Happiness: "the state of being happy."

When I first read this definition, I was taken aback. Not only was the definition not helpful whatsoever into the insight of happiness (which would have made this article much, much easier) but it was very subjective. What is happiness? What is being happy? How can we measure happiness when every person finds satisfaction in various people, places, and things?

To you, happiness may be that feeling you get when you see the server bringing your food at a restaurant, or maybe it's seeing your family members laugh, your friends smile, or maybe it's something as simple as hearing your favorite song play through your car speakers on a day when nothing seems to be going right. It can truly be anything on this planet.

While all of those things make me smile and make my heart happy, there are many other things that make me equally as happy too. To me, happiness is a wide array of different things. It's waking up to see rain falling outside when I have to walk fifteen minutes to get to class, to not getting my shift covered at work even when I have 5 hours worth of homework to do. It's going out to eat and the server telling me they don't have the correct ingredients to make my favorite meal, or forgetting I have a quiz on a morning when I barely make it to class on time.

While that may sound incredibly weird to all of you, let me explain. Happiness is not something that I depend on other people or situations to provide to me. Happiness is an attitude that I choose to wake up with even when there are a million reasons for me to wake up and complain about everything the world has to offer that day. Now don't get me wrong, there are days where I wake up and don't want to talk to or see anyone all day; I'm human, it happens, and I'm sure it happens to all of you too. But, I found that waking up and making the most of what every single day has to offer has made me a genuinely more happy person. I find myself going to bed each night pleased with how the day went, because I know that I have given it my all to be a good day and to enjoy the way that I spent my time.

Please don't read that the wrong way, though. There are days (more often than I'd like to admit) when I wake up and can't wait to go back to bed, and I dread what the day is going to throw at me. And I'm certainly not trying to sound like a saint in any way, but I have really tried to be happier about little things because I've found that it's made a monumental difference in the way I live my life on a daily basis.

I know it's a lot to ask to look for happiness in things that would normally make you gloomy or sad, but trust me, taking the time to wake up and look for the good in little things will make you a happier person. Not only will it make you feel better about little things, it will make others feel better about those little things too. And wouldn't it be great if everyone could be a little more happy on a daily basis?

So, the next time you go to curse the sky during a random thunderstorm that catches you helpless and without an umbrella, take a second (or more) to dance in the rain, instead of just waiting for it to blow over.