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What constitutes happiness is a very individual matter. However, there are several identifiable components that contribute to an overall feeling of happiness. In essence, happiness can be thought of as satisfaction with one’s life. Your degree of stress, frustration, and anger will fall as your happiness increases.

Read through the following and consider the role they play in your happiness. Think of ways to maximize the positive effect of each factor.

Self

Your degree of satisfaction with yourself is the foundation of your happiness. It’s not uncommon for a person to be lacking in this area and not even realize it. When this component is deficient, you won’t be able to improve your feeling by compensating in other areas.

When you are happy with yourself, other aspects will respond much more readily to your efforts. When you are right, your world feels good. When you are off, your life can feel as if you are attempting to build a structure on quicksand.

Family

Next to yourself, your family has the strongest influence. They are the people you may be closest to. Some of your strongest emotions, good or bad, can be tied to family. Feelings about family tend to be intense. There are far too many instances of bitter feuds lasting for years. But when relationships are good, they are a source of immense joy. To be able to count on family is certainly invaluable.

Friends

Next to a supportive family, true friends are a genuine source of happiness. A true friend is one who likes you for who you are and is available in good times and bad. Realization that a friend isn’t the person you thought, is one of life’s greatest disappointments. If this happens, don’t feel deficient, the problem is not you.

Career

More time is spent on your job than any other single activity. So it’s no surprise that any dissatisfaction in this area spills over into your personal life. Conversely, a rewarding job enhances your overall happiness. If you spend an inordinate amount of time and effort career building, you risk undermining the other components.

Physical

Your physical condition influences your mood. It’s difficult to be happy if your body doesn’t feel right. Taking proper care of yourself enhances your overall health, reduces your susceptibility to illness, and boosts your overall quality of life. You don’t have to go overboard. Consistently paying attention to diet and exercise will make a world of difference.

Recreation

Engaging in activities just for fun and entertainment is extremely beneficial. It’s necessary to have fun often. Recreation is your opportunity to restore your energy level. Just like a battery, you will run out of power without recharging. This facet is much more significant than many people realize.

Community

Being part of a community is a tremendous source of joy and satisfaction. There are many groups you can participate in: town, religious, school, charitable, clubs, etc. Community involvement is an excellent method of giving. When you help others, your level of happiness rises.

Finances

Feeling financially secure certainly contributes to happiness. The amount of money required to feel secure can’t be defined. Ironically, many who feel insecure have greater assets than those who are very comfortable and happy. Financial security is more of an attitude than a bank balance. You can always find examples of people that are more content with less than you have.

Happiness is not a destination; it’s a way of life. Although living a happy life requires effort and energy, it is a lot less effort and energy than you will expend being miserable.

Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com.

ERATH -The vast majority of football coaches are hesitant to put a freshman quarterback in as the varsity starter, unless he’s a once-in-a-generation type player.
While Erath’s Lynkon Romero may turn out to be a once-in-a-generation player for the Bobcats, Erath head coach Eric LeBlanc probably didn’t have that in mind when he put Romero in last year to start a couple of games.
“He played well in those games and for being 15 years old,” LeBlanc said. “And now we’re looking for him to do some bigger and better things that he has a full year under his belt. We’ve had a full summer with him, and we’ve gone through a lot of quarterback school stuff with him and footwork with him and I think he has progressed compared to where he was last year at this time.”
It would be one thing if Romero were stepping into the quarterback role with no experience as a sophomore, but the fact that he had some varsity experience last year as a freshman means plenty to go with the skills he showed last season.
“We had Gabe (Primeaux) at quarterback last year and he came up to us and said, ‘Coach, let’s give the freshman a chance, and we moved Gabe back to a receiver, which was good to see from a senior, and it worked.
“His experience from last year will carry over now that he is a full-time starter this year. So I think that he’s the right guy for the job.”
LeBlanc said that Romero has picked up a lot of the offense. In fact, the EHS coach said that they have about half the offense already in place and Romero’s doing well with it.
“Ever since he was little, he always wanted to be a quarterback,” LeBlanc said. “He can throw a football, a baseball a mile, and is accurate with his throws.”
Romero admits that it was nerve-wracking at first taking on the starting QB role as a freshman and hoping not to make mistakes.
“I just wanted to come in and do my best and not really mess up and not let the team down,” Romero said. “I did okay last year, but I believe that I could do better with more practice and getting better chemistry with the team.”
He said that with his experience last year, it’s been easier to step into the starting quarterback role this season.
Considering the history of the quarterback at Erath and the players who came before him, Romero is ready for the challenge.
“It’s an excellent feeling to have those who played quarterback in the past to look up to,” Romero said. “I’m looking forward to doing my best and being a part of that heritage.”

While many 20-year-olds are sitting home this summer trying to figure out their next move in life, Abbeville’s own Sabien Brown moves forward by helping his neighbors.
Three weeks ago, Brown opened a “free store” to help his community.
Brown and members of the Abbeville community held a ribbon cutting on Monday at his store, Sabien Speciality Services, located on 803 North Lamar Street (behind SLCC).
It is open on Tuesdays and Fridays and contains toiletries, canned food, baby products, second-hand clothing, shoes and other household items.
Walk-in, look around and take whatever you need, Brown said. It is all free.
Brown, an Abbeville High graduate, always had the idea to open a business with free stuff and watching how everyone, including large companies, waste and throw things away. He wanted some of those items to hand them over to people who need them.
“Living where I live, you can see things,” said Brown. “Residents have a lack of resources, and I want to fill that void.”
Thus far, it is working.
He has watched items such as toiletries fly off the shelf. Yet, he can stay ahead by restocking the shelves with donated items.
“It is going great,” he said. “I am getting a lot of support from the community.”
Brown is the only employee of the store and does not receive any salary for his work. One day, his dream is to increase the size of the building to increase the number of donated items to give away.
He has no limit on how much someone can take or how many times they can visit the store.
Since opening the business three weeks ago, he has seen a lot. But, the biggest thing that he has learned is the person who needs the most items, take the least, he said.
“People who need stuff take the least,” he said. “Those who do not have a desire for it take the most. I am not sure why. I guess the homeless person who needs it the most is beat down and does not want to take a lot.”
It does not bother him how many items people take or do not take.
“I am here to help any way I can,” said the 20-year-old.

ABBEVILLE — Kelly Brooke DesOrmeaux, a loving mother, daughter and sister, passed away on July 4th, 2021 at the age of 37.
Kelly was born on June 7th, 1984 in Lafayette, Louisiana.
She is survived by her husband, Judd Picard; her son, Preston Picard; her mother, Linda DesOrmeaux; her father and step-mother, Thomas and Kendra DesOrmeaux; her grandmother, Katherine Pepper; her siblings, Brett Skiles, Thomas DesOrmeaux, Jr. (Christie), Ginger Delatte (Benjamin) and Carly Cobb (Ted).
Kelly is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Farrell and Ellen DesOrmeaux and her maternal grandfather, Ryan McDonald Thomas.
On July 7th, 2021, visitation will be held at 10 a.m. followed by funeral services at 11 a.m., which will be held at David’s Funeral Home in Abbeville, Louisiana.
Kelly enjoyed time in prayer and fellowship with the Lord. She found great joy in spending time with her family, and her son was the light of her life. She loved swimming as a child and enjoyed reading novels later in life. Kelly will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
“I am leaving you with a gift­­- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Abbeville, 2600 Charity Street, (337) 893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.