The more I experience it, the more I’m convinced many people are not cut out to be “happy.” It’s just not in their design or who they are. What brought me to this conclusion is being in a position where I have been really happy for a sustained period of time. No stress, no looming peril, no imminent doom or pending issues to worry about. Bills paid, future appears secure, comfortable living, etc. It takes some getting used to in regards to being able to “relax” and enjoy it.
There is something to be said for the feelings and energy that comes from being under attack or threat. For months, even years, my body ran off that energy while unemployed and worrying about how — mostly where — I was gonna survive. Maybe there is a deeper point: why is happy perceived to be the ultimate goal? I get it. Who is gonna deny happy? And happy takes on many possibilities. Maybe being unhappy is somebody’s happy.
Is happy what we need as a species to survive? For me, survival of the species is the #1 priority. Not being happy, not getting along, not leaving no one behind. Is our fixation on happiness overblown in its commercial presentation to us? And is this detrimental to the continuation of mankind in the long run? Should we be more focused on being stronger, smarter, more capable beings as opposed to being happy?
I say all that to say this: maybe those of us who seem to be wired in a way not to be “happy” have it right. There is no right or wrong; it’s just easier to phrase it that way. Or maybe the prevailing idea of what it is to be happy should be updated to include challenge, growth, accomplishment, understanding, development, and so on — and less about companionship and kissing. LOL. I could have left that out, but you get my point. I’ve said before: happy needs to be managed, organized, and administrated. And I hope I’m handling mine. The best part for me is that I may never know, as the complete story will be told by history. Am I wasting my time or utilizing my happy to create or produce something that I would be proud of? That’s the only criteria that matters. Something “I” would be proud of, as I am the only judge that matters.
