reality they have nothing to bring this true happiness about. That is what bothers me. I guess its ok to pretend to an extent but people should be true to who they are and how they feel. I agree with Kyle M when he said our feelings change. We are all on a giant roller coaster where we are at times truly happy and other times when happiness is the farthest thing from us. It is the truth and fact of life.
In order to find true happiness one must look to see how they can make others happy. This then will make them happy. Happiness is not based on material things. Yes, it helps I guess but it is material happiness. It is just not the same as the actual feeling of HAPPY! The material things with bring you temporary state of happiness but it may not last long.
When I traveled to Mexico I realized that America does not know the meaning of happiness. All of those people are so happy and they barely have anything at all. They may live in a house made out of some bricks if they are lucky. Yet we live here in houses where we each have our own individual rooms probably the size of their house. But still they are ten times happier then the average American. They simply have each other and stick together and that’s what makes them truly happy. I will never forget visiting an orphanage and seeing the children’s faces when they received a soccer ball. Here all we want is more more more.
In ten years I will consider myself happy if I have tried my hardest to do what is best. Maybe be raising children and involved with a career that I love. Hopefully I will be doing something to better this harsh world in which we live. That will make me happy;).

brittanyd said...

Happiness. A defenition could be defined in so many different languages but in each defention you would have one in its own. Only you yourself can define happiness. Happiness to me is a feeling where your heart cant stop beating, your stomach floats, your eyes stay shut, your mind races a thousand miles an hour and it just never want to stop. Of course you think happiness and your mind drifts twoards prosperity and wealth, but personally to be wealthy isnt being happy. Happiness is something you dont exactly choose, it either comes to you or it just plain doesn't. Your mind controls your view of happiness and whether you choose to be happy that day or not. I can gain happiness by pursuing those things that filled me with sweet memory and thought, happiness is repetitive once it starts, but only if i choose that. Wealth begins to tear down the idea of happiness ultimetly, you begin to be so paranoid about the money you make, the car you have etc. that the whole idea of true happiness is hidden behind that mask. In ten years ultimetly I'll be happy if i pursue my dreams and continue pursuing the feelings of that happiness i once gained.

HaileyM2009 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
HaileyM2009 said...

Many people discover joy in hobbies, other people, money, success, and some even try to find happiness in themselves. However, I think that this is only a fleeting moment of contentment before they discover the flaws of their source of joy, or they move on to what is bigger and better. I believe that true happiness is not something you can create by yourself. In fact, I think that true happiness comes from being a part of something bigger than yourself. If someone lives their life solely for their own pleasure and happiness, I can’t imagine them finding any kind of fulfillment or satisfaction. If someone gave of themself, took opportunities and risks, expanded their world daily by continuously searching to learn, and, ultimately, gave their life over to God to live with a genuine purpose they would discover how wonderful life can be. Though at times their life could really suck, and they might feel depressed or miserable, there is always the feeling of hope and joy and protection that comes with being in a relationship with our creator.
For me to serve someone who is so much bigger than all of us, who has been around since the beginning of time, causes controversy across the globe, and created us each individually and lovingly is both a scary and awesome privilege. Personally it has filled my life with pure joy and a desire to show such love to others.
However, I also agree with Kyndra when she states that “Happiness is something that lasts, it is a lifestyle. You choose to be happy, or unhappy.” Day to day we are presented with situations that can be taken negatively or positively, and we have the choice to react accordingly or to blow it off and dwell on more important things.
Though many “rich” people are probably also happy, honestly, I think that money only adds to the problems in peoples’ lives. As
As Amy M said, “Money can't buy friends, family, love, support or any of the necessary requirements of being happy.”
I agree that money is incapable of buying real love, and I would even go as far as saying that it is a hindrance to happiness. However, are friends, family, love, and support truly necessary for happiness? I realize they probably help you to achieve joy, but are we as people able to overcome our desire to be accepted to achieve happiness?
In response to the ten years from now question, I feel as though I don’t need ten years to be happy. I am truly happy and blessed right now and if I live my life for God and serve others (which honestly makes me happy) than I know I will still be happy in ten years.
Do we really need to receive something for our lives to be happy? Do people tend to be dependent on outside factors when it comes to their happiness?

Anonymous said...

True happiness can be defined in many ways. Love, money and music are just some examples. It just depends on the individual you ask. I view true happiness as part of a lifestyle. If your truly happy no one can make you upset or mad easily. Some people view money as true happiness. I think disagree because money can buy things that will make you happy, but you can't buy one of the key ingredients of happiness, love.

Ten years from now i would consider myself happy if graduated
from college with a carear and livng with a happy family.

Anonymous said...

Happiness is something that gives us joy and helps us to want to do better things. Happiness is people, friends, family, accomplishments and a goal that everyone tries to fullfill all the time. After the last prompt on success I believe that happiness is the best reward and the greatest success anyone can recieve. Although all of us have a time for sadness, happiness is most humans ultimate goal. No matter what we do or what we want in life happiness is what all want to recieve. To recieve happiness I belive you have to give it. Even though many of the other posts say that it is ultimately hard to find happiness without money. I believe that it is hard to find happiness without the people who love you and the people you love.

