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Happiness

Happiness

Date: Oct 22 2010

Grammar: Simple Present Tense

Intro

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The United States’ Declaration of Independence states that all people have the right to pursue happiness. But it doesn’t explain what you can do to become happy, or how to stay happy all the time.

The World Database of Happiness measures which countries are happiest by asking people all over the world if they’re happy. The U.S. ranks 23rd on the happiness index, below countries such as the Netherlands, Thailand, and Bhutan.

You might think that the richest countries in the world would also be the happiest, but that isn’t necessarily true. People are happy (and unhappy) for different reasons. Find out what makes Marni and Dale happy.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Dale

Dale

Marni

Marni

Dale:  So Marni, are you happy?

Marni:  You mean right now, or in general, or…

Dale:  Generally, how do people stay happy?

Marni:  That is actually a very good question. And I want to be, I strive to be happy, but you know, I can succumb to a little sadness, a little depression from time to time. You know, nothing debilitating, but I get glum, I get blue about world events or things when I see injustice is happening. Sometimes it’s hard to not feel the weight of the world on your shoulders.

Dale:  Is there a way for you to steer away from that by looking at the bright side of things?

Marni:  Well I feel like part of that is the people I know. I have good friends and family that support me, and you know, people I can talk to. I think that that’s a huge part of it.

Dale:  Do you know…the United States is a melting pot of cultures.

Marni:  Sure.

Dale:  And now they’re saying that some cultures are happier than others. I mean, do you agree with that? I mean personally, I’m a Philippino guy, I’m generally happy. I think it is culturally, my culture, we are happy people.

Marni:  You know, it’s an interesting question. I’m not really certain. I don’t know if it’s a cultural thing, I think there could be something to that. But here in the Northwest I think sometimes it’s hard to be happy because of the weather. People are affected by the weather. Sometimes that can happen. So who knows, if it’s cultural or environmental.

Dale:  Do you think it’s the sun?

Marni:  I don’t know. But I am all for finding the key to happiness.

 

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Discussion

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Dale asks Marni if she is happy. Marni says that she tries to be happy, but she isn’t happy all the time. Sometimes she gets depressed when she thinks about all the problems and injustice in the world. But her friends and family help her feel happier when she’s blue.

Dale, on the other hand, is pretty happy all the time. He thinks that happiness might be cultural. Dale is from the Philippines, and he says that people from the Philippines are usually happy. Marni thinks that weather might have to do with happiness. Where she lives, it rains a lot, so people might be less happy there than in sunnier places.

Are people generally happy in your country? What makes you happy?

 

Comments

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20140414

Canada

I guess happiness is a big word, I am happy sometimes but not always. When you face the difficulty things and under some pressure I can say you could not feel happy.People live in any place in the world might get depressed by something, especially really competative today’s society. However, I am trying to be happy with my hard work and positive life attitude. So strive to be stay happy and make you happy every single day. Good luck to every one.

10:15 PM Apr 22 2014 |

1 person likes this

Nadya_Hope

Nadya_Hope

Russian Federation

I think people in my country unhappy due to constantly lack of money and rest. And It’s very important the Russians never smile outside. they always gloomy.


My family, my husband, learning langueges, sun, good weather, walks makes me very happy.


be happy, friends! have a nice week. Good luck

09:05 AM Nov 11 2013 |

1 person likes this

Drmahsa1995

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

as “a2020 said i dont think most of people in my country are happy cuz there are  so many problems and they wont let u to be happy all the times. but i beleive problems are for every one so we should not let them to effect on our lives.reaching to the things that i want.the time when my family are happy.and somany others things make me happy :)

06:52 PM Aug 11 2013 |

1 person likes this

goodmahsa

goodmahsa

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

happiness and its reasons is a topic which can be discussed about , for hours from manifold aspects , but I say generally that I guess it has much more to do with your internal world ,how you are looking to life and its difficulties than to your external world .I think the worst crime which has been commited to humanity is by Consumerism and this view that we all want to be or better to say must be rich ,while if we are content with whatever we have and meanwhile we try to make our life better satisfactorily then we will be happy and enjoy our life more.I wasn’t born yet in 1980 the time of Iran-Iraq war but the hear say is that Iranian people were much happier than now while we were compeletly bare handed ,we didn’t have anything and every day we used to hear one of our friends , relatives of neighbors got martyred but nowadays the situation has got really better but the amount of happiness has decreased and this can have quite a few reasons but I guess the main reason is that today people have insatiable desire to have more and more

09:49 PM Apr 03 2012 |

1 person likes this

preity68

preity68

India

well …i do agree with marni that weather might have to do with happiness…because if our surroundings giving us negative energies how come its possible for anyone to stay happy or positive….

