Happiness is one of the biggest goals each and every humans strives for in life and in every life happiness comes in different forms. These past few years of my life have truly been the happiest because I stopped worrying about what path to take and about making the "right" decision. Happiness came easily when I let things happen. My goal for this post is to share how people of all ages have found their happiness and continue to see happiness around them. A huge thank you to all the submissions I received from friends and family, the purpose of this post wouldn't have been the same without your input. Enjoy reading the journeys and moments of happiness.
» "Happiness isn't something you stumble upon, it is a daily choice, from the moment you wake up. Your happiness is determined by the conscious choice to be happy inside." Think of it as being in a plane. When the flight Attendent explains what to do in case of emergency, they demonstrate that you place the oxygen mask on your face first, then help the person next to you! Same concept, this took me a while to figure out, find happiness first yourself by choosing to see the beauty around. Then followed up by after finding pure happiness, sharing that same gift and experience with the people around you everyday.
- 20 years old
» My children. - 44 years old
» My husband first of all, and then watching our children grow & become parents. Then looking at our sons, their wives and our grandsons, and knowing that all this started with the love between my husband and I. - 54 years old
» What has shown me happiness is not a person or place but more of a way of thinking. A friend and I were having a great conversation a few months back about what it takes to be happy and how to make yourself happy. She told me one of the most important things I have ever heard and it went something like this: "it is more than okay to do things that only make you happy, if you want to do something for someone else, to bring them happiness, make sure it always brings you happiness. You shouldn't do anything that doesn't make you happy even if someone else can benefit from you. Don't give in and do things that won't bring a smile to your face."
» "life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." (: - 20 years old
» Skateboarding has brought me happiness most of my life. If I'm stressed out, angry, sad, ect. I can just hop one my board and all of that goes away.
» Coffee! - 22 years old
» When visiting a developing country, I was surprised to see that the residents of some of the poorest towns often seemed just as happy as those living above the poverty line. At first, this seemed shocking to me. These people couldn't afford to go to the doctor for a parasitic infection, but they were warm and fulfilled and happy. I have always believed happiness is independent of wealth, but I never considered it in the context of extreme poverty. How could these people be happy when they lived in homes made of plywood and bed frames, dirt floors, and built on the sides of dangerous mountains; had so little money that they often couldn't afford medical care or even food; who had to move often depending on where farming and labor work was able to be found? After much reflection, I realized that happiness is not a state of being, but a state of mind. It is found in knowing you belong to a family or to a culture. It is found by recognizing that the world around us is beautiful and the life we have been given is a greater gift than any material possession or luxury of wealth. Happiness is attainable by every person everywhere, no matter where we live, what we have, or what we lack. The only requirement for happiness is living, and the rest is merely what we make of it.
- 22 years old
» The people in my life who make me laugh and are there for me unconditionally. - 21 years old
» Four years ago I left for college. Three years later, my younger sister moved to Georgia. When I heard how homesick she was and that she couldn't come home for Christmas, I bought a plane ticket to go visit her. Even after hours of turbulence and layovers, this is the first memory that pops into mind when I think about pure happiness. We rode the MegaBus from Jacksonville to Orlando to meet up with a friend to go to the beach. Later that day, my sister and I were walking in circles to kill time and catch up. It was 2 am and we were just outside the Disney Internship program housing. I don't remember what we talked about. But I remember thinking about how comfortable and at home I felt, even when I was way out of my element. I remember thinking about how much I love my sister, and how I wish I could protect her forever. I remember not wanting to sleep so I wouldn't waste a moment of her company, kind of like when you take small bites out of a savory prime rib. Happiness is that moment we try to describe with words, but often fail. It's that moment when you can't fake a smile or stop one from creeping up on your face. It's unique to you. It's a moment that makes a memory. One that stays in the blood that pumps through your heart. One that still makes you happy when you think about it years later. - 22 years old
» The smiles on someone's face after helping them. - 20 years old
» Meeting a girl named Colby over the summer, I know she is the one and I can help but smile when ever we talk or I am thinking of her. - 25 years old
» My son. - 31 years old
» Happiness for me is ever changing. I try to find happiness in everything that I do, because as I've recently come to understand, life is too short to miss out on your own happiness. People work too hard to not achieve what they want and what makes them happy. Instead of making that mistake of what most people of the world do, I strive for a small piece of happiness everyday! I have to do one small thing that I enjoy everyday or that day is not complete. I believe if we all took a moment out of our day to do something that we enjoy, the world would be a better place. I mean after all, this great nation was created in the efforts to preserve the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". The pursuit of happiness is pretty to think about. Even the pursuit of what makes you happy can be more fulfilling than what you were intending on accomplishing. Everyone has that opportunity, so why not take it? Strive for happiness everyday and see where it takes you! - 21 years old
