I have these words on my refrigerator, a quotation I once wrote down:

There is no duty so underrated as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world.                                                        -Robert Louis Stevenson

I appreciate his notion of happiness as duty. I believe in welcoming every emotion and feeling that passes through for the truth, strength, information and diversity of experience it offers, but I do think we have an obligation to bring our equilibrium back to a state of simple happiness for the privilege and joy that it is just to be alive. As much as possible, to fulfill this responsibility to ourselves and to support every other in finding that place is a purpose for existence. Happiness is simple.

True confession: watching American Idol made me happy tonight. Oh, the talent in those kids and the sweet hearts in the judges! I’m a total sucker for this. Sitting on my porch reveling in a wind storm today brought me intense joy, but so did seeing these kids sing their hearts out.

Happiness is always close at hand if we allow it. It is a duty, I think, as our great American author wisely states.