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 The question of being happy and what that really means reminds me a lot of a book my mom gave me a few weeks ago called The Secret.  The Secret is about how if you ask the universe for something and believe you will get it, then you will receive it.  Although it may seem silly, I've been trying it out for the past few weeks and I think it is actually working.  I think that the secret can apply to this idea of achieving happiness because I think that you can control it.  I agree with KT that there are different paths and it can be difficult, but I also believe in the secret and if you ask for it and believe it you will receive it.  I like thinking that we can all choose to be happy because how can you really live your life if you are always thinking such a choice does not exist? 

It also reminds me of an article in The New York Times from two weeks ago about self-compassion and the effect how kindly people view themselves has on health.  The article discusses research that has shown how “giving ourselves a break and accepting our imperfections may be the first step toward better health,” which is something I think more people need to learn.  I think students and teenagers in particular constantly beat themselves up over the little things and don’t understand the toll it really takes.  But, if we believe in The Secret and start thinking more about self-compassion, I think that Thassa’s idea about being as happy as she is, is not as unrealistic as we may first perceive.