Let's face it: It's a grim time. Budgets for social services are all on the chopping block. As the gap between rich and poor in America widens daily, poverty rates are soaring. Hunger, once hardly a concern in this world's richest country, now affects more than 15 percent of us. Given the current conditions, this may not seem like the best time to ask people if they're happy, but if you visit a food bank or shelter in the next few weeks, there's a good chance you'll see someone with a survey, doing just that. This survey is all part of a project called the Happiness Initiative, a way of fully engaging Seattle's residents to see how they are doing in all areas of life --not just income. It's based on Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index.
Asking the homeless if they are happy? You have got to be kidding, right?
Not at all. We are all seeking happiness. It's what all parents say they want for their children: "to be happy." The pursuit of happiness is enshrined as a right for everyone in our Declaration of Independence.
So, what do we mean by happiness?
We mean well-being. We mean the conditions that must exist so people are not suffering. We mean people's ability to meet basic needs like food, water and shelter. To be happy means that you have companionship and social support