“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These are the words that begin the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the American colonies on July 4, 1776, nearly 250 years ago today.

If the pursuit of happiness is one of our rights, how are we doing so many years later?  It seems like an anxious time; perhaps the most anxious time since the Cuban Missile Crisis when I was 9 and just old enough to understand that the world might end in the blink of an eye.  My reading was filled with sci-fi books about the apocalypse for the next couple of years.  The most affecting one I recall was Nevil Shute’s On the Beach, from 1957, which focused on various people helplessly waiting out the end after a nuclear war as the radiation poisoning eventually got them all.

Now the sci-fi ranks of novels are similarly filled with the apocalypse, this time usually caused by the effects of global warming.

So, what can we do on this July 4^th to increase our happiness?  The research suggests that we have happiness set points, but also that changing our habits can make us happier.  Exercise, sleeping enough, and eating a healthy diet all seem to contribute to happiness in small ways.  And these items are within our control.

Other studies suggest that you shouldn’t try to be happy, per se, but rather focus on prioritizing positive activities that you enjoy doing.  Playing Wordle, going for a walk in the woods, having a cup of tea – know the healthy activities that bring you pleasure and build them into your daily life in sustainable ways.  Meditation, positive relationships, and hobbies all seem to help as well.

A number of studies seem to indicate, however, that the best way to boost your own happiness is to perform modest acts of kindness for others.  These acts of kindness have the added benefit of inspiring others to do the same.  It’s like dropping a stone in a pond and watching the ripples spread in a general increase in happiness for everyone witnessing the original act.

I remember what fun it was when I pulled up to the toll booth one average weekday morning (remember toll booths?) years ago and started to hand my cash over to the attendant.  “Keep it,” he said, in that suddenly beautiful brusque Boston accent I know so well.  “The guy in front of you paid for you.”

After my initial bafflement, I remembered hearing a news story on the subject, and I was able to play it reasonably cool.  “OK,” I said, “Here’s for the next guy.”  I handed the attendant my money and pulled back into the traffic.  I have no idea how long the joy lasted after me, but I felt several notches happier than I had a moment before, and that feeling lasted for the rest of the commute.

Now, of course, toll booth attendants are few and far between, so maybe it’s the barista who will tell you that your coffee is paid for and give you the chance to pay for the next guy or gal.

However you choose to pursue your happiness this July 4^th, I wish you the joy of the journey.