Definition Paper

Mr. Philip Schaust
English 10600 – Paper 3: Definition paper
1 March 2013
Different Sources From Where the True “Happiness” Come From My own definition of the term “happiness” is unique than others. “Happiness” is to be able to appreciate every second in life. I define the term as the warm feelings that arise from one’s desire and willingness to help others who are in need. “Happiness” comes from enhancing the ability to value the opportunities in life, as well as to overcome and enjoy the stressful moments that bring difficult times. Thinking of helping others excites me. I am thankful that I am able to help groups of people who are in need. I like to pass on the knowledge that I have to those who seek for assistance. I would love to become a tutor for foreign students who are studying in America. Because I moved to America five years ago and went through difficult times, especially in a school setting, I can understand what the foreign students might be going through or trying to overcome that others who have not had such experience would not be able to think about. I would love to share the times that were unmanageable for me to even carry on and get through during the first couple of years in America with the foreign students. I enjoy the feelings of “achievement” by helping others and also feel like my heart gets filled with warmth when I volunteer at a nursing home. It is great to see older generations and have memorable time with them by giving encouraging words, spending memorable time, and assisting them with their needs. Even though the volunteer work does not go on for a long time, I always make my best effort to make a time space in my schedule to visit them weekly and have the most valuable time with them. Seeing the elders get excited to tell me stories and smile at me make me not wanting to leave. I think this is one of the greatest ways to obtain happiness from. Among many other sources from where I find happiness is from sleeping. This may sound bizarre to some people, however, I appreciate the nighttime where it gets dark and quiet that makes me feel more relaxed in bed. Moreover, not only the tranquil nighttime, but also I appreciate the dreams we have during the sleep. Although I don’t remember the dreams when I am awake, it is fun to try to remember the dreams, or have shattered pieces of dreams randomly come to the mind throughout the day. Above all, I truly enjoy and feel “happy” at the moment when I lay down in bed with pajamas on. It makes me feel so relaxed and relieved after the stresses under the pressure have gone through my day. I consider sleep as a gift of getting the day done safely. Especially the miniscule second when falling asleep is the best moment I can ever feel. Despite the fact that I doubt that I am thinking that I am feeling “happy” at the moment, the relieved and stress-free feelings that surround me make me want to stay in the state longer. James H. Fowler, a psychologist in the Medical Genetics Division at the University of California, San Diego, studied the data of 5,000 people over 20 years and found that happiness benefits other people through three degrees and that the effects last for a year. Fowler says, “we found a statistical relationship not just between your happiness and your friends’ happiness, but between your happiness and your friends’ friends’ friends’ happiness” (“Happiness – Helping others” 1). In addition, Napoleon Hill, one of the successful American authors, once said, “it is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” As the author Hill said, it is

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