But actually, life is a web. We're interconnected with others--sometimes to complete strangers--whereby their sadness or happiness affects us.
Our priorities of what can make us happy can also change with the situation. There was a Special Olympics event in Washington state years ago that made the news. The would-be winner of the Special Olympics Track and Field event was about to cross the finish-line when he looked back and saw a fellow runner had fallen. He promptly turned around, went back to help her--and not just him. All the Special Olympics runners in that heat helped their fallen runner and they cross the finish line together as the crowd cheered the group on. Sometimes happiness not just being able the finish line first..