Granted, I'm not the most financially stable person, but I've been pretty lucky in that I've been able to do many of the things I've wanted to do with my life (thus far). I've had the freedom to travel, go to school, and see my friends on a regular basis all the while doing something fun at a place that's fun.
I acknowledge that there are people who aren't as well off as well as people who are waaaaay much better off than I am. But in reality I can't complain because I'm comfortable. I know I've just started this job and I don't know how long this comfort will stretch out for, but I'm happy at the moment. I also know people who don't earn much and didn't go to college who are happy too. I think happiness (like humor) is relative. For example, the day after I got a tour of my workplace I decided to go to the University Village by USC near where I grew up and got an Icee at the Burger King there (p.s. they're 99 cents!). While waiting for my Icee at the counter I saw a couple who must've just gotten out of work and were asking about the bargains on the wall posters. Though they weren't spending very much on what would be considered a dinner out, they seemed really happy. In turn, I was happy for them. There's something about seeing this type of event that most people would dismiss and trying to make meaning out of it. I found it funny too that something as simple as an Icee made me happy too (note: I couldn't find a decent Icee substitute in Korea) and that I wasn't out looking to buy some over-the-top food item at a place that's only good feature was its ambiance.
The moral here is that it's usually the simple things that make you truly happy. I think back to when I was a high school student sporadically working or a college student who was working part-time & paying bills and despite not making much money, I was truly happy. That's usually how it goes.
