Happiness is not a mere luxury but rather the very essence of living. When the basis of joy is missing, life has no meaning. Having a bunch of things is not the key to true happiness. I have learned to appreciate the things I have. It does require a bit of effort to achieve an optimistic outlook on life; unfortunately many people do not make it. It takes practice to stop the bad habit of complaining about how terrible life is. Having a positive attitude is the best way to accomplish my goals and have a bright, exciting future. I believe happiness is the key to a successful life.