THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE

‘OK’ Strawberry Milk, 2014.

Happiness by definition is “feeling pleasure” or “feeling content” but there are so many ways to be happy. Happiness is different for each individual and can be brought on by a variety of people, places and situations. Individual happiness has something in common within each person; it’s a good feeling that reminds us why it’s nice to be alive. Feeling happy is one of the best things in the whole world, and this is because it allows us to appreciate life and feel satisfied with everything at that moment in time. Happiness is a light shining at the end of the dark tunnel, it picks us up when we are feeling down and wraps us up in a warm blanket offering a cup of tea. Happiness is the friend that everyone loves and has, kind to everyone and everything.

The feeling of happiness is in everyone, it’s in everything you just have to look hard enough. Sometimes all you need to do to find it is to step back from the situation take a few deep breaths and look at it from a different perspective. Is what you’re fussing over going to stop you from achieving your goals? Is it going to cause you to fail school? Is it going to dramatically change you for the worst? Will it matter in the morning? In most situations the answer will be no and though the matter may seem significant at the time it won’t affect you in the long run. No matter how stressed you are, no matter how upset you feel; happiness will help you through it.

Since happiness is such a range of different things I took to social media (twitter/tumblr/facebook) to ask strangers and those about their thoughts on being happy. They were asked: “What is happiness to you? What do you think happy looks like?” and these were the responses (some participants chose to stay anonymous).

“You.” – Anonymous

“How the city looks like after the rain, the stories/memories each person created, the little things in life.” - Anonymous

“Happiness to me in everyday life?? I guess seeing friends, food when you’re hungry, finishing assignments/the school year and seeing my dog Bailey.” – Anonymous

“Being surrounded by people who genuinely appreciate you for who you are and love you no matter what, the smell of summer rain, getting lost in a foreign city.” – Totty MacDonald

“I think happy is being content in the course your life is taking.” - @topnewt (twitter)

“Happiness is a concept which humanity thinks is unique to itself but in truth other specials such as dogs or elephants feel happiness. It is a basic emotion that our brains give us to make us to make sure we have something you live for. In someway happiness in my eyes looks like life. It is the enjoyment and the relationships we form in life that give us the determination to live.” – Harry Tatchley

“To me happy is doing what you love to do and being with the person you love the most.” - @ellzabetholsen (twitter)

“Happiness to me is when a flower transforms from a bud to a blossom, when I see my three teenage daughters actually laughing and having fun together, seeing a beautiful rainbow and seeing shells along the shoreline.” – My mum.

“I think happiness is when you’re content with how things are at that specific moment. It does not imply there’s nothing wrong in your life to be sad about at that moment; when the satisfying things are dominant in your mindset that will cause a feeling of happiness.” - @bradlxy (twitter)

“An orange tree in a potted plan on the sun terrace against the blue sky of spain. Vibrant colours, like blue and orange, represent happiness to me.” – Anonymous

“Firstly happiness is Taylor Swift. Secondly I think to be happy in life you first need to be happy with yourself. Only then you can move on to the other aspects of your life. Happiness is physical looks like smiles, laughter, joy, sharing stories and even just talking. To me happiness means being happy with yourself. On a broader scale it’s like happy with your life and friends.” – Anonymous

“Puppies is all I can think of.” - @clintbvcky (twitter)

Happiness means something different to everyone. Each community has an idea of what makes them happy and every individual knows what makes them smile. With a theme of “Happy Place” for this week here on Aura 32 I thought it seemed reasonable to share what my happy place is and what happiness looks like to me. I’m most happy when those I care about and those who care about me surround me. The simple things in life such as smiling at strangers and having them smile back or the excitement a dog expresses as it tugs on its lead eagerly wanting to say hello to you. Watching the sunset, reading books, smiling animals, attending concerts, sunflowers, walking on the beach, travelling to new places. These are things that signify happiness to me.

The key to happiness is love, towards yourself and others. Once you’ve mastered this happiness can come easily but something to remember when you’re feeling down, if we didn’t have sadness how would we be able to distinguish what happiness truly feels like and how would we tell the good times from the bad. Next time you have a moment or two along ask yourself “What does happy look like to me?”

Written by: Ailish Delaney
Photos: 1, 2