How different is a happy beggar from a rich and happy individual? I guess I can only say that the latter lacks the peace of mind necessary to be truly happy, but that I cannot contest.
I can only compare with what I saw in this person that gave me the true meaning of happiness and contentment.
Bacoleños can see him in front of the San Sebastian church every Sunday. Not an inch of sadness on his face. Lines of smiles from end to end. All happy, he struts and rolls and tumbles in hopes to get peoples attention. A very unlikely seen.
Probably a birth defect caused his feet not to grow and some of his fingers be intertwined. He's probably in his teens hence the countless pimples he has on his face. He boards his skateboard to get to where he needs to and feeds from what people can share.
Quite an unlucky person if I may emphasize.
But his mood. One that could launch ones face to glee. An infallible scene of one with so much happiness. A contrast of the colors of life in a busy place such as a church. No one can contest that with such mood, authentic and not in any desperate attempt to call for peoples symphaty or attention.
Either way, I was torn in my impressions. Lost in wanting to be happy for him and being saddened at his status. It was an awakening for me. I know that the money I gave can never be of any permanent help to him, just something to get him through the day.
I hope his happiness radiate to every ones heart and help change peoples perspective about life. A call to tell everyone that, "Hey, I'm more impossible than all of you, but I'm happy". A statement to imply that there will always be something worth looking forward to.
- Downtown, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
Flickr Photo References: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamalayan/542042183/http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamalayan/960358571/ 
Happiness really isn't relative to anything worldly. it must be found within. :) 