Individual definitions of happiness across age and experience

¶ … Happiness Means to Others

Happiness seems on the surface like an easy thing to explain and describe. Certainly there are things that make everyone happy, like the return of a loved one from a prolonged absence, or winning a prize that includes substantial amounts of money and other things of value. But there are major differences in how people from different cultures and different geographic locations view happiness.

The first person interviewed for this assignment is Phillip. He is a retired police officer who has moved to this community to enjoy retirement. He lives nearby but we are not close friends at all; we wave at each other when we pass by mornings and evenings. We're neighbors and we respect each other but that's as deep as the relationship goes.

Interview with Phil, a neighbor across the street

Question: "Phil I'm doing a survey on how people view the concept of happiness. What is your idea of happiness, off the top of your head?"

Answer: "There are many things that make me happy. You mean personal things?"

Question: "Personal, or professional, or relating to your family and your life in any way."

Answer: "I was really happy last week when we learned that our grandson in Nebraska made the varsity baseball team at his high school. My wife and I bought him a new glove and mailed it, and just the mailing of that fielder's mitt made me happy."

Question: "Did you play sports when you were a kid?"

Answer: "Oh yes, I played football and baseball and I always hoped our boy would play, but he was more of a technical geek and didn't care about sports. But our grandson is big on sports and I think that is really good for a young man."

Question: "Are you happy to be retired from law enforcement?"

Answer: "That's interesting because I missed my job for the first couple years. I read about new things happening between the community I used to serve and the police department, and it made me wish I was still there to be part of it."]

Question: "So did it make you happy after the moment of wishing you were there?"

Answer: "At first I was slightly regretful that it took so long to get these reforms in place but on reflection, I'm very happy things are smoother for the community and the cops."

Question: "What makes you and your wife happy as a couple?"

Answer: "You know it took the first couple years of retirement for us to settle in to our new lives. But we get joy just watching our little garden produce snap beans, and we love watching the quail in the yard and the hummingbirds getting nectar from the tulips."

Question: "So, could we say that in your retirement, you are made happy by simple things that maybe you didn't have time for when you were working?"

Answer. "You could say that. Work is stressful. You come home and all you want to do is relax so you maybe don't enjoy the little things that now are very profound."

(P. Anderson, personal communication, April 8, 2013)

Interview with Marcelle, a close friend of the family

Question: "You look happy today -- what's the occasion?"

Answer: "Hey, I'm happy most of the time. I'm in love, my job is going well, and I am so glad that President Obama got re-elected last fall."

Question: "What's Obama got to do with your being happy?"

Answer: "The man really does care about the middle class and he's trying to do something to make schools safer, to reduce global warming, to bring renewable energy sources into every-day reality, and to encourage people to help those in need, which is a great example."

Question: "I've known you for 10 years Marcelle and I know you're politically active too. You're always smiling but you seem to take things in stride. When your mom died of cancer did you spend more time reviewing the positive things she did in her life?"

Answer: "Of course she did. I do the same. I am healthy because I work out and eat right but it makes me happy to be healthy so I have motivation."

Question: "Do you try to make others happy? How?"

Answer: "I remember everyone's birthday and the birthdays of their spouses and significant others. I babysit for friends when they want to go out and have some fun. I try and find something positive to say in just about every circumstance."

Question: "Where or when did you learn to do those things?"

Answer: "My mom and my grandmother were my role models and they were always going out of their way to make others happy. Mom volunteered to drive senior citizens to their shopping needs and she was a teacher's aide when I was in middle school. She cared. I do too."