Happiness

Happiness: What does it take?
    It's an ellusive thing that most people never truly attain, but what is it? Today for me was an uneventful day for the most part, until the last couple hours that I got to spend with a friend helping them understand a textbook for my Environment and Society class. The language barrier seemed to be her biggest problem with the book. Her English is pretty good, but the excessive use of advanced terms kept her from grasping the concepts herself. But after three hours of explaining the book I felt accomplished. I had a smile on my face. I mean, yea I helped her understand the concepts that are hindering our society, but really all we did was talk for three hours, yet I had one of those smiles that you get when you're really happy. Maybe I'm thinking too much into this, but what makes a person happy? Is it teaching someone things that everyone should be learning? Is it merely talking to a human being and seeing that they comprehend what you are saying instead of sitting slave to a computer thats reading zero's and ones? Helping people understand concepts has always given me a sense of pride, that just maybe I can make a difference in the world, one person at a time, but is that enough? Happiness has always seemed to allude definition for me. I know many people in this world equate happiness with material wealth, but that is what shall bring the downfall of humanity. We seem to think that by getting more things we will be happier. The mere fact that I'm able to become happy by teaching someone nullifies that. I'm able to create happiness without any material possesions. If this could simply spread throughout humanity, we would all be saved!! In the mean time, I'm curious what others define happiness, and how they achieve their happiness.