Happiness is...

...different for everyone. For me, happiness is being able to enjoy life and do things that have meaning and purpose to me. To some, happiness is being successful at a career and making a lot of money doing so, no matter the hours and effort put into it. Sometimes I find that I judge others for having that type of mindset. There is nothing wrong with it, it is simply different than my own perspective. Some people value accomplishment more than simple satisfaction with their chosen profession. It is hard for me to fully wrap my head around that concept because I don't really value that much at all. It does feel nice to accomplish something, but that feeling normally fades quickly for me.

The things that I look back on that make me happy are when I was doing things that I enjoyed and also making a difference in other people's lives. Kids mostly. I have a huge place in my heart for kids. They are much more important than we realize most of the time. It is easy to see children as a nuisance when they are constantly asking questions or getting into trouble, but those things are essential for them to develop into fully functioning adults. The more we invest in them, the better off the world will be. The saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is relatively true. We can't really expect adults who are set in their ways to make a huge impact on the world, but if we focus on kids and give them the opportunity to learn and grow, they will be better equipped to take on the world. Just letting them know that they can become a person who has an impact on the world is one simple step to enabling them to achieve.

I think that everyone has a desire, no matter how strong or weak, to be remembered in some way, or to have a lasting impact on the world. I think that I want to be remembered as someone who enabled others to become great. I am not worried about doing anything extraordinary, I am the happiest when I am helping others, so that is success enough for me. I am not sure how I will accomplish this, but the thought of it makes me happy none the less.