Pursuit?

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness…is a phrase nearly every American knows and cares about. It is in the Declaration of Independence. It is the paradigm of freedom. We are given life by what magical powers – most would say God – some would say chance – others would say what? – but then what gives us liberty?

We give ourselves liberty by living it and exercising it until some external power sets limits on the liberty. Then, depending on those external powers and evidence of their authority (national, state, municipal, parental) we either obey the rules or fight them. If large enough a fight we go to war for them and toil with our lives to be free – have liberty.

Once acquired – the liberty – we then do what with it? That is today’s question.

The pursuit of happiness is easy to say. It is another to explain or give body to. For example, ‘they lived happily ever after’ is a fairy tale ending. The challenges were posed, the good guy steps forward, rescues the damsel in distress, and they embrace, kiss, get married and walk into the sunset. Same with American westerns and sci-fi thrillers. Unmistakable plot lines of worn, repeated use.

But what does it mean to pursue happiness?

On an elemental level it means to rise from bed in the morning, stretch, yawn, ponder the day and get started living it. Food of course comes early in the day. Reading the news (paper, internet, tablet, whatever) comes next, perhaps, then getting ready for the day, showering, dressing and on with the commute to wherever I am to go for the day. To work, most likely.

If this is the routine, then work it is. And we labor at our tasks – physical labor, or mental processes, interacting with countless people to instruct, sell, serve or whatever it is we do for work. At the end of the day – one of many in the pay period – we think about the income we are earning and what we can do with it.

On payday we do what is necessary – pay rent, pay the auto loan, buy groceries, and settle other bills. What’s left is what we can spend freely. For what purpose? Well, for fun, of course. Isn’t this the pursuit part of happiness?

Well, that is the greater question to be tackled I think.

This has been bothering me for some time now. What does ‘pursuit of happiness’ embrace or contain? Is it specific or ought to be? Or perhaps no specificity is needed?

Isn’t the job we do each day for income part of the pursuit of happiness? Doesn’t the work itself comprise happiness? We are doing something good for pay; is the good we do making someone or ourselves happy? If yes, then that is part of the pursuit I think.

There are other levels of pursuit, of course. Over time we earn enough money to do what? To ensure our kids go to school to whatever level they are able to perform and to fulfill their interests and talents, too. Securing a comfortable retirement would be a goal that fits with the pursuit theme. So too travel to interesting and exotic places; that is a goal of some of our pursuits.

The other day I saw a Tiny House program on TV and the principals were choosing a tiny house so they could live without a mortgage and have more discretionary income to spend on the things that make them happy. They had examples of those ‘things’ being rock climbing, hiking, camping and traveling broadly.

It was then I wondered what pursuit of happiness was to these people. I wondered what their jobs were in the first place. Did they enjoy their jobs? Did they find purpose in what they did for a living? Was this part of their pursuit of happiness or was this an accepted drudgery that made the rest of their pursuit of happiness possible?

The joy of life is a many splendored thing. It can come from seeing – truly seeing – a flower and marveling at its beauty and delicacy and yet hardiness. Or the aroma of a fresh cup of coffee, or pine trees fresh from a passing shower sharing pungent odors of pine needles and damp earth. Or the sound of corn rustling in the field pushed by a steady wind hurrying the pollinating of neighboring plants to produce the ears.

Or maybe the joy comes from hearing the bustle of everyday life roaring on the urban horizon giving witness to millions of people getting busy and doing another day of activity. The trains, the buses and trucks, the ever present cars on the roadways, and the passing strains of music and conversations of countless people. Life is abundant all around us and ever so present.

Is the job we have part of our happiness? Are the outcomes of our work part of that happiness, too? Or is the time and money left over from doing the job the only part of the pursuit of happiness that matters to us?

It seems to me life is more complex than that. All of it should be part of the pursuit. We spend so much time doing what needs doing to make life possible shouldn’t it all be adding happiness to our lives? Changing diapers may not be pleasant or a desired activity, but it is a necessity and provides happiness, too, doesn’t it? Do we make it so? Or do we make it not so? It is a choice, right?

So much work. So much pursuit. So much happiness. Or not. Which do we choose? Which do we make happen? And do we do any of this with consciousness?

Hmmm. Something to ponder.

September 8, 2016