It's the holiday season and this month InTheFray is taking a look at happiness — or the lack thereof.

Also, this month is ITF's Annual Donor Drive. Please help us to keep publishing unique and important voices by donating on our site.

Happiness as a theme is explored in discussions/articles which include:

The goblins’ drum
Write your secrets, they said.
By Roman A. Skaskiw / Iowa City, Iowa

A boy grows in Brooklyn, a visual essay
After years of wanting a baby and undertaking 11 rounds of artificial insemination, Lynn finally became pregnant.
By Claire Houston / Brooklyn

On the shoulders of giants
Tramping in New Zealand.
By Aaron Richner / St. Paul, Minnesota

Dispatch from the 4th International Conference on Gross National Happiness
Learning from Bhutan.
By Jon Hall / Thimphu, Bhutan

Riding (uphill) to prosperity
A town thrives because of biking, but not everyone is happy.
By Debra Borchardt / Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
NYU Livewire

Suicide in paradise
Why do Sri Lankans kill themselves in such large numbers?
By Maura Roisin OConnor / Colombo, Sri Lanka

Also, new cartoons!
Secret Asian Man cartoon
By Tak Toyoshima
Boiling Point cartoon
By Mikhaela B. Reid