by Samantha Dunn

Created on: July 30, 2009   Last Updated: July 31, 2009

Where is my happiest place on earth? That is a tough question to answer. For some I suppose there is something simple to give, but for me it is a complex and rich answer.To me there are many "happiest places". Some define their happiest place as the day they had their first child, I have not done so yet so there is a "happiest place" I have not yet visited. For some it is the day they see their first grandchild, another "happiest place" I look forward too. I suppose my happiest place at the moment is on my living room couch, snuggled under my Betty Boop blanket, with a cat to cuddle and a book to read.

My happiest places change, you will get a different answer based on the point in my life you ask the question. When I was five had you asked this question I may have told you the toy store or a playground. Now that I am twenty three I would tell you my happiest place at five was sitting in my fathers lap while he read "Her Majest's Wizard" to me aloud. Had you asked me this question when I was ten I would have told you at a friend#s house or my aunt#s. At twenty three I look back and see my happiest place at ten was outside hiding in a tree or playing games with my younger siblings. Had you asked me this question when I was fifteen I would have probably said anywhere my sisters were not. At twenty three looking back at fifteen I would tell you it would be with my sisters, and when we were away from abuse. The quiet times when my mother and step-father were not home shouting at each other or smacking someone around.

Had you asked the same question but a year later I would have told you with my husband. At twenty three I would tell you it was the same at the time. At seventeen it slid downhill and the husband became abusive, had you asked me that then I would have told you my happiest place was wherever I could be alone. At twenty three looking back at seventeen I can tell you my happiest place was away from the husband, with friends that I needed and loved. Had you asked me this question a year and a half ago, I would have told you I did not know. I would have said I was lost, that I had left my husband and thought I was on the road to finding my happiest place. At twenty three looking back at the year and a half ago I think I would have been right.

At twenty three, I have come to the realization that my happiest place will change with me. At the time the question is asked I may say it is alone reading a book, online chatting, visiting friends, staying with family, Going to the movies, out to dinner, or for a long walk. At any given time I might answer this question differently, but I believe my happiest place is always with me. My happiest place is also my saddest place, the angriest, the most remorseful and the most hurt. At twenty three I would have to say my happiest place, the one that will be with me forever...is my memory.

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