What is Happiness to you?

What is happiness? OR better yet, what is happiness to you? Just sit and think about it for awhile. I have recently been journaling about my own pursuit of happiness. I am searching for a fulfilling answer to that question. I have recently felt like happiness is something we always seek but can never reach. However, a LONG talk and uncountable tears with a good friend helped me realized I was searching in all the WRONG places!

according to the dictionary
hap-pi-ness

1.	the quality or state of being happy.

(DUH!)

2.	good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.

(ARE YOU SERIOUS??? WHO WROTE THIS?)

UGAMUFF!!
This definition seems so... so raw, or so wrong. Happiness is soooooo much more to me, deeper! It has to be right. But I can't put words to it. I would say this one is the closest I could get to how I feel.

I define happiness as ... that sense of warmth that begins at the core of the soul, spreads to the heart, and radiates outward from the eyes and lips of those who know it. The gift of happiness is elusive, but tangible. You cannot seek to find that which makes you happy for happiness comes from within and by your own choice.
Dale Reddish, Maryland, USA

LOVE IT!

Anyways, I kept researching it and realized happiness is so completely different for everyone. Happiness is what I make it out to be just with the same general idea. After researching a little I found some fun responses. (BELOW) These responses are evidence that happiness is exactly the same but so completely different in a sense.

I define happiness as ... a clear MRI on a brain scan! WE have 2 wonderful daughters, Abbi age7 and Somer age22. In May of 2000, Somer was diagnosed with a very malignant brain tumor. 33 radiation treatments, 4 surgeries and numerous prayers, she now has a clear MRI! She has been stable since October! Happiness is health, family and a 25 yr. marriage that can weather through the worst of storms
Vicki Hood, Alabama, USA

I define happiness as ... having more than enough in each area of life--more than enough faith, more than enough relationships, more than enough physical, emotional and mental resources.
Kevin Bidwell, Kentucky, USA

I define happiness as ... being at peace with oneself and the world. It happens when your mind (intent), body (action)and spirit(conscience) vibrate in unison. A rare occurrence when you leave it to chance but can happen all the time if you consciously seek it.
Ali Sajid Husain, India

Happiness to me is seeing the smiles on my children's faces and knowing that I am the one who put them there.
Chalet Harris, Pennsylvania, USA

I define happiness as ... having the courage and responsibility to be a role model for my daughter to create her own destiny and not rely upon anyone for her happiness. Everyone is worthy of such a gift.
Nadine Rosario-Garcia, Florida, USA

I define happiness as being able to do something for someone and not expect something in return.
Dianne Gow, Ontario, Canada

I define happiness as the feeling of what the continual effort in bettering myself gives.
Damon Abbott, Japan

I define happiness as ... sitting quietly on my front porch, watching a rainstorm dance by, observing all of nature joyously celebrating it's abundance.
Carrie Houseman, Ohio, USA

I define happiness as ... that sense of warmth that begins at the core of the soul, spreads to the heart, and radiates outward from the eyes and lips of those who know it. The gift of happiness is elusive, but tangible. You cannot seek to find that which makes you happy for happiness comes from within and by your own choice.
Dale Reddish, Maryland, USA

I define happiness as ... walking through the dewy summer grass barefoot, the smile on a person's face upon seeing you, the warm sun shining on your face, the feeling of being completely loved faults and all.
Noel Collins, Connecticut, USA

I define happiness as ... having the freedom, health and opportunity to do great things for myself and others.
David Cress, USA

I define happiness as ... the fresh scent of a soft Spring rain, the kiss of morning sunshine, and the embrace of a crisp Autumn breeze.
Yolanda Anderson, Alabama, USA

I define happiness as being at peace with myself and those around me and being able to give and receive love unconditionally.
Luke Sebastian, Malasia

I define happiness as ... a true joy that springs from the heart and does not depend upon the circumstances.
J. David Kumar, India

I define happiness as ... waking up with a smile, jumping over every obstacle that you encounter each day, thanking God for all he has created and for all we have...then going to bed and having totally awesome dreams!!!!!!
Marty Marshall, Tennessee, USA

I define happiness as ... the ultimate state of conscious feeling where all the five senses integrate into a purest form of dreamless love. Happiness flows out of 'FORGIVE'ness and not 'FORGET'ness.
Asesh Datta, India

I define happiness as ... a seed that God had planted in our heart, and we have to learn during the whole life to make it grow and flourish in a splendid flower, by learning to love each other
Adina Militaru, Romania

I define happiness as ... standing in the rain and really feeling every single rain drop that touches you, and knowing that each drop is a not a tear from God above but a drop of his everlasting love falling sown on us.
April Kinabrew, Mississippi

I define happiness as ... that reassuring sound of the other guy's fax machine kicking in. "It's going through...it's really going through!"
Patricia Gomes, Massachusetts, USA

I define happiness as ... The smile on my son's face when he wakes up and the sun is shining after 4 days of rain, and he says 'mom, I can do my running today!'
Helene Nicol, South Africa

I define happiness as being able to sit in the hammock on a spring evening and know I am valuable--even after having two story submissions rejected by editors, one book proposal rejected and hearing my cousin just got a book deal with a major publisher. The crickets and bullfrogs harmonize in the nearby pond and instead of thinking how far I have to go, I relish the successes I have on the smaller scale and know I can continue to pursue the mountains.
Alice J. Wisler,

I define happiness as ... comfortable shoes.
Sarah White, Arkansas, USA

I define happiness as ... not having your name show up in the obit. column.
Ed Scull, Georgia, USA

I define happiness as ... the smile you see when you give away the 'biggest' shark's tooth you just found!
Kim Lang, Florida, USA

I define happiness as ... knowing who you are and being at peace with yourself
Carolyn Richardson, Maryland, USA

I define happiness as ...

Our glow from within
Shinning out toward
luminous beauty that sings
Joy of the Lord!!!
Tamara Lanza

Anyways I will continue to journal on this topic as I am in a never ending pursuit of happiness, lost in what it means to me exactly.

A child that is completely content with his beloved Legos. Happy as can be!!

"Hey Mica... Can bugs laugh?"
- NR 4 years old