How can anyone be happy in such a world? A good case of healthy denial helps, but the real secret is selective attention. If we choose to focus our awareness and energy on those things and people that bring us pleasure and satisfaction, we have a very good chance of being happy in a world full of unhappiness. It is the true wonder of the human condition and the ultimate demonstration of courage that we can bring ourselves, even momentarily, to enjoy life even as we are surrounded by evidence of its brevity and potential for disaster.