» Having true friends that are always there for me. - 54 years old
» Music. Literally, all kinds of music. Even when I'm downright depressed, music is uplifting for me, and always shows me kindness and the exact words I need to hear. - 24 years old
» A summer vacation, relaxing around a campfire on a beach under a star lit sky, enjoying a beer (or 5) and s'mores with our friends while the kids are asleep. - 31 years old
» An untouched field of grass, flowers and trees. - 22 years old
» I'd like to begin by saying that I'm not generally a happy person, not because I don't want to be or because I'm grumpy, but because I've faced a lot of hardships in my life and struggle with anxiety and depression. That being said, when I am happy, I really cherish it, because it is an honest feeling that doesn't grace me very often; it is the most wonderful feeling in the world. I think the time when I am most happy is when I'm unaware of it, when it's spontaneous and abrupt. Like, when I'm hugging my boyfriend and he all of a sudden attacks me with tickles, making me erupt in laughter, a laughter so pure and raw. Or when I'm observing two people I love interact with each other without their conscious knowledge; they're talking and smiling and laughing and I notice the wrinkles around their smiling eyes and grinning lips. And then I think that's how I must look when I'm with my best friend or grandma. Love evokes happiness. At least in my experience. - 21 years old
» Friends, learning, working hard to achieve something, knowing I've helped someone else :) - 22 years old
» Myself has shown me happiness. In order to be happy, you need to follow your intuition and run with it. You can only pick your destination in your life to be truly happy. Take a stroll in the park, listen to the birds, be fully aware of your surroundings, dream as big as the universe, and always always always be true to yourself. - 21 years old
» Being with family. - 55 years old
» All my life, I've had trouble completely accepting the Catholicism I was raised in. Reading what I've read and learning what I've learned in the past few years has not only allowed me to reject any salvationist religions, but has also led my mind down the path to discover a view of life and of human nature that I am completely happy with. If I had to describe it, I would say it is something like a naturalism-romanticism view. Understanding science and the randomness of the universe, while at the same time discovering a romantic spirituality that can be derived from this naturalism, gives my life purpose while main taini ng freedom. These thought processes have shown me true happiness. - 21 years old
If you feel like your haven't discovered your happiness, it's because you keep searching for it. Some may find it but most stop and let happiness happen around them. Happiness isn't a destination, it's a journey. Embrace each day with a smile and let the little things in your lives bring you joy, satisfaction, and #Happiness
» "Happiness isn't something you stumble upon, it is a daily choice, from the moment you wake up. Your happiness is determined by the conscious choice to be happy inside." Think of it as being in a plane. When the flight Attendent explains what to do in case of emergency, they demonstrate that you place the oxygen mask on your face first, then help the person next to you! Same concept, this took me a while to figure out, find happiness first yourself by choosing to see the beauty around. Then followed up by after finding pure happiness, sharing that same gift and experience with the people around you everyday.
- 20 years old
» My children. - 44 years old
» My husband first of all, and then watching our children grow & become parents. Then looking at our sons, their wives and our grandsons, and knowing that all this started with the love between my husband and I. - 54 years old
» What has shown me happiness is not a person or place but more of a way of thinking. A friend and I were having a great conversation a few months back about what it takes to be happy and how to make yourself happy. She told me one of the most important things I have ever heard and it went something like this: "it is more than okay to do things that only make you happy, if you want to do something for someone else, to bring them happiness, make sure it always brings you happiness. You shouldn't do anything that doesn't make you happy even if someone else can benefit from you. Don't give in and do things that won't bring a smile to your face."
» "life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." (: - 20 years old
» Skateboarding has brought me happiness most of my life. If I'm stressed out, angry, sad, ect. I can just hop one my board and all of that goes away.
» Coffee! - 22 years old
» When visiting a developing country, I was surprised to see that the residents of some of the poorest towns often seemed just as happy as those living above the poverty line. At first, this seemed shocking to me. These people couldn't afford to go to the doctor for a parasitic infection, but they were warm and fulfilled and happy. I have always believed happiness is independent of wealth, but I never considered it in the context of extreme poverty. How could these people be happy when they lived in homes made of plywood and bed frames, dirt floors, and built on the sides of dangerous mountains; had so little money that they often couldn't afford medical care or even food; who had to move often depending on where farming and labor work was able to be found? After much reflection, I realized that happiness is not a state of being, but a state of mind. It is found in knowing you belong to a family or to a culture. It is found by recognizing that the world around us is beautiful and the life we have been given is a greater gift than any material possession or luxury of wealth. Happiness is attainable by every person everywhere, no matter where we live, what we have, or what we lack. The only requirement for happiness is living, and the rest is merely what we make of it.
