The saying “Money can’t buy you
happiness” is commonly used whenever people talk about how buying a material
good will instantly make their lives better. In the media, we constantly see
and hear about rich people buying the latest technology, newest cars, and going
to the most lavish places, but what we don’t hear about is those people who have
instantly become rich going through rehab due to drug addictions or losing all
their money and going back into debt with an even worse situation. According to
recent studies, the salary that makes people the happiest is $50,000.[i]
All
our lives, we grew up with the idea that the job that makes us the most money
would make us happiest. My friend once asked me “If you can do any job that
makes you happy and money wasn’t a problem, what would you be?” right there I
questioned my whole life. What do I want to be? Or more importantly: What is
happiness?
In a
non-clichéd way, the dictionary states the definition of “happy” as “feeling of
pleasure, contentment, or joy.” It’s true. Whenever you buy something, you get
that feeling of contentment, but we all know that for most of us, it doesn’t
last long. I begged my parents for the Nintendo DS; I was given the DS; I
played with the DS and I was done. Before I knew it, the DS lite, DSi, DSXL and
3DS came out. I don’t even remember the last time I saw my handheld game
console, but I do know that I was the “happiest” kid for about a month and I
didn’t really need it. With people consistently changing, what makes you happy now
doesn’t make you happy one month from now or for some people, even one hour.
Happiness is a limited. It passes.
Some days you are happy for hours. Sometimes, you just feel down in the dumps
for days. Happiness is contagious. It can be passed from one person to another.
That feeling can make one person’s day. It’s hard to bring down a person who is
happy, but if you do, it’s hard to bring back up. When you see someone feeling
blue, just share something that makes you happy because turning that frown
upside down can make the difference and makes the world a more positive place.
Talk about cats and how crazy they are. Share the cat videos. Laugh. Laughter
is a side of effect of happiness. Happiness is free and can be found
everywhere. Once in a while, going to the park with friends or just going out
for frozen yogurt can make the difference.
Experiences are not tangible, but they can be looked back upon to
recreate that happiness from before. There is no monetary cost in being happy. Go
make smiles happen, because happiness is the best gift to give… and it’s free.
[i] "The Salary That Will Make You Happy
(Hint: It's Less Than $75,000)." Forbes.
Ed. LearnVest. Forbes Magazine, 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 21 Sept. 2013.
39 comments:
This is such an inspiring piece! You are certainly right about happiness being contagious. If it is not then someone is having an extremely rough day! I agree with this blog one hundred percent. It made me as enthusiastic as ever to read this and I am glad someone else out in the world shares the same views of happiness just as I do.
Wow Roselin! This was an amazing piece. I totally agree with you. Lately, I actually have been thinking about the future and what I would want to be. I have been asking myself if I was going to go into the medical field for money or if I really wanted to. You are right with the question, "What will make you happy?" I am totally amazed by this blog and I am sure that there are many people who wonder to themselves what will make them happy. Great job Roselin!!
I feel like this entry belongs in a book of inspirational speeches! I particularly liked the way you formatted the paragraphs. Beginning with the false relationship between money and happiness, you went on to provide a personal example, which added validity to your argument. But then, keeping with the stoic tone of the first two paragraphs, you stated that "happiness is limited." Reading this sentence, I couldn't help but be saddened. Thus, I was completely caught off guard when you proceeded to explain the simple methods of both spreading and partaking in happiness within our daily lives. Your references to frozen yogurt and the park caused me to reflect on all of the fond memories I have from those two average locales. You are absolutely right - happiness isn't derived from the grand aspects of life, it's derived from the many mundane aspects which leave grand impacts on us.
-Christina Tapia
This piece is very thoughtful and inspiring! I like how you started off with the cliche "Life can't bring you happiness" and you built up your argument throughout the piece. I also agree with how you said "happiness is limited" and I like how you expressed yourself through your writing.
I really liked how you proved the temporary and mercurial nature of happiness. Despite money being the medium to buy and yield a moment of joy, your message strays away from the ingrained notion of money being the root of these feelings and stresses that happiness does not have price tag. I feel that many people believe that they have to seek happiness in order to obtain it, but your piece reminds us that we should not only spread, but also create our own happiness even in the simplest of ways.
-Katherine Celume
I think you made some very truthful points in your piece that can apply to a wide range of people. I liked your story because I think about the topic of happiness often and it opened my eyes to a different perspective.
This piece completely spoke to me and I love that you have voiced such an issue. It is so true that money doesn't create happiness because we create our own happy and unhappy states of mind. Your work really makes one think twice before they complain about what they don't have instead of focusing on what they already possess. Truly loved the piece from beginning to end, keep up the amazing work!
-Rachael Rubalcava
Your piece is inspiring, it made me realize what the meaning of happiness truly is. I can also relate to the nintendo ds example because I did the same thing when I got mine.
