Happiness - Diep Do

As people age, they realize what can make them happy and therefore strive for it, no matter what it takes. Any form of happiness can be rare for people, but for others, it can come across to them effortlessly. Happiness is the state of being when one has money and successful, is able to do what he/she wants, and/or is surrounded by his/her loved one(s).

Everybody knows that having money and being successful can lead to happiness. People like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. They both lead successful lives by doing what they love: singing. Sam with actors; their profession makes them happy and earns them a lot of money. Basically, people doing what they want in life can lead them to success and money which then leads to happiness. Aside from celebrities, ordinary people can have successful lives that fuel their happiness.

In the article, “Happiness Breeds Success… and Money” by Sonja Lyubomirsky, her studies show that because of one’s work, he/she is happy, and because of their success in his/her work, money is brought in. Sonja notes that based on people’s success, they will be happy based on their productivity on their success. “Because it provides us a sense of identity, structure to our days, and important and meaningful life goals to pursue. Perhaps even more important, it furnishes us with close colleagues, friends and even marriage partners” (Lyubomirsky, Happiness Breeds Success… and Money). In addition, according to her research, success and money can work into an upward spiral. She states that, “research has demonstrated that the happier a person is at one point in his life, the higher income he will earn at a later point” (Lyubomirsky, Happiness Breeds Success… and Money). Sonja was able to prove this point in one of her studies. People who are as happy at an early point, using Sonja’s example, like his/her freshman year in college, the higher his/her salary will be as they age. Another article, “Ten Days to a Happier, Successful Career and Life,” written by Susan Heathfield, she believes that happiness is as important as a successful life.

One could have disabilities and still be happy with his/her life and having a disability does not mean that he/she is not in good health. For example, Bethany Hamilton, lost her arm to a shark but she was able to be happy by being able to continue doing what she loves: surfing. Sudha Chandran is another one with a disability. She is a dancer had her leg amputated. An artificial leg was given to her, and with that artificial leg, she was able to continue dance and perform all over the world. Without that artificial leg, Sudha would not have had any chance to do something that makes her happy. Another person who is well renowned and has a disability is Ludwig van Beethoven. Even though he was deaf, Beethoven was able to compose some of the greatest works in history. Some of his famous works were the 9th Symphony, the 5th Piano Concerto, and the Violin Concerto.

Being surrounded by loved one(s) doesn’t mean that those loved one(s) have to be alive. The one that a person loves can be anyone, as long as that makes the person happy. There are people who’s loved one is a 2-dimensional person. A man with the name of Sal9000 married his love, a fictional character that resides in a Nintendo DS video game called Love Plus. This wedding took place at the Tokyo Institute of Technology with a live audience, the bride's virtual video game girlfriend who even made a speech, and a real human priest. This Sal9000 is not the only one who has a 2D loved one that can bring him happiness. Nisan is a man who is in love with a stuffed pillowcase. On the pillowcase, there is a picture of a character named Nemutan from a PC video game called Da Capo. They have been inseparable for more than three years. “I’ve experienced so many amazing things because of her. She has really changed my life” (Katayama, Love in 2D). These two guys are happy with their non human lovers because their “spouses” are not revolted about who they are with. This Sal9000 is very ecstatic when he had planned to wed this fictional character. He does not care what other people think, just as long as he and his 2D lover can live together in a happy household. Nisan, who was already balding at the age of thirty-seven, believes that he is an unlucky guy, and his only chance of happiness is with his 2D lover.

Aside from being in love with a 2D fictional character, one can just be happy with normal situations. An elderly can be laying in his/her deathbed surrounded by his/her loved ones and just be satisfied with just that. A couple with no children can be just as happy as a couple that do have children.

My definition of happiness is correct because what better factors can be included for happiness? These three qualifiers are the basic means of having that emotional state of being. Having money and being successful, being able to do what wants, and/or being surrounded by loved ones are the things can make anyone happy.

Works Cited

Capanelli, John. “For These Lottery Winners, a Dream Come True Turned into a

Nightmare.” Cleveland.com. 8 February 2010. 16 October 2011

_a_dr.html>.

Katayama, Lisa. “Love in 2D.” The New York Times. 21 July 2009. 16 October 2011

<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/magazine/26FOB-2DLove- t.html?pagewanted=all>.

Katayama, Lisa. “Love in 2D.” The New York Times. 21 July 2009. 16 October 2011

< http://boingboing.net/2009/11/25/video-game-wedding-a.html>.

Katayama, Lisa. “Love in 2D.” The New York Times. 21 July 2009. 16 October 2011 <http://boingboing.net/2009/11/24/footage-from-the-fir.html>.

Lyubomirsky, Sonja. “Happiness Breeds Success…and Money!” Psychology Today.

18 July 2008. 16 October 2011. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/how-

happiness/200807/happiness-breeds-success-and-money>.

Tiktikhappy. “Top 10 Extraordinary People with Disabilities.” People and Politics. 18

January 2010. 16 October 2011 <http://listverse.com/2010/01/18/top-10- extraordinary-people-with-disabilities/>.

Images

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/magazine/26FOB-2DLove-t.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/how-happiness/200807/happiness-breeds-success-and-money