Pursuit of Happiness

Published on July 21, 2004 By stevendedalus In Philosophy

The pursuit of happiness is a nebulous phrase that requires examination. First, happiness to one is another’s sadness: marriage is symbolic of an enduring love or simply contrived convenience, pregnancy brings great expectations and paints color on the face of a mother-to-be, or brings depression and drooping lips. Happiness itself is volatile because in the dynamics of daily living it is always under duress. When things go well, there is a sort of honeymoon of happiness, but soon the hug, becomes a tap on the cheek, greeting with a kiss, is supplanted by the wiggle of a finger or a hastily blown kiss; the heaven of sex transvalues its spirit to hell and indifference; the unity of family soon falls apart; the pride of college graduation becomes the gate to a profession in which one finds enthusiasm and ultimate boredom or frustration; the excitement of a new home or car devolves painful debt.

The qualification of pursuit is telling — tantamount to the dog race in which the prize is never caught. It is the driving force of hope that one will reach the rainbow but never catch it. It is the story of vulnerable life, its fortunes and mishaps. To some, pursuit opens the floodgates to prosperity and pleasure, to others an iron curtain falls indicating the race is over, whence resignation to what is rather than what could be. There are those who have the gift of intellect and are free to pursue justice or opt for self-interest. There are those whose lack of talent delimits the pursuit of satisfaction. There are those plagued with illness or injury and the pursuit denied, or at least levied tortuous hurdles.

There are those who steadfastly believe that the pursuit of happiness is the measure of one’s own endurance and skill, reaping earned rewards without conceding that there are perhaps those with equal will and aspirations but not equal abilities. The pursuit of happiness — as material gain and sophisticated pleasures forged by good fortune — is an unfair test in the realm of poverty or poor health, yet the pursuit of tantalizing goals and pleasure in matters of the heart will prevail, however distant, as legacy for a promising progeny.

Comments

WiseFawn

on Jul 21, 2004

You keep outdoing yourself, but this doesn't surprise me. If I had a dime for every time somebody on here told me about the pursuit of happiness being a right...I'm sure you know the rest, well, I'd have a lot of dimes!

I've learned contentment is the way. But this all makes me think again of one of my mom's favorite sayings that I keep trying to find out who said, but can't seem to. "Who can say which is wisest or best, the dream in the heart or the dream possessed"

Your ending was great. This is now one of my big favorites of yours. I'll stop rambling now.

AndyBaker

on Jul 21, 2004

I've learned contentment is the way

I agree. Happiness naturally comes and goes like the seasons. But contentment can remain a constant, like the light of the sun shines constantly, (even back of the clouds).

Happiness and sadness are part of life's pageant. Contentment can be the ground of one's pageant. Acceptance and trust (in who we are) is all we need.

stevendedalus

on Jul 21, 2004

You have a wise mother; small wonder your blog name.

Ah, yes, contentment, even in the face of distress, as there is always others who are less fortunate.

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