There’s a lot about military life that makes it hard to be happy.

We move. Our friends move. Our friends die. Our husbands (or wives) are gone, a lot. Our new house on base is too small. Our new house on base is too far. Our old base had a better commissary. It was closer to our family.

The list can go on and on.

And for many of us, while we’re wallowing in that moment of self-pity, tend to loathe the happy military spouse who breezes by, without seemingly a care in the world. What’s she have to be so happy about that you didn’t get?

Nothing. Her husband is deployed. Her house on base is itty bitty. She hasn’t seen her family in four years either.

But, she chooses to be happy.

A report by CNN on the state of happiness says happy people, truly happy people, are not inspired by what life gives them but what they choose to make of it.

The CNN story (read the entire piece here: http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/19/living/feat-project-happy-10-ways/index.html) quotes Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside and author of "The Myth of Happiness."

"Happy people don't sit around," Lyubomirsky said. "They strive for something personally meaningful, whether it's learning a new language, retraining in their careers or raising good kids. Find a happy person, and you will find a project."

She told CNN that up to 40 percent of your happiness is determined completely by your decision to be happy.

And today just happens to be the United Nation’s International Day of Happiness. To celebrate, CNN has launched Project Happy and will report for the next three months on all the ways people around the world choose to embrace and celebrate happiness.

But, we can start today. Sure, your on-post house is small, but don’t make your entire tour about the house. Get out into your new community, explore nearby destinations. Enjoy the experiences this tiny house puts you near, don’t worry about the size of the house.

Husband deployed? It stinks. We absolutely know. But instead of dwelling every night as you fall asleep on the negative, write down what was good about each day. Write down what you are thankful for. Shift your attention to the positive and your level of happiness will shift too.

Always running your children to activities? Guess what, they can wait on you once in a while. Pick an activity, skill, club anything you want to do and make time to do it.

For more ideas on ways to be happy, check out CNN’s top 10 list at http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/19/living/feat-project-happy-10-ways/index.html

Choose one, and start getting happy!