Is everybody happy?

We hear the word "happy" used throughout our day. We are "happy" to see someone. We are "happy" to hear that someone has received good news such as a promotion or learning that a baby is on its way. We are "happy" that someone is having a special event such as a birthday or a wedding. The music that we hear throughout the day is sprinkled with the word, happy. Just what is "happy?" It appears to be an elusive feeling of joy, pleasure, and good fortune. We all seem to strive for it. We know when it is present and when it is absent. We are attuned to events that elicit happiness. One question we often hear is. "What makes you happy?" There are a myriad of answers. I know what stirs up happy feelings for me, at least at this time in my life. Some situations are the same as in my childhood, and others have changed over time. Is my goal to have happiness present every moment of my life? If it was, would I appreciate it when it was there because I valued it so much when it wasn't? Or perhaps we miss what "happy" truly is because we are attempting to dissect and analyze it. Think about the times when you experienced "happy." What were you doing? Who were you with? What thoughts accompanied it? How long did it last? What would it take to have that feeling in your life today?