Whitney S. said...

Reading over a few of the other students comments, I would have to oppose strongly to the comment given by Parker in which she said “Is happiness a choice? Frankly, I’d have to say no.” In every individuals life comes trial, failure, heart ach and disappointment, but do these things keep us from our true potential for each day? No, one may say that because of these things we have this attitude, when in reality we justify our reasoning, actions and behavior. Regardless of our circumstances it all comes down to choice. Choice is what drives us to select good verse evil, right from wrong, happy or sad. Neither failure nor success will bring joy and true happiness it’s what we decide to be pleased with. If we live our lives always looking into the future and saying when I accomplish that goal I will be happy, when I become that, I will have happiness. I say stop living for possessions and wealth or success, live for today live for yourself and live for who you know you are! Ten years from now I will consider myself happy if I continue trying my very best in all I do, standing face to face with temptation staring and mocking me, while holding with vast integrity, being able to help and uplift others through my example; then I will experience true happiness, when I forget myself and remember others.

Amy B. said...

To start off with, I agree with Nicky when she said that everything can’t always be perfect, and happiness doesn’t have to do with “perfection” in ones life. One may strive to be perfect, but never will truly get there. Furthermore, happiness is the ultimate feeling of being satisfied. Life is a roller coaster with so many different emotions. One feels happy when surrounding factors do not contain “turmoil”. Happiness is almost a state of feeling/being simple. There are different things in different peoples lives in order to achieve happiness. Everyone has that one thing or things that they go to in order to seek this emotion. Also, in order to be successful, you need to be happy, but in order to be happy you don’t have to be successful. Last, ten years from now I will consider myself happy if I find my one passion in life and actively strive to pursue it.

Austin F. said...

True happiness is indefineable. It differs with each individuals perceptions and desires. Every individual decides what is needed for happiness. One person may need wealth in order to be happy while another could be happy just living a simple life with just enough income to support themselves. Each individual determines what will make them happy and only they know what will actually make them happy. I definately disagree with Kyndra because I feel that money could be and is a source of happiness for many people. Humans are naturally competitive and we find satisfaction in being better than someone else. That can mean having more money, a larger house, a nicer car. It doesn't matter but there is joy gained from competion. I think that there is a correlation between success, money and happiness for some people, but again I think that all three depend on the person and their personal feelings, goals and desires.

Ten years from now I will consider myself happy if I am wealthy and enjoy my life.

Sophie M said...

For me true happiness is something I believe we all have had and will have. It’s a pure joy, it’s the joy felt when in love, it’s the gratitude one has when they step back and realize how lucky we are to living in America and in beautiful Colorado and have as many opportunities as we do. All our responses included different idea and thoughts of happiness, I believe happiness can be defined in many ways which I think shows that we all have experienced it at some point. No I don’t believe you have to have money or success to be happy. No offence to anyone who believes other wise but that it total BS! Money cant buy anything but materials, happiness is not some thing you can hold and it does not come with a price tag. I have a couple of questions, why do people always say money comes with happiness? Or that without having lots of money you can’t have happiness? What has made so many people think that way? Why? Wouldn’t all of us say that we as the young kids we are we are happy? We don’t have money, well our parents but that doesn’t really count. Then again this is just my opinion, although I would have to say I think I make a valid point because I would say for the most part I am a happy person and my family does have all the money in the world but we are just as happy as the next guy. After reading Whitney’s post I had to go read over Parker’s and I defiantly have to agree with Whitney I believe happiness is a choice more than anything else, it doesn’t just happen upon you or choose who it wants to be with. Whiney makes a very valid point happiness, much like everything else is a choice we make, I do think after a really terrible night or previous day when I wake up in the morning I want to dust that day off and say its okay I’m going to happy today. Haven’t you ever given your self that little motivational speech before?
Ten years from now I will be happy if I have done every thing possible to lead a full life and if I choose to happy.

kirstiea. said...

True happiness is the state in which a person finally is satisfied with who they have become and how they have lived their life. Along the path to true happiness a person makes many mistakes causing them me make drastic changes in their lives. This turmoil is viewed in a negative light (unhappiness). Even though these times may feel unhappy they are just bumps along the road to “true happiness”. My view is that a person is only truly happy if they are proud of their life and all the things that they have accomplished.

There are a couple “must haves” along the road of true happiness. Love, but not only to be loved but to also love. Love comes in all shapes and sizes. There is love of another person, idea, place, animal, self, reading, writing, science, math and a million other things. As long as a person has a love strong enough to drive them, they to can achieve happiness. Along with love there is one other main “must have” and this is a sense of accomplishment. A person who achieves nothing worth while in their live cannot be truly happy. Whether the sense of accomplishment is personal or recognized by others, a person cannot be truly happy if they do not view themselves as a success.

