[Insert pretentious name here]

Good post, Will, as usual and I do agree with you. However, this post does beg one question....why did you go to Holy Redeemer?

I'm liking your posts Will. Very thoughtful as usual. =D

I'd say that I'm generally a very happy person. Sure I go through bouts where I feel like the whole world's against me or something, but never have I been unable to resolve that feeling. I've been told numerous times that I'm a really happy and fun person here at university, but that's not to say I don't have any troubles or difficulties in life. Ok, so take this as an example:

I'm sitting here, slaving away for my calculus midterm tomorrow. I'm not having 'fun' per se, but I'm still happy. Work doesn't necessarily make me happy, but to be who I am and where I am right now is definitely reason enough for happiness. The work itself may not provide any happiness, but the overall feeling is still positive.

Hmmm what am I trying to say? I guess it's just that not everything we do in life contributes to happiness, but my general existence and contentment with my life provides me with my happiness.

How many times did I use happiness in that comment? =P

OK, now I am more awake after a rather long and tiring day at work to comment/reflect on your post in more detail.

As I said earlier, I basically agree with you. Ultimately, I think that is what we all seek. The thing that undoes us is the fact that even though we might be confident that we have found our own happiness/fulfilment, everyone else around us looks at us and says..."how can can you be happy, you haven't done this...or you haven't achieved this?" and use their own measures of happiness to define what our level of happiness SHOULD be.

I think that that happiness (as you define it, anyway) is more an attitude and a way of seeing the world than a warm, fuzzy feeling. So being happy does not mean that we won't face challenges in life or that we won't change and grow or that we will always walk around all cheerful and laughing. I think that what it means is that we can cope with whatever life throws at us and we can face the present and the future knowing that when it comes down to it, everything will be OK.

I know that for me, it's that attitude that has freed me up to make the moves I have made and to make some of the decisions I have made in the last several years. Both moves were difficult, leaving people I cared for a great deal and leaving what I knew to head into the unknown.

I guess what I am trying to say in a roundabout way is that it is great that you recognize this in yourself. However, don't get to a place where your contentment and happiness is nothing more than laziness and apathy in disguise. I honestly believe that this sense of happiness that you talk about will spur you on to try new and different things as well as face the challenges of life with amazing resilience and strength.

By the way, do you know what my definition of sin is? Failing to use the gifts and talents that we are blessed with.

Don't know if all that made sense, but hope it did!

A quote which i find quite appropriate..."The world is so constructed that if you wish to enjoy its pleasures you must also endure its pains" - Swami Brahmananda

My two cents, because I basically agree with everything everyone has said here.

I *think* that happiness has a lot to do with having something to aim for in life, and moving towards that goal.

Personal recent example: I'd have to say that for me (despite the joys of blogging), 2005 has been a pretty "down" year by my standards. Not feeling particularly satisfied with anything, drifting a bit too much, fairly aimless. But in the past few days, I have received some news that gives me something very exciting to aim for in 2006. (Still secret squirrel at the moment, but I will blog the news if it all falls into place). The anticipation of this opportunity and starting the planning to achieve the goal has suddenly made me happier than I've been for a very long time :-) Everything is back in perspective because I have a goal.