Happiness

At work a few days ago at we were listening to the radio in the middle of a crop of Spirea. (I might be thinking the wrong variety). That is not the important part though. :)

We were listening to a CBC talk show of some sort, and they had a guest psychiatrist on who was talking about the book he wrote about Happiness. His main point was that North American society (aka any wealthy society) has this impression that every person should be happy, and if someone is not then there must be something wrong. He argued that medications were too frequently given out to 'sad' people who simply don't want to deal with the feeling..... a feeling which is not related necessarily to depression.

Us 4 girls out in the Spirea patch had a great discussion about our various opinions on the subject. I personally agree with the doctor that people are far too often prescribed meds instead of being forced to deal with the feeling of sadness.

The idea of Happiness is reinforced everywhere we look from TV, to magazines, to church, to school etc. What in heavens name is wrong with being sad? I think there is a problem if someone is sad ALL the time, for years on end......then there might be a problem, or simply an issue that needs to be dealt with. Maybe that's it. As people (happy North American individuals), do we deal with our problems? Or are we more likely to bury them in order to look composed and (yet again) 'happy'?

That's just something I've been wondering about.