Joanne+Q’s+OpEd+Article



If “life” was to be called some other name, I would call it “the eternal chase for happiness.” Isn’t that what we all seek? What we all live for? What we desire most (whether we know it or not)? I highly doubt that there is anyone out there that seriously decides one day, “I want to be miserable for the rest of my godforsaken life!” Or maybe there is. This world is so crazy and unpredictable that almost anything is possible. Everyone has their own definition and philosophy on happiness, but I think the easiest way to explain it is through what causes happiness. For some, it’s gorging themselves with their favorite food; for others, it’s just having even enough food to eat.

But with great happiness, comes great sadness, for how else will we know what happiness is? I dread to live in a //Brave New World,// where society is in a perpetual state of happiness, slaves to their own materialistic, shallow desires. Even now, our own society seems to be steadily shifting towards Huxley’s vision, though I prefer to stay optimistic in that everything will work out.

After trying to stay afloat in the ocean of homework, projects, and band practices these past few months, I thought the only thing that would make me truly happy was escaping to some vacation island and just taking long naps on a hammock by the beach. I still think that will make me truly happy. But after watching a rather bizarre video called “Chase That Happy” by zefrank1 (he’s the guy that makes the “True Facts” videos about strange animals), I was inspired to find the little things in life that make me happy:

-Being able to fall asleep before 10 -Not having to turn in blogs and chapter packets every week -Chuckling at my lab partners’ horrified faces when I tell them CAN agar (contains sheep’s blood) smells like jolly ranchers -Meaningful conversations with my friends -Getting out of Huffman’s class on time -Receiving an A on a Physiology practical I barely studied for -The rare meals when all of my family members are actually present -Managing to avoid being pelted by seagull poop while walking through Buena during lunchtime -Laughing at any unfortunate person who is pelted by seagull poop

This is a short list, mainly because I am currently not fulfilling the first item of the list (as I do pretty much all the time). Sometime I will add more things to this list, so in times of despair, I’ll have something to help me find happiness again.

“Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.” -Benjamin Franklin (I can now envision Carrie Nation going at BJ with her axe)