Ten years from now I will consider myself happy if I have lived a life filled with love and passion. I must also have made a positive impact on other people and the world we share. I hope to look back and say “yes…I have no regrets”.

Jesse.C said...

I think happiness is anything that makes you feel good bout yourself and the life you live.

I think you would need the things to survive and maybe a little bit extra to be happy. If you have just what you need then I think it would be a harder to fine happiness but if you got extras in life then it's easier to find happiness.


I think if your successful in life then you then that will bring happiness to your life because your not a failure your reaching your dreams that you have. Money can bring happiness also but it can cause problems too. Money can get you what you want and as long as you can control it then you won't have as much problems in life. If you can't control it then your going to do stupid things that can get you into trouble.


In ten years I'll be happy if I have a healthy family, a well paying job so that if my wife doesn't want to work she doesn't have to, and if I can just enjoy life.

Mandey K. said...

I agree with what Kyndra said. Happiness is a feeling of joy but only on the surface. True happiness is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone has a different opinion and definition of what they need to be happy. It can really be anything whether it be, money, friends, family, materialistic items, etc. Happiness is when you’re completely satisfied with yourself in every aspect; on the inside and out. It’s when your life is complete and you don’t need anything added to it to be fulfilled. When you are a truly happy person, you should be able to die the next day with a smile on your face, knowing that you have lived the best life you could have.

anna_c said...

True happiness is percieved differently by everyone. One cannot pinpoint or define what true happiness is because it's constantly changing. I agree with Kyndral when they said, "A deep meaning of happiness is a personal emotion or thought". Happiness is very personal. Do I believe that to be truly happy one must be completly content with their life? No, I don't. You don't have to agree with everything in your life to be happy with it.
Success and happiness are definetly related but you don't need money or success to be happy. There is no correlation of the three either. They can be related, but you can have one without the others. Society makes us think that happiness and success can be measured through wealth and material objects. They can be replaced. Happiness on the other hand is far more complex.
Ten years from now; this is a long span of time. I'm seventeen years old and I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Only time will tell where I'll end up, but as I've said before, if I stay true to myself and know that I pushed myself to my full potential, I'll be happy.

KyleL said...

True happiness is just that, true happiness. Happiness is not something that can be bought with money, sold on the street, or even found at the end of a rainbow. Happiness is based solely on perspective of life. Therefore what makes one person happy does not necessarily make another happy. For I think that someone could live in a trailer park with, what to us would seem as nothing worth mentioning but, maybe they have family, friends, and a good dog and that all they need. This being said, in essence you need nothing to be happy. Also as I said before success and money does not bring happiness. True, it can bring temporary happiness, however, in the long run all that means nothing. I know I shouldn’t say this because you said to told the story afterward as to not alter what we said on the blog but now that I have herd it I figure I will. The story you told on I think proves my point very well. You said he was ripping you on your, as he said, piece of crap car. Then you said that at that point you were thinking, “I love my car.” I think that kid is a complete moron and needs to straighten his priorities because, in my book, (and from what I know about you) I think that you are living a happier life than he will ever dream of. I mean think about it, you have a husband that it seems you are in a good relationship, a job you love (and I know you love it because if the passion you come and teach with everyday,) and as if that alone is not enough a dog that you appear to love as well (based on all the stories you tell about him.) Now I’m sorry if that sounds a little, “kiss ass” (excuse my language) but that is truly the way I feel. So back to the car thing, to that student your car may be a piece of crap and therefore would not make him happy. However you do like and it makes you happy, therefore proving my point that happiness is based on perspective. Finally ten years from now I will consider myself happy if I am happy. I don’t know what will happen from not until then, but I do know that is I have an optimistic view on life and do what I enjoy doing I will be happy.

Anna P2009 said...

I also love Madison's summary of happiness but I also think that Nicky explained it perfectly, "Happiness cannot be a permanent thing. It comes and goes through out your life. It’s something that comes up and is to be enjoyed and remembered."
Happiness is just that. It is a feeling that you cannot control. It comes and goes, fluctuating in strength. Happiness is something that you can pretend but only as a facade. On the inside you will still know that you aren't happy. Happiness is not something that you can trick yourself into being. In those moments when you truly are happy, look around and see what made you so happy. It might be that you just got a paycheck, or someone you like just asked you out. Those may only bring you temporary happiness. If I can find something or someone who can make me feel happy more than I feel sad for 10 years I will feel a strong feeling of success.

Ten Years from now I will consider myself happy if...
I can say that I have learned from my mistakes and regrets, I have a family which I can love, care, and provide for, find someone that I can be myself with, and if I have a snow bum family with a house in the mountains :)

Kyle M. said...

Kyndral has it right, happiness is in the eye of the beholder. When you feel happy everything seems to click into place and become effervescent. Its different for every person, some people are happy with working on cars, reading, shopping, playing video games or many other things. All that matters is you are happy doing it. A lot of people think that they need money to be happy, and some do but the people that find happyness without the aid of money find a more true happyness. The happyness that comes from somewhere deep inside you.