@southernplate Years ago, I learned from Les Brown that being happy is a skill. It takes a daily commitment and an awareness not to let external forces affect how one feels on the inside. Additionally, listening to Richard Carlson added "L" wings to the concept. Then if I got too bogged down internally, I took a page out of Leo Buscaglia and did stuff for others.
It is very difficult to be depressed if one is handing out homemade, chocolate-chips cookies to homeless folks. Hey, they need hugs also.