I was thumbing through a copy of Sports Illustrated magazine the other day while sitting in the waiting room of my dentist’s office—I was there to get a root canal—when I came across a short blurb that caught my attention. It said, “The owner of the Romanian soccer team has decreed that all players must be happy, and announced fines of up to $40,000 for players making sad faces during a game.”
    Over the years I have thought a lot about happiness. We, as Americans, have a right to pursue it. Thomas Jefferson, who thought a lot about it as well, codified happiness in our founding document. He seemed to be the happiest when he was working at something. I’m the same way. Doing makes me happy. I am not happy when idle.
    Others, however, find happiness when they have nothing to do. I used to write songs with a songwriter who wrote a hit called, “Lucky Old Sun.” The key line in that song is, …”but that Lucky Old Sun, has nothing to do, but roll around heaven all day.” That would drive me nuts.
    So happiness, I suppose, is subjective. Some find happiness at other’s misfortune. The German’s have a word for it, which comes as no surprise to me. The word is schadenfreude. How could the suffering of another make anyone happy?
    Some believe money is the key to happiness. Have you seen the statistics on people who have won big jackpots in the lottery? The majority of those folks have had their lives destroyed, many simply chose suicide. Apparently, money is not the answer.
    Having someone tell you to be happy doesn’t work either. Which makes me wonder how many players on that Romanian soccer team are really happy, and how many will put on a happy face just to please the boss?