The Greatest Gift

Have just been reading an article in The Scotsman about a proposal to make "happiness classes" part of the curriculum in certain educational establishments. Mark Pyper, the headmaster of Gordonstoun Schools, has reservations about such classes and I have to say I share his concerns. The general thinking still seems to be that happiness is something that comes from external sources, that you can only be happy once you have achieved X, Y or Z. Like Mr Pyper, my idea of happiness is a lot more simple. It can be a taste, a smell, a sunset, a lover's smile. But it's personal. What makes me happy isn't necessarily going to make you happy. I get pleasure from material things certainly, but happiness comes from inside. The idea that happiness can be 'taught' is utterly ridiculous! And as the author of the article so rightly states, surely we are all entitled to be downright miserable if we so choose.