Would you consider yourself a happy person?

I think a general feeling of happiness can be closely tied to self-esteem. Because of that, I find that the older I get, the easier it is for me to feel content. As I've gained more world perspectives and learned how to deal with new challenges, I think I've become overall more mentally balanced.

I still have a number of things I want to accomplish, and a number of things I think I probably should've accomplished long ago. The difference now, in contrast to my late teens/early twenties, is I'm able to focus on all of the great things that I can and do make happen, rather than dwell on my persistent shortcomings. Like the rest of us, I'm always striving for self-improvement, but sometimes it's much easier to make those improvements happen if you wait for the right timing. I think it's helpful to be just as patient with yourself as you are with others.

One thing I find that keeps my spirits high on a day to day basis, is making life in general dynamic. Sometimes this is done for you, e.g., I'm currently acclimating to a new job that's both fun and challenging. It's taking most of my focus, but that's okay, because I'm learning and trying new things. It could be that sometimes the opposite is true as well, though. Life may grow increasingly monotonous by the day, and then you have to create your own dynamism. I think these are the perfect opportunities to develop new skills, hobbies, or lifestyle changes.

I'm both excited and apprehensive about what will happen from here forward. As I'm attempting to transition to full independence (perhaps a bit behind schedule ), I know I'll have lots of opportunities to make myself happy, but I also know it'll be very easy to screw them up. All I have to rely on are my wits and my own personal blend of cynical optimism. Hopefully I can take what I've learned and use it to create my own destiny. And if I fall flat, it'll only make me all the wiser, improving my chances of success for round 2. Whether or not I'll be able to sing the same tune when I'm face to face with it all remains to be seen, but all anyone can do is try.