Activity 7

Direction: Refer on Actual Reading (I have a Choice Today)

1. How did the essay affect you? You may write your reactions/comments on the spaces below.

I believe happiness is a choice — that you have the ability to create real and
lasting happiness for yourself. We’re always making choices and doing things to be happy - choosing
what to eat, what clothes to wear, who to love, where to work. Some of our choices are good and
others not but they’re all based on our deep and impelling desire to be happy. Certainly genetics, our
personality and nature, plays an important part in your happiness. Then life circumstances also affect
our happiness such as upbringing, health and finances. But the most vital element to being happy is
choice. You can choose to be happy.

My personal happiness has everything to do with the conscious choices and the
sincere amount of work I put into living a good life; to flourish, thrive and to be joyful even while I
may be living in painful and seemingly hopeless circumstances. Growing up was not a happy time for
me. My parents were separated. Most of the time I hated being at home so I found ways to counter
my suffering. I find what is my purpose in life in order to overcome my sadness. Looking back I clearly
see that I chose to go after happiness and I had happiness options. Meaning — there were things I
liked to do; was passionate about cooking, sewing, planting, teaching nd choosing to do them helped
me to like my life and to feel balanced.

My ability to make decisions, my choices to do specific things, made me feel good,

glad, grateful, jubilant, optimistic, hopeful, inspired. Even while I felt stuck and sad at times I always
liked setting goals and making plans to get away from negativity, to improve my life and to make my
own happiness.

2. The missing word in this sentence taken from the essay is an example of conjunction?

“Today I can mourn my lack of friends ___or________ I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover
new relationships. “

3. How many more can you find in the essay? Write as many as you can.

 And
 Because
 Or
 That
 when