Happiness is something that doesn't have a real definition or tell-tale characteristics. We may not know where it comes from, how to attain it, or when we've lost it, but we can always recall when we were actually happy. We are caught in our eternal pursuits of happiness, but don't really know how to achieve it. For as long as humankind has walked the planet, our definitions of happiness have changed, morphed, or died altogether; yet we still know it in hindsight. We chase and toil for a life that promises big houses, nice cars, and exotic vacations because we believe that this is the happiness we are looking for, but it seems that the feelings these things give us are only temporary.
That's because it isn't real happiness. In reality, it is only gratification. These secular things grant us satisfaction rather than true contentment, and only lead us to wanting the newest model of products next year. It is a time old struggle of achieving possession in hopes of receiving happiness at its attainment. These possessions only temporarily fill the void that we all have. Even the rich and famous who have all the money and resources they could possibly need may never reach true happiness. Robin Williams, Heath Ledger, Philip Seymour Hoffman: all famous and extremely talented men who unfortunately resorted to suicide and life-threatening drugs that took their lives. How is it possible that men so talented and rich would ever resort to suicide or drugs when they seem to have everything? They weren't satisfied. They lacked what we all thought they achieved. They weren't happy.
Our definition of happiness have been so bastardized by material gratification rather than life fulfillment. We don't work to have pride anymore; we work to make money for things. We want luxuries to fulfill what they can't. That is because happiness can't be bought or bargained for. Acts of kindness, friends, family, and service are what we need to learn to follow. My fondest memories and happiest times are from summers at my friend's pool when I was young. We didn't go on some luxurious cruise or exotic vacation. We spent the summer on his back porch and swam in his pool, and honestly enjoyed ourselves more there than we have would anywhere else.
Happiness is achieved by simplicity. It is something we can honestly attain with ease. Learning to enjoy family, small trips, and the LITTLE things is what really grants what we are looking for. There is no greater happiness than the kind you receive from being with those that you love. You can go to any idyllic place in the world and find some kind of satisfaction, but you aren't guaranteed lasting happiness from it. We may not know when we are truly happy because it is veiled by your present struggles or stress, but we can always recall it in hindsight. Because of this, instead of conforming to commercialist gratification, our nation should return the value that was once put into family and friends. Because there is hardly anything else that can make us feel the way they do.
