To me happiness is defined as being content with who you are and what you have at that specific moment in time. Happiness can be derived from anything and everything. It can be as simple as receiving a compliment from a complete stranger or receiving a dozen roses from your significant other. It engulfs all the artwork your children create, it’s present in the simple words: “I love you mom”.
I have several occasions in my life in which I have been very happy. My first “happiness” experience took place on February 4th, 2003 when I was only 18 years old, my first daughter was born. I was overwhelmed with joy, happiness, emotion and a dozen other things. It was at that moment that I learned the true meaning of happiness. That 7lb, 12 oz baby girl represented my life and the reason for my desire to get ahead in life. The other occasion was when I got married with my husband. I was only 21 years old, but I knew in my heart that this was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. We have had our share of arguments like any other married couple, but together we have accomplished a majority of our goals. The third occasion was when my second daughter was born. Being given the opportunity to be a mother once again was incredible and once again an experience that can’t really be expressed with words.
I believe that being happy definitely shapes your life and the way you lead it. Many times we as humans take on the idea that our happiness relies on others, that they are the ones that make us happy. However, we are the only ones responsible for our lives and we are the only ones that can make ourselves happy, everything else is simply the icing on the cake. Happiness changes our perspective on the world, we find ourselves being more optimistic when we are happy. I don’t believe it is the most important thing, but I do believe it is one that needs to be present in our everyday lives, along with the understanding that we only have one life to live and we must not spend it being pessimistic.
