Happiness Revisited

As a child, joy came naturally to me. I was most happy being in the company of others and I never got tired of playing. I liked to imagine that my friends were part of my family, and after long play dates I would often plead to sleep over, or at least stay for dinner. Although my parents have always been proud of my ability to get along with others, they have tried to encourage me to be more independent and learn to enjoy my time alone. 

When I got a little older and became more aware of social pressures, I began to realize that joy cannot be taken for granted. At school, the way you dressed or acted mattered if you wanted to fit in. Advertisements and images of stylish people suggested that happiness could be bought, or put on. Was joy a new phone with unlimited texting? Was joy another “friend” on Facebook? It seemed as if joy was determined by what our culture offered us. Such ideas seem entirely frivolous to me now as I consider the meaning of true joy.

 Recently I have begun to learn what is truly important to me. I love art. This past summer I began to create work on my own, independent from anyone’s instruction. I would sit for hours, drawing portraits that intrigued me. I was amazed by how the detail of individual features revealed character. The marks of my pencil would gradually develop into an eye that looked back at me or an ear that could listen to my stories. It was beautiful, almost as if I were making new friends. Of course there would be occasional arguments, leaving behind an unintended smudge or a splatter of undesirable color. But in the end the mistakes made these people less perfect and more real, adding uniqueness to their character, and on occasion even enhancing our relationship. 

The article "Happiness Revisited" further explores my ideas regarding lasting joy. Despite our said motives, we ultimately strive to be happy. Reading this piece has helped me reflect upon many experiences. I believe that as individuals we are too often passive; not truly engaging ourselves in the world. Social networking sites give us the false illusion of constant connection, artificially fulfilling our need to be socially active, while in reality, in those times, we are simply alone. For me, sharing experiences with others is truly satisfying, but being content within one's own body is fundamental. Quoting "Happiness Revisited": "In the quest for happiness, partial solutions don't work." This quote is true on so many levels. One must pursue their interests, and in doing so hopefully solidify their identity. 

As an individual when measuring between being anxious or bored, I find myself on the anxious side of the spectrum. I tend to overbook my schedule, and consequently I feel overwhelmed and disappointed in myself when I am not able to complete everything I do. In order for me to achieve a balance (which I hope to accomplish in College!) I must be able to dedicated myself fully to less. This year has been particularly difficult because I had overestimated my ability to handle multiple activities. I now know my limit, and I will cary that lesson with me in the future.