I believe I’m as happy as it is possible to be.
I’m not crying out in ecstatic pleasure, or streaming tears of joy, but I am very happy. It’s not a peak of happiness, but a plateau of happiness that can go on for as long as I live.
This is a happiness I wish on everyone alive. The question then is, what are the factors that contribute to my happiness?
Here’s what I don’t have:
A huge house
Massive wealth
Fancy clothes
A nice car
A powerful job
Cable TV
And I don’t believe having any of those would contribute to greater happiness than I already have.
Here’s what I do have that contribute to my happiness:
Time
Loving relationships
Meaningful work
Health
Books
Enough
The first six are seen as the goals of society by many people. The second six make me very happy, and I believe I have them because I decided to forgo the first six. I recommend this path.