September 17, 2025
If you want to clear a room quickly, just ask this Question of the Day out loud: “Are you happy?” People suddenly need to “check on something in the kitchen” or glance at their phones like the answer might be hiding in a notification.
Why? Because it’s a loaded question. On one hand, we all want to be happy. On the other hand, answering it honestly means confronting the messy middle ground between “yes” and “not really.”
For me, the answer depends on the day, and sometimes on the hour. Last night, when I sat down for dinner and found another puddle of cat vomit with my foot, I wasn’t exactly radiating joy. But five minutes later, when the family was discussing the day, I felt an undeniable wave of happiness.
That’s the trick: happiness isn’t a permanent setting. It’s a flicker, a flash, a moment you notice if you’re paying attention. Some days it’s a laugh at the dinner table. Other days it’s simply making it through without losing your cool when your toddler refuses to wear pants.
The danger comes when we start chasing happiness like it’s supposed to be a 24/7 state of being. Nobody’s happy all the time. That’s not realistic, and it’s not even the point. Happiness shows up in doses, in little reminders that life is worth the chaos.
So, am I happy? Right now, as I type this, yes. I’m sipping coffee that didn’t burn, the house is quiet, and for a rare moment, the dishwasher isn’t leaking. That counts as happiness in my book. Ask me again in an hour, I’ll give you a new, probably stickier, answer.
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💬 Your Turn
So… are you happy?
Share your answer in the comments or on social—your weird little truth might be someone else’s comfort zone.