Happy is the New Sad

There are happiness conferences, a World Database of Happiness
www.worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur, and a Journal of Happiness Studies www.springer.com.

Married people are happier than singles. People who attend religious services regularly are more likely to report being "very happy" than those who don't (43 percent vs. 26 percent). People with only a bachelor's degree report being happier than those with advanced degrees. People who remember events more rosily than they actually happened are happier. Wealthy people are marginally happier than poor ones.

45 percent of Republicans describe themselves as "very happy," compared with only 30 percent of Democrats and 29 percent of independents.

People with pets or children are no happier than those without.

Based on an article in the Washington Post by Eric Weiner, who wrote "The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World"

The way sadness works is one of the strangest riddles in the world:

When someone is crying, the noble thing to do is to comfort them. But if someone is trying to hide their tears, it may also be noble to pretend you do not notice them, so they will not be embarrassed.
Unless you have been very, very lucky, you have undoubtedly experienced events in your life that have made you cry. So unless you have been very, very lucky, you know that a good long session of weeping can often make you feel better, even if your circumstances haven't changed one bit.

"Horseradish" by Lemony Snicket