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| Red-bellied woodpeckers are striking robin-sized birds. |
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| Do you see the little house sparrows in the branches to the right? |
In The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote that "the pursuit of happiness" is a self-evident truth and a God-given, unalienable right. He borrowed that idea from the English philosopher John Locke who wrote in his Two Treatises of Government that the primary goals in life are "life, liberty and property." Jefferson substituted "happiness" for "property"--and for good reason: in those days, only nobility owned property. Common people were at their mercy, which meant a life of oppression for most. The new world was vast; now every man could own his own land and steer his destiny.
During the last 237 years our notion of "happiness" has changed. It now means feeling good. In the last four months alone, over 1,000 books on happiness were released on Amazon. Anti-depressant use is up 400%--253 million anti-depressant prescriptions were written in 2010. We now live in a society in which everyone is obsessed with his own feelings. This carries over into everything we do, including what we believe. Truth is no longer independent of ourselves--a solid rock--; it is a matter of "feeling". I can have my truth and you can have yours and we can both be "happy" . . . about nothing.
“The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort, and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish,” Pope John Paul II (October 7, 1979, Mass at the National Mall)
The good feelings we seek arise from making a positive contribution to life, not from comfort and pleasure. We do our young people a disservice when we protect them from experiencing adversity. All people--but especially young adults with strong, healthy bodies--have a need for challenge and meaningful work. Happiness is not a "good feeling". It is a deep-down knowing that you are living your life well, that your time here matters.
I agree that the more we think of others the happier we will be! Exercise and eating right also help. Now the photos of the woodpecker are perfect!! I haven't seen or heard mine since mid summer.
ReplyDeleteMy woodpecker was gone the next day and hasn't come back. Sometimes they are just passing through. Thank you for the kind compliment. : )
DeleteYes, I think we have lost our grasp of what happiness actually is. And it's a false idol we need not seek out continuously. It comes in waves, I think, and that is one of the challenges I faced becoming an adult, accepting that life was not all merriment and that was perfectly normal and fine. Still working on it, of course. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWell said! These are great points, Brandy. I think you're right that happiness comes in waves throughout our lives, as do feelings of sadness and discontent, which are important catalysts for change and personal growth.
DeleteOh Susan, I love your bird pictures & sweet (and wind-chimey) video and the reminder that time slows down when it rains. Although I'll still watch the birds when it's sunny and when it's snowy, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm about 100 pages into the John Adams biography by David McCullough, and between reading that and having visited Jefferson's Monticello home this past summer, I would like to believe that back when our nation was revolting against tyranny "happiness" meant exactly what you describe here in this post. Sometimes I wonder what the founding fathers would think of the way their writings are interpreted in modern day applications!
Thank you for the kind compliment, Barb. : )
DeleteI often wonder the same thing about our founding fathers. We tend to interpret history through our current cultural views.
Is it okay to say I'm a little on the fence with this one? When I live my life well, and in a way that I know matters, I do carry a "good feeling" with me -- a sort of a natural high and clarity that carries me through. I've only been able to do so in the later part of my life, and this came after a period of being "obsessed with my own feelings," (i.e. a long period of therapy, self-care and medication). I do, however, whole-heartedly agree that teaching people to weather adversity, find inner strength and build a sense of community are not only important, but key to feeling good about life.
ReplyDeleteOf course it's okay to be on the fence. I spend most of my time there. ; ) In fact, I'm still on the fence about this topic, which is one I return to every so often in these pages, because "happiness" is a notion that I struggle to understand in myself and in others.
DeleteI'm a little fence-y, too. I'm agreeing very much with Tara. Because I use my feelings a guide if I'm on the right path. (I too went through a period of feeling obsession, after a long, nervous breakdown, in order to self-heal)
DeleteIt seems like being on the right path (work I love, spending plenty of time with loved ones, giving back, being active and healthy), well, it makes me feel happy. It's like the feeling and doing send these signals back and forth, nourishing one another.
But I do agree that the single focus of feeling isn't proper-- not without at least the foundation of having a purpose. In Napoleon Hill's book, "Think and Grow Rich", which I don't actually recommend, but I do agree when he says people are happier when they have a definitive purpose (which I see as a positive contribution).
Oh man, I'm not sure if I agree with everything I'm saying, here. This is just a very thought provoking post and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it !! (lol) Anyway, thank you for sharing this. I'm going to be pondering this all day now.
I so agree with you.
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DeleteCould not agree more. I have several people in my life who seek comfort above all else in the attempt to be happy. The irony is that they are some of the least happy (and grateful) people I know.
ReplyDeleteMarianna, hello! I miss you. : )
DeleteTo be honest, I see it in myself, too: the more I focus on pleasure and comfort, the more I am dissatisfied with my life. Being productively engaged in meaningful work and helping others gives me the greatest sense of fulfillment.
I guess today most people have put "property" back in the place of happiness...
ReplyDeleteIf what we mean by "property" is consumerism, then yes. But, there are other ways people confuse comfort and pleasure with happiness: seeking "me time", food and alcohol, etc. And, cell phones. They have become adult pacifiers. Last Halloween, nearly every parent out walking with his/her child was talking or texting. Glowing screens were everywhere. I couldn't help but think that they were missing out on the magic of the evening.
DeleteThank you so much for commenting! : )
Agree!
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