Martha Washington on happiness

My mom had this quote taped up next to her desk for many years—the only such thing she kept there, as far as I recall. It's from a letter from Martha Washington to Mercy Otis Warren:

I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.

I have since discovered many other quotes offering similar wisdom, all of which are an important reminder of how important our attitudes are in shaping our experience. While I would never go so far as to claim that we have complete control over our happiness—there being many factors outside our individual control—I do believe that determination and effort together can take us a long way in that direction.

NOTE ON THE IMAGE: This portrait by Michael J. Deas "was based primarily on a computer generated age-regression image created by an Louisiana State University forensic anthropologist. Contrary to popular belief, Martha Washington was not a dowdy matron, but a witty, astute, and ardent patriot who followed her husband into battle, even encamping with him during the bitter winter at Valley Forge. The portrait is the Nation’s first glimpse at what Martha Washington looked like prior to her marriage to her famous husband."