The Pursuit of Happiness

“The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.” Benjamin Franklin

I’d never heard this quote before. It gave me a giggle when I first read it. I envisioned someone racing around with a butterfly net chasing happiness through a meadow. Then I saw an intent hunt, a man tracking it with gun in hand. I got to thinking how happiness is not easy to capture, and the pursuit of happiness may mean some unhappy times.

Good health will bring you happiness, but getting to a healthy state requires hard work and staying there means maintenance. A lovely living space can bring happiness but getting there requires hard work and keeping it means maintenance. A successful career is happiness for some, but getting there involves education and study and staying there means hard work.

Happiness makes me think of smooth sailing and contentment when in reality I think it’s more a state of mind. It’s a way of looking at where you are and dealing the situation with grace. Pursuing happiness does not cause happiness, in fact it may be very difficult, but if in the process you are not finding some joy or purpose, what is the point? I think if there’s no joy in the journey there will be no happiness at the end.

Posted 6/15/2009 @ 8:45 AM | Weekly Thoughts