TheHappyDoor
2008-04-06
Happinessislikeastonedroppedintoapooltosetinmotionanever-widening,circleofripples.AsStevensonhassaid,beinghappyisaduty.
Thereisnoexactdefinitionofthewordhappiness.Happypeoplearehappyforallsortsofreasons.Thekeyisnotwealthorphysicalwell-being,sincewefindbeggars,patientsandso-calledfailureswhoareextremelyhappy.
Beinghappyisasortofunexpecteddividend.Butstayinghappyisanaccomplishment,atriumphofsoulandcharacter;itisnotselfishtostruggleforit.Itisindeed,adutytoourselvesandothers.
Beingunhappyislikeaninfectiousdisease;acausespeopletoshrinkawayfromthesufferer.Hesoonfindshimselfalone,miserableandembittered.Thereis,however,acuresosimpleastoseem,atfirstglance,ridiculous:Ifyoudon’tfeelhappy,pretendtobe!
Itworks.Beforelongyouwillfindthatinsteadofrepellingpeople,youattractthem.Youdiscoverhowdeeplyrewa