12:20 PM Jun 29 2011 |

Kotisha

Kotisha

Russian Federation

I suppouse that the majority of russians feel themselves unhappy, Usually they don`t the government…low salaries, and so on…

As for me I feel myself happy, because I have my family, my boyfriend and good friends! 

05:34 AM Apr 18 2011 |

2 people like this

Margarita_M

Russian Federation

"Happiness is a warm gun"-has said John Lennon in his song)) It is dangerous when you have too much happiness – you can go crazy, and it is deadly when you haven't it…

06:53 PM Feb 18 2011 |

1 person likes this

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

I guess happiness is connected with "fullness"...If you are a fullness person generally you are jow person and happy…So I bevieve that one of the faces of Happiness is "joy" and "fullness"...

 Weather is important to make a profile of a culture,so in sunny countries,like Brazil,for instance,I can say we are a "happy people" ;)

12:07 AM Dec 13 2010 |

1 person likes this

Texasdelta

Denmark

Happiness is the fuel, without it you aren’t going anywhere. “don’t worry be happy”

06:29 PM Nov 10 2010 |

1 person likes this

fawaz-sama

fawaz-sama

Saudi Arabia

I think so .

many things such as family , friends , my wife , and more than all my god , I know he always with me.

09:53 PM Nov 04 2010 |

1 person likes this

salihnur

salihnur

Turkey

Those who know him find everything, those who don't know him can find nothing.

Real happiness is in belief to Allah (One God). Because when you know Allah, you know that everything comes from him. So you don't complain. You know that Allah knows the best of everything. He gave me life, he gave me the world, he gave me the sun to get warm. And he promises us that we are going to live forever in the other world if we live according to his orders. Do you wonder whether there is a God or not, you should read Risale-i Nur.

07:49 PM Oct 28 2010 |

Nadenka

Nadenka

Ukraine

happiness is inside ourselves

06:43 PM Oct 28 2010 |

1 person likes this

Dess

Dess

Russian Federation

I agree partly with indianeha64 quote -...every one hv problems in this world… so try to face these problems if u really want to be happy in ur life… cause I am one who kills problems and I like it. But let me ask you, what if there would be no problems in this world at all… so what are you gonna do then?  

08:40 AM Oct 28 2010 |

1 person likes this

indianeha64

India

happiness n sadness depend on how u live ur life…......... dont go here n there to find happiness …...happiness is inside u…....... every one hv problems in this world ….....so try to face these problems if u really want to be happy in ur life….....

06:42 PM Oct 27 2010 |

1 person likes this

rosendo

rosendo

Mexico

i think that everybody has a bunch of problems , wherever .. but this is not a reason/cause  that u life turn blue .. to be happy , it depends ,,the people that are around u , first of all u family , u house is the place where u get Happiness

saludos.

04:40 PM Oct 27 2010 |

1 person likes this

jiahui.lei

jiahui.lei

China

stay with families is the happiest thing!

01:25 PM Oct 27 2010 |

1 person likes this

saro22

saro22

Egypt

English,baby♥...brings me happinessSmile

10:49 PM Oct 26 2010 |

1 person likes this

dr_arbuz

dr_arbuz

Russian Federation

of course live in desert very funny. You can build the sand castle, grow some cactus before door and read the fairy tale for camelLaughing

06:35 PM Oct 26 2010 |

1 person likes this

Jiyada

Jiyada

Thailand

It's not concern about cultural or enviranmental.Hapiness is about your mind.

Do not blame outside if you are unhappy,just look inside your mind.

You can be happy even live in desert.

 

04:39 PM Oct 26 2010 |

1 person likes this

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