Seeking the Elusive Happiness

Leo’s Blog on New Year’s Eve

Today is New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2006, the day that we make our New Year’s resolutions. I have had a very difficult year 2006 and in some sense, I am happy to have it come to a close. On one hand, I have had some wonderful, happy times during 2006 and then some stressed out, depressing times. From a world view, there is little to be happy about. We are bogged down in one of the worst “Non Wars” in our history with a death toll approaching 3000 US Troops. In Philadelphia, we are becoming a Murder Capitol with over 400 homicides  in the city with most due to gun violence. We “shop until we drop” during the holidays because of a perceived obligation to buy gifts for other people and at the same time we gift ourselves in attempt to find Happiness by owning more things. My personal shopping weakness is EBAY. Unfortunately, things are like money, they do not bring more happiness unless you are deprived.

Similarlily we can find many events during 2006 which made us happy. Births, new found friends, new loves, new opportunities, a recovery from illness by someone close to us, and Happiness found by helping someone in need. We can go on and on. Those of us who are religious might attribute a mystical reason for this Happiness and for those of us who are not, good luck and fortune and our own efforts might be the explanation.

When I awoke this morning I tuned in NPR (WHYY 90.1) and listened to Dr. Dan Gottlieb , on his “Voices in the Family” program. Dr. Dan is my hero, since he always has something positive to say. Althought he deals with heavy psychological issues and given his personal circumstances, (He is aquadraplegic) he always seems happy. Today, the subject was “Happiness” with an interview with Dan Gilbert who wrote the book “Stumbling upon Happiness.” Daniel Gilbert is the Harvard College Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. Dr. Dan’s on air in-depth interview with Professor Gilbert convinced me that I wanted to read the book. There is no doubt that Dan Gilbert confirms my opinion that happiness is elusive and that life is Bi-Polar, not us. While the Beatles may have been attributed to “Life is just a Bowl of Cherries” The 1931 song was made popular by Rudee Vallee and Ethyl Merman. For me happines is a “Bowl of Cherries” and also most all Chinese, French and other Ethnic Foods. Maybe I will pass on the “Loose Weight” New Year’s resolution untill next year. My goal for 2007 will be to seek the Elusive Happiness. I say elusive becase it is like seeking Nirvana for a Buddist, you never know when you have arrived. However, I know that I will find it because

1. Life being Bi-Polar, I just have to wait for the upswings.

2. Happiness is a state of mind, I have this state of Mind!

3. I will help someone in need in 2007.

4. If like Syphysus, I never arrive at the summit, so be it.

Well, it is now Eight Am, the Sun is rising, I am alive, I push towards my perrsonal summit and I am Happy!

Have a Strees Free Philadelphia in 2007!. Good luck and good fortune. Do not give up the Quest, you will succeed!

Written:

December 31, 2006 …….. in Philadelphia
by: Leo B. Fox, Stress Guru, and Blogmeister
Updated on January 1, 2007 after some reflection.