06/01/2026
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Try to find a way to become happy. Try to find a way for your children to become happy. No happy man ever started a fight, vandalized a building, or created a disturbance. Our world places so much emphasis on becoming “successful” but we all know seemingly successful lawyers, dentists, doctors, and politicians who are unhappy. So what good is their so-called success? In the pursuit of happiness, they have been unsuccessful. They climbed to the top of the ladder only to find that it was on the wrong building.
Most of the turmoil on the world stage is caused by men who are considered to be successful. Much of the chaos in our world is caused by so-called successful politicians. Yet we fret that our artistic child might not be successful unless she masters geometry, reads 18th century British literature, and understands the periodic table. Wouldn’t this become a better, more peaceful world if we asked our children where their soul wants to lead them, instead of forcing them to pursue some distorted idea of success?
I know many happy people who make their living in ways that satisfy their inner calling. They might not be considered so successful if the measure is which fancy car they drive or how many times they have been to Europe. They don’t eat at fancy restaurants. They do love music, appreciate art, generate joy whenever they are with children, enjoy watching a Little League game as much as Major League baseball, savor a fresh peach as much as smoked tuna dip, and appreciate nature’s constantly unfolding beauty. Are they successful? I’d say their happiness has made them the most successful people I know.
