Happiness

So it's 8:58pm here where I am, and I am supposed to be doing my writing assignment (aka my English discussion board). We are supposed to answer a question about happiness and whether or not we think it can be bought with money, and the rest of the questions are about the novel The Great Gatsby(which I won't share this time ).  Anyway, I got a little bit distracted with the first question (and totally forgot about the other questions), so I began to research happiness and its definition. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary happiness  is: the state of being happy.  Well for some people they take that and other definitions and twist the words into something completely different.  I will now let you read what I shared with others tonight in my English class. 

Does money buy happiness?

I believe it depends on what you think happiness is.

In my own opinion I don't think money can buy happiness. It can buy things that may or may not make you happy for a short period of time or until the neighbors get that new grill that you have been dying to have, someone at school has that new sweater you told your mum about that you saw at the mall last night, or someone buys a nicer car than you have. To some happiness is merely a day at the spa with no work in site, a big screen TV to watch latest football game on, or a front porch with a mountain view. I've noticed that people confuse happiness mostly with temporary pleasures. Don't get me wrong a front porch with a mountain view sounds wonderful, but you have to think is that really what is going to make you happy. For me happiness is loving others, giving more than I receive, making people smile. Those are just a few ways I can define happiness. I think the word happiness is sometimes used like the word "love" people don't realize how powerful it really is, so they use is a way it isn't meant to be.

I came across this quote tonight about happiness. ↓ 

Happiness - By Alfred D. Souza

"For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time to still be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time and remember that time waits for no one.

So stop waiting; until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination."

                  (this is not my photo, but it was to lovely not to share!)

So I don't think there is much more to say here...

What are your opinions about happiness? Do YOU think money can buy happiness?