@jerrybanfield many years ago, I learned from Les Brown that happiness was a skill. It took a daily commitment. On my own, I understood that one cannot let external forces affect how one feels on the inside.

Also, I discerned what were my values. Then I listed them in priority. This allowed me to have goals/dreams that were consistent with my values. Sociology and family is a category of goals. Goals often overlap and should be harmonious with one's overarching goal (which can change when fulfilled).

Certainly, nobody is an island. However, we have to choose people who reasonably blend with our values. It starts with trust and loyalty. Everything else is a bonus. Each of us is defined, by default, with the six people we spend the most time with. If this inner circle is family, then it is incumbent upon the hub to teach by example and to influence so that the family can be the support.

I work with children "diagnosed" as having ADD/ADHD. Almost always, the attention deficit begins with the parents. The parents do not pay attention to the child. They do not listen nor seek to learn from their prodigy. So the child of today gets his/her companionship from electronic devices held up close to the face. This, of course, interferes with REM sleep. This, in turn, retards physical, mental, and emotional growth. Additionally, continuous poor sleep is the leading cause of obesity. Then the child becomes a pariah to his/her peers.

Happiness is about relationships. Still, the first and most important one is with one's self.