What IS the Point?

"I don't think happiness or unhappiness is the point.  How do we best learn from them and transmit what we have learned to others, if they would receive the knowledge?  When pain comes, we are expected to learn from it willingly, and help others to learn.  When happiness comes, we accept it as a gift, and thank  God for it."

As Bill Sees It.

I have come to really embrace this idea that looking for "happiness" is a dicey proposition.  Too often I'm looking to get what I want - or what I want to avoid - and then I'll be happy.  This ties how I feel to external events or forces.  I have learned to embrace the word "content."  This ties how I feel to my internal state.  I laughed when I read the line that this search for happiness isn't "the point."  The point is, as I understand it, to look at whatever is going on with wisdom and perspective, certain that the pain will eventually end and striving to learn from it so that I can pass my experience on to others and so that I don't live my life afraid of future pain . . . which will certainly come for me.