To many, happiness lies in their job or career. To some, its the ability to purchase certain items, or drive the right car, or travel to certain places, or even have the right friends. Still others would argue that freedom from financial stress would bring them happiness.
While all these things certainly make life easier, and to some, may make life more enjoyable to a certain extent, they most certainly do not bring happiness.
I do not know what true happiness is. For me, happiness would mean being able to get up in the morning, not afraid of the day. To have the respect of those who know me. To be content with less than what I have. To feel wanted and needed by those who are important to me. To hold hope that tomorrow will be better than today. True happiness to me would simply be not questioning whether I’m loved..
I desperately hope and pray that one day I’ll find it..
What is true happiness? I am beginning to doubt it even exists…
Stumble it!
9 responses so far ↓
Claire // Jan 5, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Wow what a thought provoking post.
Hmm True happiness? no i am not sure it does exist, but there are times when i have felt truly happy, not many times but a few. So maybe its for those moments that we live and hope that there are more. So we just plod on in the mean time.
Claire
Abraham (speculator) // Jan 6, 2007 at 10:22 am
hey Ryan,
Again, many many thanks for your observations and comradeship. It does occur that people can think along very common lines, especially when in a common trying ground.
Writing, in this barely-literate culture, is a really underestimated force. Truly, we *are* our own authors. You have great strength that may be a bit diverted for the time being. I very highly recommend Henri Nouwen’s book, “Inner Voice of Love.” That’s where he has essays about “standing straight in the pain,” and launching from there to find surpassing confidence.
Write straight on through the fiery flames, man!
Katie // Jan 6, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Very thought provoking post Ryan….I ask myself those same questions almost everyday. Is happiness real or is it just some glorified idea that we are all running around chasing? My opinion is that we are allowed moments of pure happiness, but they are merely moments. They are sprinkled randomly through life along with all the other crap we are faced with. So my advice, when you have a moment that makes you feel truly happy, whether it be because of love, success, or something else…grab onto it and indulge in it. It is afterall, only a moment…
Helena // Jan 7, 2007 at 11:28 am
Ryan, Happy New Year to you. I hope “2007″ will be a great year! 2006 was the pits for me to,,glad it is behind me and I choose to make the best of 2007, And you should to. The richest person in the world truley is not happy,He has nothing to appreciate in,,everything is there with out the journey of travel to get there,,and see and appriciate the beauty of all on the way,,{ Does that make sence to you?}…Every one always tells me I am the most happiest person they know,,Times I get down like everybody else,,but I seem to find the simmpliest of things to turn my self around. I feel my best when I am doing good and helping people,,corney I know but it works for me. Afriend gave me a great book for Christmas it is called, Secrets of Serenity,,,And under the chapter—Living In the Moment I found this–How simple and frugal a thing is happiness: A glass of wine, A roasted chestnut, a wretched little brazier, the sound of the Sea…All that is required to feel that here and now is happiness is a simple, frugal heart. Sorry I went on so much,,feel free to edit :>),,,Be Happy my friend,,And again Happy New Year to you- Helena
Whitney // Jan 8, 2007 at 1:15 pm
I beileve that true happiness is when we stop focusing on what makes us happy and start focusing on helping others and focusing on how we can make someone else happy.
Miss Pink // Jan 13, 2007 at 4:32 pm
True Happiness to me as a teen is being with the ones I love and hanging out with friends and being with those who respect me.
Rory // Jan 17, 2007 at 3:31 am
This is such an honest and open post, Ryan.
Being an unashamed proponent of Haim Ginott, I like what he says about happiness: “Happiness is, at best, an illusory goal. It is not a destination, it is a manner of traveling. Happiness is not an end in itself. It is a byproduct of working, playing, loving and living.” It seems obvious that you are not experiencing that “byproduct.” But you very honestly reveal why not.
What is it that you are afraid of in the day? What makes you feel that those who know you don’t respect you? What could they do in order for you to know that they do? What makes you feel unwanted and unneeded? What makes you question whether you’re loved?
Seeking the answers to these questions might go a long way to putting you on to a way of life in which happiness is the “manner of traveling” (My bad sentence structure notwithstanding.)
And, thank you very much for your encouraging comment on my WW faux sketch.
Karen // Feb 5, 2007 at 10:39 am
Whitney is closest in her assessment when she says, “I believe that true happiness is when we stop focusing on what makes us happy and start focusing on helping others and focusing on how we can make someone else happy.” However, you won’t find true happiness until you “Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength”, and you “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 12:30-31, from The Bible)
When your focus stops being yourself and starts being God and others, then you will find true happiness. You will know you’re loved. You will know you’re respected. You will know why you are on this earth. You will finally feel the peace that only He can give you.
margaret // Mar 5, 2007 at 9:33 am
Wow, what a question! It is one we asked recently when Husband came up for a promotion that would = more stress short term but more money long term. We have decided while money would be nice, we are still young and don’t need it right now (or the added stress that goes along with it). Happiness is doing things with the girls, wheter it be going to the park, hiking or fishing. Just spending time together as a family is all that really matters. They grow up to fast and in the long run, its what they are going to remember the most! And it will mean more to have spent the time together than without a father who would be working 6 days a week.
So to us, happiness is family!
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