By: Josie Wright ~Guest Writer~

A lot of things make me happy. I love spending time with my family, listening to music and working out. Does this mean I’m happy all the time? No, it doesn’t. Everyone has good and bad days. I always like to say “if it makes you happy, then go for it.”

What is happiness? I think that happiness is when you’re content with life and enjoy the little moments you have every day. As a college student, I struggle with this sometimes, and I’m sure every other college student has trouble making the most of every moment they have. The pressures in college can get the best of you sometimes, but as Justin Bieber says, “life is worth living, so live another day.” This quote has always inspired me because life is too short for us not to live it up while we can.

So, why spend time with people who waste your time? There are so many people in the world, but only some will have your best intentions at heart. I used to think that everyone had my best intentions at heart, but that is not the case. Most people only care about themselves, but I don’t think that is selfish at all. I think that we have to make ourselves happy before anyone else can make us happy.

No one is fully happy. Everyone has had bad moments, but that is life. Life isn’t supposed to be easy. For example, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were both trying to win the election. There were awful things said about both of them, and they have both made mistakes, but we all have made mistakes. They were both trying to be leaders for our country and many people thought they couldn’t. Personally, I’m not very into politics, and I know for a fact they haven’t made the greatest decisions, but they both made a choice to try and lead our country and that takes a lot of courage. Do you think they’re happy? They couldn’t have been fully happy with all this fame. I wouldn’t even say it was fame because many people just bashed them.

My Nana and Bapa are the happiest people I know in my life. They have lived their whole lives traveling the world and donating anything they can to help people in need. For example, they went to Africa a few years ago and donated mosquito nets for the people in a village. They did this because they knew it would help and make people happy. People who give willingly to strangers, knowing the happiness that it will bring are truly loving people. At the ages of 83 and 84, they have both lived a long, happy life. Although I don’t see them as much as I want to, I know that when I do they will put me in the best mood. They are the definition of true happiness because they still smile after everything they’ve been through and manage to make others happier along the way.

The key to true happiness is to find your passion. My passion is photography. When I take pictures, I feel connected to the world. I’ve learned that when you pursue the things you love, the world becomes a much happier place to be in. I also have a passion for travelling. Two years ago I went on a trip to Nicaragua through my church. I loved my time spent there, and I was truly my happiest because I was helping other people. There is no better feeling than that.

My advice to everyone out there is to never give up, even when times get hard. Always pursue the things you love and I guarantee you’ll be happy. Spend time with people who bring out the best in you, not the worst. I’ve said this once, and I’ll say it again: “If it makes you happy, then go for it.”