After many decades of enquiry, the best definition of happiness I have come across is:
Something to do,
Something to love,
Something to look forward to.
Diana

I am not happy with any of these posts, and it's all your fault. :-)

Happiness is respect. No more, no less. The I'm all right Jack attitude is alive and well and does little to add cohesion to society.
Democracy is a good example. I would suggest that democracy and its laws belong to the highest bidder.If government cannot make the law affordable to those most vulnerable, while at the same time allowing capitalism to cannibalise without honest restraint, then cohesion is only a dream. This dream is perpetuated to suit the status quo. It is usually done by using big words in the public domain to impress and thus repress those who would have courage to speak out.
Like all good simpletons I will use myself to make a point.
Respect for elders ? Surely not the ones earning 15% while I wallowed at 18%
Why does every sportsperson make the hero list as if they were forced into it?
How do you get a council to work if the councilors have been in office for decades ?
Why respect a politician who only crosses the floor to visit the toot ?
What level of competence allows banks to self regulate through the ABIO ?
If 50% of immigration is put into Sydneys outer suburbs ,then why are you a racist, if there is no snowy mountain scheme ?
The Olympics ? I would rather have hospitals and no tolls.
When was the last person in government to answer a phone before the computer took over.?
I dont need a flat screen sir, I want equality for my kids too.
The economic indicators mean damn all to me ,if I have to work 24/7 without penalties.
It seems respect apllies to those who can pay and that is all I have seen since Fraser when at least the jobless statistics werent fudged and the pollies were at least scared of lying to the press.