The Pursuit of Happiness...

No, I'm not talking about the 1980s rock band, but about that thing which invariably dances through our awareness from time to time.

I remember talking to some of my older relatives — people who were born in the early 1900s — when I was young, and for them the whole idea of "happiness" was more something coincidental and fortuitous than something you actively strived for.

Much in the same way as they regarded love in a marriage as something fortunate that took a back seat to the practical aspects of the union.

I used to think that they had terribly low expectations in life, but — in retrospect — perhaps they were merely trying to be realistic. Seems we could sometimes save ourselves from a mountain of disappointment by not dreaming so much about finding a state of happiness that potentially doesn't even exist!

In some ways, I have come to think those old relatives had a more balanced view than most people have today...

But what is this happiness we seek?

And would you even know it, if it appeared in front of your face?

So often, that's part of the enigma of happiness... we find ourselves chasing after something we don’t even have a clear feeling of what is. But we tell ourselves that it is super important, and that "our lives will be better" once we find this elusive state of being.

Much of the time, we will cycle through all sorts of activities and experiences, only to end up with yet another checkmark in a long list of things we have determined happiness is not.

But we are no closer to whatever-it-is we think we are supposed feel or experience.

Perhaps the overlooked part of the equation is that happiness isn't really something you can actually find or have. Often it is just a fleeting experience and part of people's frustration comes from the fact that we can't stay in the feeling of those happy moments because that is all they are: moments.

Consider the feeling of euphoria a person might experience the first time they and a new love interest share a kiss. It's not something you can feel all the time; it comes, is intense and then becomes part of our memories.

So it is with happiness.

What we can pursue in the longer term is a sense of overall life well-being. It is a far subtler experience, but one worth pursuing, nonetheless.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week ahead!

How about you? Do you have happiness in your life? Or is it more like a sense of contentment? Do you think happiness EXISTS, long term? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

(All text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is ORIGINAL CONTENT, created expressly for this platform — Not posted elsewhere!)

Created at 2025.05.04 21:47 PDT
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