...Then, I'll Be Happy - The Hamster Wheel of Happiness

I often find myself repeating a phrase deep within my head, typically unconsciously, but it usually goes something like this-

"If __________, THEN, I'll be happy." 

Repeat this process 42 times or so, and you get just about everyone. Everyone in the "pursuit of happiness." It's like chasing a rainbow, always getting closer, but never reaching it.

Or rather, a hamster running on his wheel, no matter how slow or fast he runs, always ending up in the exact same spot as before.

When I was in elementary school, it looked like:

"If I can get this Ninjago LEGO set, THEN, I'll be happy."

"If I can just get guinea pigs, THEN, I'll be happy."

When I was in middle school, it looked like:

"If I can place in the debate nationals competition, THEN, I'll be happy."

"If I can just get a girl to like me, THEN, I'll be happy."

When I got into high school, it looked like:

"If I can just get this Chinese yo-yo performance to be successful, THEN, I'll be happy."

"If I can just watch the latest Superman/The Batman/Squid Game Movie/TV Show."

And the funny part? All of the above did happen. And am I any happier than before? Not at all. 

The Missing Ingredient- Gratitude

What are we all missing then?- Gratitude. Happiness is based on PERSPECTIVE, not on stuff, not on people, not even on superficial "love."

If humans really became happier/more depressed based on how much "stuff" they had, then everyone in Somalia and Yemen and every other third world country would have either died from severe depression or committed suicide. 

And yet, their depression/suicide rates are actually LOWER than America's.

We need gratitude more than ever. You can have the love, family, the world, even God, and still be unhappy, unsatisfied. Only when you appreciate what you already have, will happiness then flow to YOU.

Us, myself included, as Americans, especially as residents of one of the richest cities in Florida (assuming you live in my hometown) need to get off the hamster wheel, and start truly appreciating all the good shit we have in life. 

And maybe, just maybe, THEN, we'll be happy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to help this blog succeed- the best thing you can do?

Share it. Post the link. Send it to a friend. Share it to Reddit, X (aka Twitter), Facebook, MySpace (jk lmao). Whatever works.

----> thepennyofficial.blogspot.com