My Word for the 2009 Word Contest: "Happiness"

Happiness! What time in our current history would the word "Happiness" be more appropriate and needed! I love the word because it truly is a choice and attainable by all. It's a matter of perspective. Have you ever gone to bed at nite worried about a particular issue and then the next morning, you woke to find it not quite so worrisome. What changed? the situation is still the same but your perspective changed. To me that is what happiness is all about. A conscious choice to look at the bright side, to be hopeful to see the glass half full. Personally, I find it difficult to talk about Happiness without mentioning "gratitude". Gratitude has propelled my happiness factor and I believe it is life changing! Gratitude begins with the little things . . . for me it's good coffee beans and sunlight and cloud formations and pretty orange pumpkins and smiles on little childrens' faces and watching my animals play together and hummingbirds at the feeder and my daffodils pushing up thru the cold soil and sunsets and music that resonates inside me and rainy days on a screened in porch and feeling the crunch of a fresh apple and being able to see birds fly and parades and soft breezes blowing thru my hair . . . . . . . . .well you get it - the list is long . . . . . . .

Gross National Happiness

The Happiness factor seems to be getting a lot of attention lately. Author, Arthur Brooks, recently published "Gross National Happiness, Why Happiness Matters for America and How We Can Get More of It". Although the book makes the comparison between Democrats and Republicans happy quotient, Brooks makes some important points for us. One item that struck me, while money does not contribute to happiness, people who "give" are more happy by a substantial percentage. I would take the liberty to interpret giving as more than monetary. We have so many opportunities during our day to "give" whether it is a kind smile, taking the time to listen, words of encouragement, compliments. How many more "GIVES"can you think of that do not cost us money! I think it is worth thinking about!