A couple of weeks ago, a very simple question entered my thoughts: What is your happiest memory? I soon realized that this simple question begs for an answer that isn't always so simple. The question began to nag at me because I had such difficulty answering it. So, after I couldn't answer my own question, I decided to make all my friends and family answer it. I asked a number of those closest to me and, just as I had thought, the responses gave a faint outline to the mystery of happiness. Most of the answers involved a memory that was shared with other people. From the birth of a child to a great day on the lake, it seems to me that people make people happy. I encourage you to keep this in mind as you continue to read this article, and also as you live out your day. Make a point to share it with other people, because it seems that memories shared are memories remembered.

Samantha

"I'm going to say Berlin last year. We had gone out to this really odd night club which used to be an old mansion with a lot of history and they made it into a night club with like a backyard and a bonfire (odd for a night club, I know). It was just kind of odd, but it worked out really well and we had just met these two German guys and we were just getting to know them. Partying there goes really late so before I knew it, the sun was rising and at like 9:00 a.m., we decided to leave the club and walk to the Berlin Wall and we picked up beer on the way (of course) and just walked to the wall and sat near the river in front of the wall and just hung out there until like about 11:00 a.m. with these two guys we had just met, but they were really chill and amazing people."

Kevin

"My wedding is one of my best memories."

Trisha

“The days my children were born and the day I adopted a bulldog.”

Richard

“I have two that are equal. One is I was at the lake with my wife in either May or June of '93. Two is my kids were real little and were singing every Christmas song that they knew while I was putting up lights.”

Steve

“Getting my car and shooting my first deer.”

Christine

"My happiest memory was when I got into Santa Clara University because it was my dream for so long and I thought I wouldn't make it. For example. I went to Foothill and I was in the lowest math class and had to work my way up and I didn't think that I would be able to transfer in time, but I did. It was such a big accomplishment. A lot of people didn't think that I would graduate from a private high school so by getting into a private college and graduating I proved a lot of people wrong, so knowing that I could do anything I put my mind to and overcoming many learning obstacles was my happiest moment."

Carol

"That is always a tough one, but it would be hard not to go with an obvious big one which would be the birth of my first child. And because I never seem to be able to leave anything simple, I am going to add that I did a [mindfulness] exercise in a psychology workshop...called 'the sweet spot.' We [recalled] our favorite memory, but by the end of the exercise, most of us had tears streaming down our faces. And they were poignant tears. Sadness mixed in with the happy memory. And it turns out that was the point of the exercise… To teach us that happiness and sadness flow from the same cup. For me [I was both happy and sad] because my parents were there the night my daughter was born and as I was recalling that happy memory, I also had to think about the fact that now both my parents are gone. That's life… But I had never thought of happiness that way before."

Lauren

"[My happiest memory was] when I went jet skiing with my two brothers, mom and dad and my aunt, uncle and two cousins. I was about 12 years old and it was so fun because I was spending time with my family and having a great time. It was a very exciting experience! I also remember when my dad and I were jet skiing, a seal swam up near our jet ski and was very friendly."

Sue

"The day [my daughter] was born. The minute I looked at her face and felt a love I never felt before. Made me cry."

Collin

"While I was on a mission trip in Scotland we were invited to go to a ceilidh. I had no idea what to expect. We were told that it was a giant dance. When it was finally time to go we pulled up to the local high school where it was being held. We walked inside and I had felt as if it was prom all over again. We walked into the gymnasium and there were seats and tables laid out around the edges of the gymnasium so I could tell it was going to be a packed house. At the front of the stage there was a band and the lead singer was one of our new friends, Sara. She started to crack a few jokes and making fun of us Americans saying that we'll get a hold of it soon enough. When the dancing started up, I think we were all a little hesitant to get out on the floor to not embarrass ourselves. I soon realized that it was nothing but fun! Sara directed the crowd with what dance moves to do, how many partners to have, and when to transition into the next dance. It was so much fun there was a lot of stepping on each others feet and swinging everybody around. The fun part about it was that we were constantly changing partners for every new dance it didn't matter what age or with whom. Although I do remember I was secretly trying to get as many dances as I could with Leah. The dance I remember most was called 'stripping the willow.' Everybody lined up to make two lines and one person dance downed the middle constantly swinging from one person to another, from side to side. The music was great it was Scottish folk music and they had bagpipes! It was a blast and I felt as if I was really getting the Scottish experience by doing this and I did not want it to end."

Mary

"Looking at the definition of moment as a very short period of time or a point in time I will have to explain what lead up to my happiest moment. It is made up of many happy moments without which I would not have had my happiest.

Meeting, dating and marrying my husband Tom was a very happy time in my life, which allowed for the happiest moment. We had our son. This being the happiest but also very daunting. Being responsible for nurturing, loving and all that raising a child entails."

Sue

"The birth of my kids... The miracle of birth and the first glimpse of your own flesh and blood created by love is overwhelming, but so full of joy."

Alex

"It was my last company dance recital and I felt so strong and so confident in my dancing. I knew it was the last time I would ever perform on stage so it was sad, but so happy because I had worked all those years to become the dancer that I became."