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Can I (you) ever be happy?
More than territories or trophies, each of us fights this one battle most insistently: we want to be happy.
It seems so fundamentally necessary that we use it to justify all kinds of behaviours: as long as he/she/they are happy.
Evidence for this happy-ness search is everywhere we look, and at every life stage:
Children repeat things that bring on parental delight.
Teens adjust everything from hair to habits to fit in with their peers.
Adults chase after every shiny thing that promises this ecstatic state: position, power, and pleasure.
We become blue and even abjectly despondent should we find ourselves in an unhappy place, or state. We may even go to pieces, rant, or throw a pity party.
More than a decade ago, I wrote a small book, Simple Tips for Happy Kids — because I believe that happiness is a birthright of children. God knows, unhappiness is real and increases with the years, so why torment these little souls with it so soon? I have both heard and wrestled with the possibility that allowing our kids to be happy may make them soft, but that seemed stupid upon deeper thought.
Healthy bonding and happy memories are what make for a sturdy foundation.