Article June 13, 2016 ISSUE

Happiness now and always

Heidi K. Van Patten

When my niece was seven years old, she observed that I was “happy even when there’s nothing to be happy about.” Actually, our family gatherings always gave me much to be happy about, but I appreciated her comment and was grateful that she saw that happiness didn’t have to be contingent on certain events or circumstances.

Still, I’ve sometimes felt that happiness came in bursts that could last any amount of time, but would eventually be replaced with disappointment, worry, and frustration. Is it possible or practical to expect happiness to be a consistent part of our lives, independent of events or circumstances?

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