The writer and the students!
A writer walks into a room with three students. He is going to write a biography set to be released in 2080 titled “My Happy Life”.
He asks the students: “If the biography was about you, what do you think is going to be written?”
The first student eagerly volunteers his answer. “This book is going to be the story of someone who worked hard towards a goal. He recognised that to succeed meant to grow. He sacrificed a lot because he knew that it is a consequence of the path he chose. He looked for his imperfections and constantly worked at improving himself because a stagnant life is a life not worth living. Happiness is to grow.”
“Good answer.” said the writer with discontent. “However, a life like this requires an unwavering belief that the goal you set out is your purpose in life. For most people, this is nearly impossible to achieve, especially students who don’t fully know their own values yet”.
The second student adds “Improvement assumes that something is wrong. So, if you constantly try and grow, you will never be happy with the person that you are in that moment.” The writer turns to the second student and asks, “What is your answer?”
Laid-back, he answers, “This is book is about someone who lives a life moment to moment, free of stress. He lives without worries because it only creates unnecessary pressure. It is said that if your means are enough for food, clothing, and shelter, then you have the same chance at happiness as a billionaire. It all depends on whether you are happy with the person you are. Happiness is satisfaction.”
The writer, with despair, argues: “But that means that our lives are purposeless. We are just creatures wandering from moment to moment hoping for an injection of dopamine wherever we go. We are basically saying that leaving something of lasting value is pointless because our main concern should be that we are happy in every scene of life that we live.” The first student jokes: “You might as well become a drug addict if that is how you want to live”.
Whilst the first two students argue, the writer tiredly sits down with the third student. He asks dejectedly, “What do you think the book is about?”
The third student, calmly and confidently, reveals: “Gratitude. Gratitude is what separates want from greed and satisfaction from stagnation. This rare attitude makes it possible to die without regrets and live with the potential of creating. It shouldn’t be confused with contentment since it doesn’t assume that we don’t want more. It removes egotism and laziness and instills positivity, all at once. The biography is going to be about someone who strived for gratitude.”
After a couple of minutes, the writer gets up with a smile and mutters: “Now how does one strive for gratitude?”
We're very grateful to have a person reach out to us and ask to write a blog of their own. The writer of this blog wants to remain anonymous but we encourage anyone else who would like to write a blog for us on happiness to get in touch with us :)