“What are you shopping for?”

“Oh, maybe some happiness,” I said.

“Money can’t buy you happiness though, dad . . . I don’t think.”

“I agree with you, but I also disagree with you.”

“Huh?”

“See, there is no literal item called happiness that you can directly exchange money for,” I explained. “Of course, you would know that already. But you can buy items you can choose to shape into happiness. Can you think of any of those items?”

“Um . . . I don’t know dad.”

“Happiness is a choice. You get to choose what makes you happy. What makes you happy, kid?”

“My toys!”

“Can you buy toys?”

“Yes I can!”

“Then in a way, you can buy happiness.”

“Ok!” my son said enthusiastically.

“But, you shouldn’t always look to buy happiness.”

“Dad, you’re confusing me.”

“Just remember this: you can buy happiness with money, but you should not look to.”

“Ohhhh, I get it dad.” He smiled at me and I ruffled his short blonde hair while I smiled back at him. He then ran of jubilly to go look at the bikes on the shelves.

“He’s a smart kid,” I thought, “and he’s my happiness. You certainly can’t buy that.”