What does it mean to be happy? I think most, if not all, of us have asked ourselves this question at one point or another. We all try to do things that make us happy. That’s natural. As kids (and sometimes even now), we find happiness in the things we buy and the possessions we own. I remember how “happy” I was when I got my first cell phone. It was a Samsung LG env2 flip phone with a full keyboard. Nobody else had one and it made me happy to be one of the first to get it. However, today if you gave a kid that very same phone, they’ll be unimpressed, and “not happy”.

That short anecdote can bring to light what happens when happiness is acquired through objects. Those objects eventually are out run by better, faster, cooler ones and at that point, it becomes a race to buy the newest and best phone, tablet, trend, fill in the blank. Those things only have the potential to make you temporarily happy.

Everyone has their own definition of happiness. To me, it directly works with positivity. Being a positive person doesn't mean you’re ignorant. It means you try to see things in the best possible light. Very few, if any, people can do that 24/7. There are a lot of screwed up things in the world today, some of which offer no validation. No one is expecting you to shine a positive light on those situations, but rather just to try. And I think this is the hardest part. Believe me, I have a long way to go. There are just things that I can’t grasp the reason why.

But, nobody’s perfect. It’s about trying, and trying again, and again until you reach your goals.

True happiness depends on choice. It’s never going to be given to you on a silver platter. You don't find happiness, you create it. You make the choice to be happy or miserable. Every obstacle you are faced with can be looked at in two ways. So what if you don't have as much money as your friend or your co-worker. Not everything is about money. It’s about seeing the best in each situation you’re in. It’s about doing you very best all the time. That’s all that anyone can really expect from you. More importantly, that’s all that you should expect from yourself.

The photograph I chose to go with this article is me skiing for the first time. I had fallen a couple dozen times, enough for my butt for me frozen and numb. But I still was having a blast. As most of you know, I love photography. But the one downfall to loving it is that you don't get many photos of yourself. My favorite kinds of photos are candids. They're so honest and unique and I think that even if it's not the most flattering photo or at your best side, deep down you still love the fact that it wasn't posed. It shows your emotion at that one instance in time and I think there's something remarkably special about that.