What is Rosseau's source of happiness and is it linked to contemplation and writing? Happiness is a subjective term. It has no formal measurement and differs between people and cultures. It is also multidimensional as it involves the senses and depends on a number of internal and external factors such as mood, perception of experiences and time. In my opinion it is not possible to attribute Rosseau's happiness only to writing, contemplation or reverie. The absence of expectations and escapes from reality can also influence the notion of the concept. Rosseau states that his happiness could be found in pastimes and not in a simple account of them. “So what was this happiness. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay It would remain a mystery if I described to them the life I led there, everything I did during my stay, in fact there was nothing but the delightful and necessary pastime of a man given to idleness. ” () Describes some pastimes such as eating with friends, rowing on the lake and talking about nature. “”The author was really engaged in these pastimes. She describes in vivid detail writing a book about plants and flowers (Flora petrinsularis), picking fruit, boating, and nature walks. “Nothing could be more extraordinary than the great joy and ecstasy I felt every time I observed something about the structure and organization of plants.” The value is demonstrated by the use of emotional language “great joy and ecstasy” and vivid imagery. The author seems relaxed, in awe, without deadlines, participating in non-demanding activities that allowed for creative and peaceful thoughts. This could be compared to a person participating in recreational activities while on vacation. He was happy when he temporarily retired from work, but writing about the experience was still meaningful 12 years later. The desk represents this burden of professional writing and its absence makes him happy. “Above all, one of my greatest pleasures was leaving books in boxes and not having a desk. ” An example in modern times would be a professional who doesn't need tools or stationery and has plenty of time to reflect and daydream. Leaving the professional sphere temporarily is a source of joy as it has reduced stress and allowed more time for pleasant activities. The daydreams were a source of joy at that time and after the holidays. “I liked to go and sit by the lake, in some secluded place on the gravel. . . freeing my soul from every other agitation, immersing it in a delicious reverie. Rosseau directly states in the above quote that he enjoys reveries and even calls them delightful. “The objects of these images often escaped my senses during my ecstasies, and now, the deeper my reverie, the more vividly it presents them to me. I often find myself more among them and more pleasantly so than I was when I was actually there. The emotional use of words and the use of superlatives 'more amidst, more pleasantly, more vividly' convey his great joy in remembering and writing about his time in Bern. Furthermore, new ways of living, fewer responsibilities, and different environments produced a comparatively different environment that could have increased Rosseau's well-being. He replaced what he calls 'sad' books with plants “Instead of these sad papers and piles of old books, I filled my room with flowers and grass. which would soon become a passion” spent a lot of time outdoors, as demonstrated by his frequent trips to the island where.