Sabrina Rondero Per.5
I really love this piece. It actually makes me think about life and how happiness can change my day 100%
This was such a nice story to read! Great job using examples to get your point across that money can't buy happiness, the points were really easy to relate to! Your clear writing made your story easy to follow and made your message come across clearly. This is one of those pieces that makes a reader reflect on life. I certainly did! Great Work!
I really liked your piece because it was inspiring and that I should not choose the job that makes me the most money, instead I should pick one that makes me the most happiest. I really like how you said that happiness is free and that it is contagious because those are both true and that we should share our happiness with others. Great Job.
I loved your piece! This was definitely one of the most inspirational articles that I have read. I loved how you incorporated rhetorical questions in there so that while readers are reading they can stop to think and reflect about it. I also liked how your examples were nice, clear, and straight to the point. I could also totally relate to your story about the DSI! Great job.
I sincerely loved this piece, it was touching in a way that not many things can be, appealing to experiences that we have all felt such as the DS example really helps drive the message home.... Great job.
-Arturo Ayala
I liked your approach towards the subject of happiness. It reminded of me being one of those people who are constantly changing. Guilty, but I would consider myself as one whose happiness changes frequently. As I continued reading your post, I soon became inspired. Your words were persuasive yet uplifting because I realized that it makes me happy when I make others happy. Good job in addressing the topic!
This is true. I can't tell you how much money my parents spent for stuff I didn't need. I hope to read more pieces of work like this!
I enjoyed your idea. It was very simplistic and yet it relates to all of us. It's unbelievable how something as simple as a smile or a compliment can change someone's entire day.
-Lauren WIlliams
This is so true happiness is determined by us.When people say "Money buys happiness" only depend on materialistic items to be happy. I can relate with is a lot cause I know that tomorrow is not promised so be happy with what we have. Good job really enjoyed it.
-Norma Cabrera
I really like this piece, I believe that many people need to read this and come to the same relaization. We only think about the materialistic aspects of life, when going shopping and buying the most expenasive items. When pass away, she are not able to take these materialistic with us, but even though we have gone, we can only leave our mark in the world, which I believe is the best way to be remembered much like the speaker of this piece believes with too. Thus, both of your explamations of how money can't buy happiness and the true meaning of happiness should be shared with others to inpirse them to do what makes them happy, with just beings in good vibes with good people than being pesimistic all of the time.
Roselin, this is so sweet and uplifting! All the aphorisms and sayings you used in your work are definitely ones that we need to be reminded of from time to time! I loved your contrast of money and happiness throughout the piece, because happiness > money any day! :)
I agree to this because although money may be a necessity or not, she got me thinking to the point.. I pretty much enjoy my time around my friends and we rarely bring up the "money" subject. It's true you get to buy things with money but if i'd gone to the mall alone, i'd rather spend my time with my buddies. Kind of off topic here but you really got me thinking about what I would do if I had a certain amount of money.
It was interesting, it got me to deeply think about money and friends.
-Emilio Pulmano
After I was done reading your piece I felt enlightened. I realized that the things we value the most, are really the things that bring us the least happiness. I related with your references to electronic toys and even the money aspect. I have no clue where my nintendo is at and i cant hold on to a twenty to save my life. Your piece also evoked memories of hapiness that were really quite simple but very meaningful to me. I really enjoyed reading your piece and I thought it was written very well. You kept it informative and relatable. Great job.
Love the message. It is a very simple message, but it was so well said and and so meaningful. The examples you used are good because so many people are able to relate to them.
I really liked the approach you took with this story. Throughout the entire piece, you contemplated what "happiness" really is. It is very true that money cannot buy you happiness- sustainable happiness anyway. I loved the fact that you used evidence to support what you were saying. Also, I loved how you tied the title of your piece in at the very end by saying that spreading happiness is the best gift that you can ever give someone. Great job!
-Jessica Berrie
This just made me smile, the last line especially, "Go make smiles happen, because happiness is the best gift to give… and it’s free." that has to be one of the most uplifting and reassuring things to read. Like with how everyone is becoming stressed out about colleges and what our careers are going to be i think we forget in all of our stress that the most important thing in our lives shouldn't be how much money we make, but how happy we are. Great message that we should all take to heart.
This literally made me smile from ear to ear! At first, it really made a strong connection to myself, and I'm sure to others as well. The core idea of happiness has been neglected for so long and no one really seems to pay attention to what it really means anymore. I really appreciate your call to attention toward the idea and the significance of more important things in life. You really reached out to your audience and it was a really effective piece. You did a great job Roselin!
this was very inspirational to me and really spoke to me because if you didnt know i have always had a dream of becoming a lumberjack to live in simplicity and do what really makes me hapy but it has been constantly frowned upon and put down due to low income. so i try to focus on all the little things that make me happy and once in awhile the big ones. thank you.
