Heather DeAnda

            Happiness is a common misconception I’ve noticed. Generally people rely on things to make them happy or happier in life. Maybe a “New” boyfriend/girlfriend who will spice up their love life? Making so much money that will make them and their grand children’s grand children rich? Partying every weekend just to avoid staying at home every night watching soap operas. Dreaming about being the most beautiful person in the world, breast implants, liposuction. I guess the real question is, how long does all this really last, and are you truly happy?

            Being Happy to me doesn’t mean you’re not necessarily jumping for joy or constantly smiling. Just being content with everything you have, appreciating things for what they are. You have no major issues going on in your life; you’re not stressed out, and things seem to be going your way. And it’s the best time in your life at the moment. For me being happy happens all at once, then quickly switches to the opposite and everything bad happens all at the same time. For example, one week everything will be amazing, my friends and I will have so much fun together, I’ll get a bonus on my paycheck, my boyfriend takes me on a romantic date or I wont have a single piece of homework. Then the Next week, My car will break down on the side of the road, my best friend and I will get in a fight, I’ll have to pay off a huge credit card payment or I’ll get over draft fees on my debit card. I still can’t quite understand why this happened to me, but it does. I just wish It could be a even split so I can be content; like get paid extra and get over draft fees or something. Life doesn’t work my way though.

            Real happiness is found in sports, art, photography, exercise, friendship, kindness, God, etc. something you can always do. Going out and playing a sport that gets your adrenaline rushing, and a good sweat seems to be more happy then winning a million dollars. Yeah everyone wants to win a million dollars and be rich, but its been proven that people loose all their money and get poor and become depressed. Rather then this happening play basketball, go for a run, soccer, hang out with friends, see a movie. Do something that betters you in the long run, not just temporarily. Create a new recipe and cook a nice big dinner to make your family happy. Paint a picture of something you love, just relax and calm your self.

            Being the most gorgeous/attractive person imaginable is not going to make you happier. Just being your self and having confidence in your self to me seems to be better then being beautiful. Appreciate your friends who love you for you and don’t care what you look like. Think about it. If you got liposuction and you got breast implants and became beautiful as you always imagined; then a guy came along, does he really love you for you; or your looks? I’d rather be extremely ugly and be with someone who really loves me and would do anything for me. Then be with someone who only loves me for my looks and may leave me later when my looks begin to fade.

            I guess the whole point of me writing this essay is people really do take advantage of happiness. They don’t know the exact meaning of happiness. Happiness is something that betters you and helps you out in the long run; making you a better person. Doing things for your self, or others. Creating a new recipe and pleasing your family is satisfaction it self. Going to a nice long run in the morning and feeling good and healthy about your self for the rest of the day. Join a fun dance class with friends. Paint a beautiful picture; that relaxes you. Create confidence in your self. You don’t need lots of money you can spend and waste on un necessary items. You can be happy without being gorgeous. The people who really matter will love you no matter who you are; or how you look.

       Plopping Barbie into her pink Corvette seat, I shifted her head as if she were looking out the window. “My Barbie is going to work!” I shouted, hoping she would follow me.“ Okay, but my Barbie is the hot girl, and she’s going to the mall with her husband and three kids” my sister Danielle sneered at me, whipping her hair around. She was dressing her Barbie in high heels, a mini skirt and a hot pink tank top. Brushing her long blonde hair positioned in front of the mirror as if doing her makeup, she had a look in her eye that said it was more then just a Barbie game. Ever since I could remember, Danielle has been doing everything possible to live that perfect Barbie life.

            By the age of 15, Danielle was engaged to a guy she had dated only 2 months. When they broke up, her heart was crushed so badly it seemed she would never get over him. Danielle couldn’t stand living in Seattle anymore; it reminded her too much of him. So she moved away to California with my dad without looking back. She began settling into school, getting a job and moving on. I thought two months was too quick, but my sister never ceases to amaze me. In just half of the time her last boyfriend proposed  she gained a new finace named Jason. The phone rang off the hook all day. Danielle and Jason grew obsessed with each other and could never spend time apart. It wasn’t hard to miss when he suddenly became very busy, and new phone numbers appeared in his phone book. It was clear Jason was cheating on her. They broke up after tears and tears were shed. Many new guys came along, few had the potential to be a husband. Dating did not seem to be an option for Danielle, she was ready to settle down at as early as 17.

             Even though it seems Danielle and I are from two completely different planets, we had one major thing in common. People used to think we were twins. When we used to go places we went out of our way to pretend to be twin sisters. When people obviously believed us we would sit and laugh hysterically. Now that we are older you would never even know we were sisters. She has drastically changed to the exact opposite of me.  She has platinum blonde hair, untouched white skin when she used to be tan with brown hair.

            My sister now admits she regrets settling down so quickly even though she loves her new family because life is hard. If you get married early on in life, you’re skipping a huge part of your young life: clubs, parties, friends, bars, late nights etc…. You have your entire life to settle down and be boring and old: raise children and be with one person. Now that she is married, she will never be able to meet new guys and see if they are the One for her or not. Who wants to sit home taking care of kids all day, cleaning and doing laundry all day and resorting to yoga rather then physically going outside and running? I’m not saying this is all a bad thing, but when you are young it is. You never get to go to college and live in dorms while you are young and still can. Not only that but you have to pay a fortune to hire a nanny or get daycare. I guess the point of this essay is that it really bugs me when people settle down so quickly to find love when really all they are doing is rushing things and missing out on life. My sister is a perfect example of this.

1. What is a rant according to the author and why does the baseball example qualify?

Being Happy to me means you have no issues going on in your life, your not stressed out, things seem to be going your way and the best time in your life at the moment. For me being happy happens all at once then quickly switches to the opposite and everything bad happens at the same time. I’m never really happy during the school year because I’m always so tired and stressed out and have so much to do. Summer is the best time of year for me because I can go out with friends late at night and not worry about a stupid assignment due Monday. Not only stay out late but wake up late. I work tons over the summer and make lots of money to spend on shopping and going out… Also I can lay out in the sun all day and swim when I please. I guess the reason I can’t be happy for 10 months out of the year is because I always have something in the back of my head bothering me. I admit I do get happy on friday nights just relaxing and laying back with my boyfriend or with friends.Being happy is when you dont have a care in the world and have nothing holding you back. you feel like you can do anything.