IELTS Writing Task 2
Topic: Defining 'Happiness'
Sample Essay by Jeenn Lee Hsieh
ielts360toefl@hotmail.com
Happiness is considered very important to people. Why are the definitions of happiness different? What are the factors in achieving happiness? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge and experience.
Example Answer by Jeenn Lee Hsieh
To achieve happiness, at least three factors are at work: health, wealth and love. However, these things being equal, some people believe that they are as happy as they make their minds to be. That is to say, their happiness does not always depend so much on what they are or what they have as on what they think.
Happiness is a state of mind in various aspects. To some people, being happy is something like remembering the past, enjoying the present and planning for the future. To some others, happiness simply means someone to love, work to do and a clear conscience. These "happy" souls do not have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything. In other words, happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have or what they really are. In some cases, happy are those who check up once in a while their family happiness and make sure that things money cannot buy have not been lost--love and friendship and passion and compassion.
Even though wealth plays an important role in achieving happiness, happiness is not always related to money. It is good to have money and the good things money can purchase, such as food, clothing, housing, cars, amusement, education and medical care. However, happiness may otherwise mean other things as well. For example, money will buy a household, but not a home. Likewise, money will buy a bed, but not sleep; books, but not wisdom; luxuries, but not beauty. Finally, money is a passport to everywhere, but not to heaven.
On the whole, the definition of happiness is not limited to what people have or what they are. Sometimes people are happy just because they decide to be. Without a doubt, those who are blessed with this "X" factor ought to be eve happier if they happen to have health, wealth and love. (Essay created by Jeenn Lee Hsieh, ielts360toefl@hotmail.com)