- Justin Myers
Such a inspiring piece which actually brightened my mood, your way with words to describe happiness as a gift is breath-taking. I agree with you 100% that happiness is contagious because there have been several occasions where people around me have improved a horrible day for me.
-Alan Medina
I really liked how your piece explored an idea that many believe an disagree with. I personally think that material possessions can bring me happiness but i liked how you had great evidence to support your own point. good job
I really enjoyed your story. Although you wrote about a commonly described topic, you were able to make it your own, as it was all done very well.Your post also made me question my future. I agree with your point of view on happiness and on it being the best gift to give. I like how you included evidence, as it made your argument stronger!
I was able to relate to this story on so many levels ! The feeling of finally getting something you always wanted but eventually taking it for granted is something I've experienced more than I can remember. This story followed a universal truth, happiness is not the amount of things you have, but whether you are genuinely happy with what you have. "The Richest Man Is Not He Who Has The Most, But He Who Needs The Least." This quote and theory compared to your story is relatable and described well.
they come out with so many ds's /jakob cadena
(: ROSELIN! This piece made me really happy! I liked everything about it! It's true, tangible items only offer temporary happiness, however the company of others, which is, most of the time, free has a much longer lasting satisfaction. I say you and I go for some yogurt sometime or something, make each other happy AHAHHA!
I liked how you described happiness existing in many forms, and how the duration of it varies. This makes me value the little details of life that I dont account for that keep me content and happy on a daily basis.
"Talk about cats and how crazy they are. Share the cat videos."
"Once in a while, going to the park with friends or just going out for frozen yogurt can make the difference." *wink wink*
Roselin, I loved how you took such a simple topic and expanded on it.
I liked the included statistic on how the salary that makes people the happiest is $50,000.
I could really relate to this piece because I'm currently struggling on the idea of what I want to do with my life that would make me happy in the field of careers.
I enjoyed the overall message of this piece, "There is no monetary cost in being happy. Go make smiles happen, because happiness is the best gift to give… and it’s free."
I will definitely do that! c:
I enjoyed this! It honestly made me think about the things in life that make me the happiest. I love that it made me think of happy times. It is very uplifting and I feel that if I were to read this on a sad or overwhelming day, I'll easily be happy and smile. Thank you for this!
Wow, that piece just made me look over my entire life. This was incredible!!! I totally agree with you about materialistic things; like game consols, store bought things, gifts that cost alot of money, etc... but honestly happyness is the best type of gift anyone can ask for, or recieve. And like you said the next time i see someone who looks upset, the first thing ill do is make them laugh, and feel happy. But sometimes i think that even simple things like saying "hi' to a random person you never met before, or holding the door open for an extra minute so that people can go through is also sometimes better than making someone laugh. Overall this was incredible, and i will never think about life, or happyness the same way ever again. Keep up the great work!
- Alexandra Urena
Roselin. This got me thinking. It is true that people tend to choose careers that don't make them happy. They only choose it because of the high salary.I agree with you when you say that people should choose a career that they have a true passion for because it should not be for the money. Anyways, I read this and it made me smile. It is true that happiness is contagious and that people should always be happy and spread the positivity around. I especially like your last sentence because it speaks the truth. Happiness is the best gift and it is free!
- Tia Basa :)
This piece reminded me of a Vsauce episode where Michael calculates the amount of money that makes people the happiest and it is surprisingly low. This is repeated in your piece and emphasized by the contrast that you established between the material things such as DS lite and the really meaningful things like smiles and laughter. I especially liked the concluding call to action! Good job Roselin!!
Awh, Roselin! You're so cute, hehe. (:
Before I start my actual commentary, I would like to mention that your story JUST reminded me of the frozen yogurt I bought from Yogurtland Thursday evening to support CSF...yogurt that I left in the freezer for the SECOND day in a row. -__-
On to le commentary:
First off, right off the bat I found myself agree with your explanation of money and its relation to "happiness." All the rhetorical questions you implemented are questions I constantly have asked myself, especially lately with college just around the corner.
Transitioning into discussing what the meaning of happiness is flowed pretty smoothly. Around here I started nodding my head and sighing because of how relevant the anecdote was to me.
My parents always reprimand me because of buying things that they knew I'd only use for a little while. It's upsetting , because they somehow just KNOW they always are rigt at the end of it all.
Of course, I really loved the ending stanza! I could tell how big your heart is for others, and I felt myself able to relate so easily to this story and the idea of helping to spread the "happiness" disease.
Such a cute story! I need to train myself to be more of a giver. I hope you keep writing and don't change! You're a wonderful person with a great heart, and just like you implied, the world needs people like you. (:
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