Growth and Reflection
Looking back on this project, it’s clear how much it wasn’t just about checking a box for a final grade—it became something that truly evolved with me. At first, I approached the Happiness Quiz and daily quotes like a creative challenge, but as I dove into the course materials and philosophical traditions, it started shifting into something more personal and meaningful.
Designing the site wasn’t just about aesthetics; it became a kind of reflective canvas. As I explored Stoicism, Daoism, Nussbaum’s Capabilities Approach, and Existentialism, I started noticing how much overlap there was between ancient teachings and the questions I’ve been asking myself in my own life. Themes like resilience, flow, freedom, compassion, and emotional intelligence kept popping up—and not just in the readings, but in my day-to-day thinking too.
The quote archive, in particular, became my favorite section. I didn’t expect how impactful it would feel to break down these philosophical one-liners into accessible, everyday language. It made me realize that happiness isn’t always this grand pursuit—it’s in the smaller shifts, like how we choose to respond to stress or how we slow down and reflect before rushing ahead.
Through building this project, I’ve found a renewed sense of balance between the thinker and the doer in me. I used to compartmentalize those parts of myself, but now I see that reflection and creation can—and should—work together. Whether troubleshooting HTML blocks at 2 a.m. or finding the right wording for a Daoist insight, I was constantly reminded of the course’s key takeaway: happiness is something we engage with, not something we simply acquire.
In the end, this project helped me align what I’ve learned with how I want to live. The Happy Philosopher may have started as a username, but now it feels like a mindset I want to carry with me. And honestly, I think that’s kind of the point.
The Happy Philosopher 