- 22 years old
» The people in my life who make me laugh and are there for me unconditionally. - 21 years old
» Four years ago I left for college. Three years later, my younger sister moved to Georgia. When I heard how homesick she was and that she couldn't come home for Christmas, I bought a plane ticket to go visit her. Even after hours of turbulence and layovers, this is the first memory that pops into mind when I think about pure happiness. We rode the MegaBus from Jacksonville to Orlando to meet up with a friend to go to the beach. Later that day, my sister and I were walking in circles to kill time and catch up. It was 2 am and we were just outside the Disney Internship program housing. I don't remember what we talked about. But I remember thinking about how comfortable and at home I felt, even when I was way out of my element. I remember thinking about how much I love my sister, and how I wish I could protect her forever. I remember not wanting to sleep so I wouldn't waste a moment of her company, kind of like when you take small bites out of a savory prime rib. Happiness is that moment we try to describe with words, but often fail. It's that moment when you can't fake a smile or stop one from creeping up on your face. It's unique to you. It's a moment that makes a memory. One that stays in the blood that pumps through your heart. One that still makes you happy when you think about it years later. - 22 years old
» The smiles on someone's face after helping them. - 20 years old
» Meeting a girl named Colby over the summer, I know she is the one and I can help but smile when ever we talk or I am thinking of her. - 25 years old
» My son. - 31 years old
» Happiness for me is ever changing. I try to find happiness in everything that I do, because as I've recently come to understand, life is too short to miss out on your own happiness. People work too hard to not achieve what they want and what makes them happy. Instead of making that mistake of what most people of the world do, I strive for a small piece of happiness everyday! I have to do one small thing that I enjoy everyday or that day is not complete. I believe if we all took a moment out of our day to do something that we enjoy, the world would be a better place. I mean after all, this great nation was created in the efforts to preserve the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". The pursuit of happiness is pretty to think about. Even the pursuit of what makes you happy can be more fulfilling than what you were intending on accomplishing. Everyone has that opportunity, so why not take it? Strive for happiness everyday and see where it takes you! - 21 years old
» Having true friends that are always there for me. - 54 years old
» Music. Literally, all kinds of music. Even when I'm downright depressed, music is uplifting for me, and always shows me kindness and the exact words I need to hear. - 24 years old
» A summer vacation, relaxing around a campfire on a beach under a star lit sky, enjoying a beer (or 5) and s'mores with our friends while the kids are asleep. - 31 years old
» An untouched field of grass, flowers and trees. - 22 years old
» I'd like to begin by saying that I'm not generally a happy person, not because I don't want to be or because I'm grumpy, but because I've faced a lot of hardships in my life and struggle with anxiety and depression. That being said, when I am happy, I really cherish it, because it is an honest feeling that doesn't grace me very often; it is the most wonderful feeling in the world. I think the time when I am most happy is when I'm unaware of it, when it's spontaneous and abrupt. Like, when I'm hugging my boyfriend and he all of a sudden attacks me with tickles, making me erupt in laughter, a laughter so pure and raw. Or when I'm observing two people I love interact with each other without their conscious knowledge; they're talking and smiling and laughing and I notice the wrinkles around their smiling eyes and grinning lips. And then I think that's how I must look when I'm with my best friend or grandma. Love evokes happiness. At least in my experience. - 21 years old
» Friends, learning, working hard to achieve something, knowing I've helped someone else :) - 22 years old
» Myself has shown me happiness. In order to be happy, you need to follow your intuition and run with it. You can only pick your destination in your life to be truly happy. Take a stroll in the park, listen to the birds, be fully aware of your surroundings, dream as big as the universe, and always always always be true to yourself. - 21 years old
» Being with family. - 55 years old
» All my life, I've had trouble completely accepting the Catholicism I was raised in. Reading what I've read and learning what I've learned in the past few years has not only allowed me to reject any salvationist religions, but has also led my mind down the path to discover a view of life and of human nature that I am completely happy with. If I had to describe it, I would say it is something like a naturalism-romanticism view. Understanding science and the randomness of the universe, while at the same time discovering a romantic spirituality that can be derived from this naturalism, gives my life purpose while main taini ng freedom. These thought processes have shown me true happiness. - 21 years old
If you feel like your haven't discovered your happiness, it's because you keep searching for it. Some may find it but most stop and let happiness happen around them. Happiness isn't a destination, it's a journey. Embrace each day with a smile and let the little things in your lives bring you joy, satisfaction, and #Happiness