I hear on some groups I've been on and am still on, How people are looking to be Happy. Happiness is a come and go state and I truly believe that when one stops and realizes how grateful they are for their lives, that is Being Happy.. The other night on Coast To Coast a Gratitude Guru spoke on this....I don't remember his name but that does not matter. What matters is recognizing Gratitude.... Now it may be harder to be Grateful if one lives in Haiti.
Or...........the Amazon, the jungles of Africa or even in New York City (crime, crime and more crime).
I agree, due to the devastating war - I feel for the people there being without heating in the middle of Winter. Makes me grateful that - despite the higher cost - at least I can heat my home.
I believe too many have happiness as a goal and disappoint themselves by so often failing to achieve it. Being happy all the time is no more normal than being unhappy all the time. So, happiness is those nice little sprinkles of spice in our lives which are otherwise, hopefully, filled with contentment. My wife and I constantly remind ourselves of how lucky we are compared to many.
I remember the TED lecture where a long-term study showed meaningful relationships is what made people happy.
I never had the highs and lows of blissful happiness and depression. Mostly I am content, sometimes discontent. But I am definitely grateful.