Those aren't the only blips on the happiness meter. The subject of happiness - variously defined as flourishing, thriving, well-being, and resilience - is a hot topic in many fields, from psychology and health care to business, politics, and the arts.
The Second World Congress on Positive Psychology - the branch that studies "the science of thriving" - will meet in Philadelphia this weekend, with attendees able to choose from workshops including "The Happy Schools Program" and "Are Happy Teams Better Teams?"
This year also brought forth Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being by positive psychology founder Martin E.P. Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania, and Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation by Sharon Salzberg. And last fall, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced his government's plan to begin measuring national well-being.
Why the sudden spotlight on happiness? Why, at this fraught and fragile moment - with sea levels rising, the Arab world convulsing, and the U.S. unemployment rate sputtering along at 9 percent - should we care about what makes us feel warm and fuzzy?
"Maybe because a lot of things seem to be so bad," says Herbert, 40, of Belmar, N.J., "people have to look for some kind of meaning. Maybe the catastrophic events make people want something real."
Psychologists echo her armchair analysis. "All the economic crises and craziness are leading people to ask if money and materialism are all there is," says Christopher Peterson, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan and speaker at the positive psychology conference.
