March 20 is the United Nations International Day of Happiness. As the UN recalls, this is a fundamental human objective. According to the UN, economic growth alone is no longer enough to ensure happiness, and the search for a better way of life is more important. Néomédia carried out a vox populi on the subject, and the essential point is not the economic aspect of the definition.

Johanne Dominique and Jean-Sébastien Héroux, real estate brokers

We spoke to these two real estate brokers, who answered the famous question with generosity: "Happiness is being together, being surrounded by those you love, laughing, sharing," says Johanne. We complicate everything, when all it often takes is a thank you and a smile to feel happy".

For Jean-Sébastien, happiness lies "in the ability to manage life's ups and downs and maintain positive stress. It's also about health and the confidence that everything's going to be okay," he adds.

Jokingly, both point out that while money doesn't make you happy, poverty doesn't necessarily either: in the end, it takes balance.

Marie-Christine Flock, Director of Carrefour Bienveillance 50 +

For Marie-Christine: "Happiness is a state of mind, it's intrinsic. Despite the good days and the bad, you have to be at peace with yourself, with life. Happiness is all-encompassing; I confess I'm an optimist by nature," concludes the director.

Bill, Judith and Karen: family first

Bill sums it up by enjoying his current moment (we met them in a café): "Happiness is stopping off at a little restaurant, having a good meal with family and friends".

His partner Judith assures us: "Happiness is what's most important in life, and it's with family and friends".

For their daughter Karen, who has just returned from a 6-year stay in New Zealand, "Happiness is taking the time to live, to relax; it's breathing the outside air, walking in nature, the presence of trees. 'You always loved being outside''", recalls her mother.

Some comments from friends on Facebook: 

- Happiness is being happy (or voluntary simplicity) - Jessica

- Happiness is family and watching our children grow up - Fannie

- Happiness is being aware that I'm lucky to have woken up this morning, to be breathing, to love myself as I am and to spread as much joy as possible around me - Danielle Gabrielle

- Happiness is saying thank you to life every day, marvelling at the little pleasures: the sun, the clouds, the birds, the animals, the magnificent nature - Lise

- Happiness is waking up without a clock - Marie-Claude

- For me, happiness is waking up every morning with a project in mind. I find happiness in the art I create, in nature, which never ceases to amaze me, and of course, with my family and friends, old and new. - Ginette L.

- For me, happiness means feeling emotionally, physically and financially secure; the order can vary - Claire

Camille Jacques, student

For Camille, a criminology student who works part-time, "happiness is when I manage to find time in my schedule to be with those I love".

Kyra Salez, student

"For me, happiness means being in my home, my refuge, with my cats and my lover, and making homemade food," Kyra says quite simply.

Love, beyond survival

As we can see, happiness, apart from the fact of not living in total economic destitution, is above all linked to feelings and emotions of friendship, affection and attachment.

Of course, we are fortunate to live in a country that ensures basic economic well-being for all its citizens, where social justice governs most human activities, and where freedom of expression is possible. If we're not caught up in the uncertainties of our own survival, and the survival of our loved ones, we guess that all declensions of the verb "to love" are at the top of the happiness list, for the majority of human beings.