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As we go through the chapters of our lives, the conditions and situations that make us happy change. Brief, temporary moments of happiness are experienced daily, but could better be described as mere shows of emotion. Overall, permanent, spiritual wellness and contentment could better be described as a realization that each person is part of the big picture; then, recognizing and fulfilling the small, but significant, role that is yours to play.

When we are toddlers, we cry one minute and laugh the next. Happiness is found in a clean diaper, a warm bottle of milk, and snuggling with a teddy bear (those very things may also make you happy when you're in your nineties). However, by the time we reach those irrational, tumultuous teenage years, happiness is generally related to self. Children learn from watching the adults in their lives. We are a "me, myself, and I" society measured by the tangible successes in our lives, standards set by God only knows who. Excessive time is spent trying to find ourselves by keeping up with everyone else who, unfortunately, probably don't have a clue who they are either because they are too busy trying to keep up with someone else. Nothing is lost; there is nothing to look for. Happiness is not something that can be found.

What moments will be recalled as one passes from life to death? The big house that brought only massive debt and stress, the new Jag (oh, by the way, which was totaled and the insurance companies are still arguing over), or the powerful promotion that only meant working seventy hours a week? Probably not, the moments that will be remembered will be the small acts of kindness that were performed from the heart, the trivial, seemingly insignificant words of encouragement, or maybe the old, monetarily worthless items that were kept in a box due to their sentimental value. Fault cannot be found in working hard to purchase a nice home, a new car, or whatever else that may suit one's fancy; however, too many people look to the physical and tangible for a feeling of achievement hoping it will finally lead to happiness. It's a disease; a disease that could easily be called, the "I'll be happy when" syndrome. No, happiness probably won't come when. . .whatever happens because something else will take its place. Remember, ten-minute happiness is an emotion.

Take into account these few sentences of advice; not that I'm so smart because I'm not, just old (not that old) but very observant. Trying to find happiness in the material

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