This is the Moth Radio Hour.

I'm your host, Jennifer Hickson.

In this hour, the pursuit of happiness. It's a deep concept from our Declaration

of Independence, our inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Scholars and

lawmakers and regular citizens have debated the meaning of these words since they were first inked in 1776.

In this hour, people pursuing their versions of liberty and happiness

in ways unforeseen by the framers. For example, our first story is by a woman who turns

to crowdsourcing to find her joy. Live from the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, where we partner

with Public Radio Station WGBH, here's Anne Guo.

Back in January 2014, I'm driving toward a hotel in Cambridge with a sense of dread in my stomach,

because I can't believe that I, a 38-year-old professional Asian

mother, I'm about to become a party crusher. And not just any party, it's the Goldberg Bar Misfa.

This all started back in 2008 when my son was born, a time that should have been the happiest in my life.

I was diagnosed with postpartum depression.

All of a sudden, at work, around the water cooler, I no longer knew what to talk about.

Instead, I find myself smiling a lot,

partly to hide how I was truly feeling inside,

and partly because I once read somewhere

that the act of smiling will trigger happy chemicals

to release in your brain.

And I can tell you from personal experience that it's a load of crap.

The depression lasts around two years or so,

...