Brittany Rexroat 
Lacy Hanson Before class I had been contemplating life quiet more recently than usual. It seems like only yesterday I was entering 9th grade, even though my world is completely different. As we discussed in class the good life, there were so many different views on happiness, and I thought I would share my view on the happiness of life.
I feel that my view of happiness is a lot like the Epicureans. Friendship and relationships are essential to living a happy life, and also a Christian life. Relationships are what give us great memories, and for me, those memories give me great happiness. From memories of my family at church to birthday parties with my best friends. In this music video “Shake Me Down” by Cage the Elephant, this man crawls through his memories from childhood to marriage to death. In each part of his life each of his memories always involve relationships, with parents and his wife. This video reminds me of how short life is, and how important relationships are to me, and also my happiness.
The Epicureans also believed that happiness is based on freedom from physical pain and mental anxiety. I feel this is most evident during school, at least for me. While I am extremely at peace when I am in school with my friends, I do feel my anxiety increases my bad attitude towards others; and when my relationship with my friends is strained is when I feel the most discontent. While happiness is not solely based on relationships, a healthy relationship based on God is essential to happiness in life.
Katelyn Marlow
7:01 pm, 02.02.11
I strongly agree with your statement that “friendship and relationships are essential to living a happy life, and also a Christian life”, especially in regards to a Christian life. Christianity is all about a personal relationship with God. Once we have achieved that relationship it is then our purpose as Christians to then create relationships that can then bring others as well as ourselves even closer to Christ. The fulfillment of those relationships are responsible for the happiness that I find in my life as well.
Sam Gibbs
7:49 pm, 02.02.11
I also agree with you here Natalie. I believe that first it is important to have a strong personal relationship with God. I also believe that you cannot be alone as a Christian. I believe God calls us into community and relationships are a major part of what God had planned for our lives.
Jacob Luedecke
8:02 pm, 02.02.11
I loved what you had to say about happiness being free from physical pain and mental anxiety. I could also not agree more with your statement about your attitude and outlook on life changing during times of stress and turmoil. If we as a people learned how to regulate our stress in more beneficial and effective ways there is no limit to the amount of happiness that awaits us.
Garrett Beach
8:20 pm, 02.02.11
Relationships are what get me though life sometimes. While it is nice to have time alone every once in awhile, I could not survive without the people in my life. As it says in Genesis, God did not intend for man to be alone.
McKenzie Goad
9:50 pm, 02.02.11
I really agree with your belief in happiness stemming from relationships. Like the Epicurians belief that freedom from pain and mental anxiety is where we find happiness, where I find peace and contentment is in my relationships with friends and family.
Jodi Bell
10:18 pm, 02.02.11
Coming to Abilene from a big city I knew absolutely no one. I am a people person so the thought of not having a single friend to hang out with scared me. People questioned why I came to Abilene instead of staying in southern California and the answer to that was i wanted to be around my kids my own age that were also believers. I learned that memories are made not based off of location but who you are with. I think relationships can make all the difference in your happiness.
Terry Osborne
10:32 pm, 02.02.11
I would have to agree with you! I believe that life is all about relationship. Not only in our relationships with others but our relationship with Christ! As Christians in obedience, we are to love Christ and to treat others as we want to be treated.
Lindsey Fleming
11:46 pm, 02.02.11
I think you could even take the idea of being more at peace when you are at peace with friends and family, when you are supported and balanced in life. This may seem like a strange reference, but in the movie ‘Failure to Launch’ one of guy friends tells the lead male that he is out of balance with nature and that’s why he’s getting hurt and attacked. I really do think there is a God-given connection of kinds between all living things. We all depend on one another and so when we mistreat another person or another living creature we are mistreating ourselves and God, and taking away from the quality of our own lives as well as those of others.