Today, I captured a sliver of happiness. You too, can capture your own sliver of happiness, by following these simple instructions:

Step One: Dress warm! Boots and gloves and mittens are a good idea, but the jacket and snowpants are optional.

Step Two: Find a large field, preferably away from major roads, and preferably untouched, previous to your impending intrusion. Oh, and it has to be covered in snow. If you're especially brave, try this on a clear night, when the moon is full. First, stop to admire the way the snow sparkles, catching the moonlight and scattering it across the field like a glittering blank canvas. While you're at it, take a deep breath, and hold it. Now, just listen.

I've come to the conclusion that happiness is a mathematical formula. The amount of happiness is directly in proportion to the lack of noise, both immediate and background. I have found, on more than one occassion, that snow acts as a sound dampener. You too, will discover this, when you visit your field. Were you to visit that field in the summer or fall, the air would be bustling with activity, alive with life. In the winter, the snow blankets everything, deadening sound. If you're lucky, the world surrounding you is so quiet that the only thing you can hear is the sound of your heart beating in your ears. In fact, it may be so quiet that your brain is too scared to even think, lest the spell of the quiet stillness be broken. This, my friends, is true peace. The highly sought Zen, the perfect bliss. Savour this moment, for they are few and far between.

What's that you say? Peace does not equal happiness? How very true. That's why there's a third step.

Step three: If you're anything like me, your Zen attention span will last all of about a minute and a half before the ADD kicks in and you get distracted by the way the snow sparkles. Once your moment of peace has been broken, commence step three – start running. This field, this untouched piece of nature's canvas is ALL YOURS! Happiness is breaking virgin snow, knowing that you are the first living creature to leave its mark upon this patch of peace-laden earth. What you do, and the amount of happiness you derive from the experience you are about to embark upon is limited only to your imagination and willingness to make a fool of yourself in the quest for true happiness.

Happiness can be found in anything; from the way your lungs burn with cold fire as you are doubled over gasping for breath after running in circles for twenty minutes. From the sudden and not entirely unpleasant sensation of snow creeping up your jacket (or lack thereof, if you were gullible enough to believe me when I told you it wasn't necessary) and melting against your bare skin. From the somewhat lopsided snow angel in the middle of the field, to the large “SOS” written in boot prints that spans the entire upper half, and disappears into the treeline. From the sudden end of footprints and the large impact crater four feet after that, serving as both reminder and consequence of the tree root you discovered five minutes into your twenty minute circular-shaped run.

Happiness, my friends, is subject to your own reality. Go forge it, and don't forget to giggle.