Welcome to The Muses of Happiness!
These musings are about a journey back to happiness. In 2008, I began a two-year trek through the wilds of a toxic workplace. By the end of that time, I was in depression and suffering from acute anxiety attacks. While I did things I liked and loved, the enjoyment of them was dulled by the unhappiness of my day-to-day life. You know you’re really depressed when even during all-mind-consuming activities (such as making music), you are brooding over what makes you anxious.
Starting in 2010, I began journeying back to creativity, a voyage back to happiness. And now, I once again can enjoy music, cooking, artistry, and companionship, and have my mind and soul in the moment.
I love cooking and eating food, making and hearing good music, creating art through photography, writing songs, poems, stories, essays; working with youth, and counseling new mothers about breastfeeding. I also started training to become a music therapist and mental health counselor and starting in 2014, I will practice professionally in those capacities. While doing these things, I am often inspired to record my observations (whether in frustration or in exaltation) about these experiences. I hope you enjoy my perspectives on these passions.
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Janna Maria Happy resides in a large New England city where she cooks good food, makes music, takes photos, writes songs, stories, and essays, and has raised two children. She is married to a native of that city. She is a musician who once was also a programmer and data manager, and currently is re-inventing herself to be someone who does what she is passionate about.
I’m sure you are asking, is that Janna’s real last name? The answer is “sort of”. My real last name is “Fröhlich” (or the American “Frelich”), which is German for “happy”.
The Muses of Happiness 
Hello, Janna,
Yours is the first blog I’ve read. Our son, Jon, has a blog, but since he said it is for writers of code…well, I decided to pass on that.
Enjoyed your poems and musings.
And I have experience with how an unhappy work environment can overwhelm one’s life. And how being free of that sick environment frees up happiness. It’s like overcoming a long illness and feeling well again. I’m happy for you that you’re out of that.
Love from your cousin Beth.
Dear Beth:
Thank you for enjoying my writings. I wish I could post more frequently. I have several items awaiting my official posting, and lots of older writings I’m going to edit and post, as well as many ideas for future postings.
True Life is Goodness, Goodness is True Life.
Love!
Hi, Janna! I’m catching up on my email and thought I would check out your blog to see what you’d been up to! I certainly can empathize about workplace issues. In my previous job, I was very unhappy, but I now work for the County Mental Health facility doing database support and maintenance and I LOVE the work! I also love the people I work with, they are wonderful, caring individuals. I hope you and your family are all doing well.
Love,
Cousin Valerie
Hi, Valerie! So glad to hear that you are in a “Love the work!” stage of your life. I am in transition myself still…am entering the masters program in Music Therapy and Mental Health Counseling at Lesley this fall and am also a Doula-in-Training. I’m so excited about this path, and also about the music and songwriting that I’m working on. Hopefully, I will be able to say the same thing about my future colleagues that you have found with yours now! Love, Janna