I love it when my thoughts finally come to fruition through writing.
Something I've learned through the "School of Hard Knocks" in my brief 29 years on this planet is that "happiness" is definitely a state of mind we can't rely upon as our sole, intimate reason for our decision making. My title, that statement, is a cliche all too familiar to our current generations. Myself included. Since when did it become ok to base our decisions--decisions, I might add, that sometimes drastically impact the ones we claim to love--on a gutteral emotion that can come and go with the ticking of the clock? Take right now, for instance. I am happy because we just refinanced our mortgage on our house. Last week I was UNhappy because of the copy machine debachel (don't ask--kids, you know).
What I'm trying to say is that my happiness was dependant upon external circumstances and not something that permanently altered my life. I see it all too often with my students; decisions based on the "here and now" and what makes them "happy" now. Geez, what made me "happy" when I was 15 is WORLDS away from what makes me "happy" now at 30 (technically 29 :)). But lest we forget that as adults we, too, are guilty of falling into the trap of relying on happiness as our functioning power. What indecisive, fickle people we become when we rely on our emotions to be our guide to make life-changing decisions. Am I pointing the proverbial finger? Well, yes, but do not be mistaken: it points right back at me as well.
My point? Think, people. Actions have consequences, both short and long term. You're probably saying, "I know, I know!" right now, but have you really, really thought about those words? The "carpe diem" lifestyle may work for a while, but pretty soon it catches up with us all. Happiness. What is it? Temporal, fleeting, inane, ephemeral. NOT PERMANENT. Find a solid foundation (the Cross, perhaps, and all it stands for) on which to base your life decisions. I know personally grasping this truth has made me feel more blessed than I ever thought possible. Plus, living in a state of idealism and rationalism is just false gratification; pretty soon, reality slaps you in the face. It's worth thinking about. Stop living to be happy and be happy to be living. It's really all we're guaranteed. Everything else just represents added incentives.
Hmmm....I've just realized that this post represents the worst nightmare for any post-modern, anti-absolute thinkers out there, but you know what? I don't care.
p.s. AP kids--find the chiasmus; BONUS POINTS!
7 comments:
it's true that, for the moment, i am rather unconcerned with the consequences of my actions...or at least i appear to be. sometimes, however, the consequences are all too clear. and yet there are times when it becomes simply too hard to resist the pull of happiness, no matter how fleeting it might be. and then there are times when, though i know one decision might be the wrong one, i am quite unable, at that moment, to do anything else. but i do agree that there are many decisions which, rather than being made solely on the basis of happiness, should instead be made in the mindset of more long-term effects. we, as teenagers, are quite unable to see this, so preoccupied as we are with ourselves. or we refuse to do so. reality, however, always wakes up even the deepest of dreamers at one point, no matter how infintesmal that moment of reality might be.
...wow...that was rather long-winded, wasn't it?
steph, you're decision-making was the least of my worries in this rant. For you, although a dreamer, seem level-headed and possess common sense. My main targets here are those who make big, life-altering decisions--like relationships, serious financial endeavors, faith issues--on what seems the "mainstream" in society. Thus, the "it makes me happy" mentality. Being happy is like an adrenaline rush at times, and it does feel good. Sometimes I don't want to walk away from it; I just think that sometimes we have to weigh our happiness against what SOURCE it stems from.
"stop living to be happy and be happy to be living"
so im not in ap... cause apparently im a loser who is happy (well "happy" defined by your post) which is bad bad bad bad bad but i found a chiasmus... =)
"Stop living to be happy and be happy to be living," for the win.
Nice blog indeed.
Ahh, dear SIL. You have hit the nail on the head with this one. You know of some of the difficulties that we've been through in our marriage and lives, recently. If I had made the choices that I thought would have made me happy, I would be a divorced single mom, living somewhere in Georgia. Instead, I went for the "right" choice, the choice that honored God. And you know what? I'm "happier" than I thought I ever could be. My joy is in the Cross. Happiness is temporary. It is dependent on external factors. Joy is much deeper and can be sustained even when things make you unhappy.
I love you, Krieger! You are the sister I always wished for---heck, you're even younger than I am!!! hehehe! It's a shame you're smarter than I am--- I can't boss you around! :)
Stop living to be happy and be happy to be living.
buahaha bonus points.
anyway we all have viewpoints that's what makes the world grand. Because we're all right and we're all wrong at the same time, having both keeps us all in balance.
so i just finished my soapstone and i realized its two pages... opps.. enjoy reading my scribbles haha
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