IF
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
--Rudyard Kipling

My family and friends
Sitting on the beach soaking in the sounds, smells and beauty of the ocean
Looking up at the stars and thinking about the vastness and beauty of the universe
A beautiful sunrise or sunset
Helping people
A successful rescue
The smile and laughter of children having fun
The happiness of others

A bottle of Coke: One of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had in my life occurred a few years ago during one of my trips to Ecuador. We had traveled to the far north almost into Columbia to a very remote town in the Mountains called TumbaTu (spelling is close) to provide some basic health care. These people are amongst the poorest of the poor. Most of the patients really did not have much wrong with them, mainly desiring to meet these foreign health care providers who traveled to their remote town. One of my patients was an elderly lady, whose primary issues were just general problems connected to that of old age, combined with poor nutrition and arthritis. I gave her some vitamins, Tylenol and likely more important a listening ear for a while. She left and I went on to see other patients not really giving her another thought. This area of Ecuador is very hot, arid and desert like, so it is easy to become thirsty. About 30 minutes later, knowing we might be thirsty the older lady returned to the clinic with a bottle of Coke for the group. We protested at first, knowing that single bottle of Coke was likely an entire day’s salary for her, but then graciously accepted her gift, knowing the great sacrifice she made. Although I sort of always knew what is important in life, at that very moment I witnessed; it is not things that makes one happy, but the love, sacrifice and care we show each other illustrated in that simple gift of a bottle of Coke.

Pete

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!

Buddhism.

Zen

Fantastic story, paramedicpete - thanks for sharing that one.

It is everywhere.
The sun rising.
The birds singing.
A job to go to and get paid.
Family, Friends, strangers especially little kids (nothing creepy)
Music, Food, drink, art, faith
fishing, skiing, climbing, running
The feeling when you do a good deed no matter how small for a stranger.
Seeing something new. Learning something new.
Being involved and present.
Appreciating what you DO have.
A new pocket knife.
An old three legged cat (my neighbor's) who is my friend.
Catching a cool movie on free TV by accident when you have nothing particular to do at the time.
As you can see the list is endless; it is all there to make you happy if you want.
Good luck on your path. Keep going.
Bill

I think we have to define happiness here. As for me I have moments of happiness but it doesn't last. Even if everything went perfectly in your life, having people who clearly suffer around you breaks your happiness. So it's very hard to maintain a state of happiness. Blaise Pascal said "Man's greatness lies in his capacity to recognize his wretchedness" and I think I have to agree with this. You also can never predict what is going to happen. You can loose everything very quickly. In fact when somebody ask me "how are you?" Many times I look at my wristwatch and answer "at 9:03 pm (for example), I'm not bad..." because I don't know if everything will go wrong in 5 min from there.

Frankie

My question to you would be what makes you unhappy?

I guess you should look at the things in life that matter, that you appreciate.

The answer to happiness lies within yourself.

Myself, personally, am happy to be Alive and Healthy. TG.

What do you feel you need to make you happy?

Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

So simple, a child can sing it, but so profound, the greatest minds in history are unable to fully grasp it.