If a person living in the year 1000 AD was asked if they would like to live in the year 2000; with homes, air conditioning, cars, electricity, and everything else that makes us tick… would they want to? Wouldn’t you assume, based on what they just heard, that everyone is happy all the time in this marvelous future land?

Why aren’t we all happy?

All of our knowledge, possessions, and the pleasure that comes with those things have not made us happy. In fact, it’s almost as if the rush of happiness upon obtaining a bright new shiny possession wears off… and at the same time leaves a rut that now needs to be filled with a bigger, better, brighter new possession. It’s never ending. The “things” that make us happy just cause us to dive into a circle of unhappiness and frustration.

I would think, 1000 years from today, we as a society will have found some type of inner peace amongst the progress, inventions, and innovations that are sure to come. I hope that the desire to consume will have worn off. Will people know how to be happy?

What is happiness to you? A healthy family? Good marriage? Nice house? Good looks? Good sex? Good friends? Go ahead and take a second and answer that question for yourself.

The problem is, as soon as we say “I need [anything] to be happy” - we’ve created a never-ending self-destructive loop of unhappiness. What happens when you find out your happy marriage was based on a lie? What happens when you wrap that Porche around a tree? What happens when your friends move away and you lose touch?

I think it’s important to find in ourselves, the ability to have an unconditional positive attitude towards ourselves, others, and our world. The ability to accept the outcome from any event - good or bad. Things are a certain way, just because that’s how they are. Truly accept that. “What ever will be, will be… Que sera, sera.”

I believe this does not negate the need to have strong goals… a mission is important in life to obtain pleasure. It’s important to do your absolute best at any job or goal you take on. BUT, when you do your best - to be able to accept ANY outcome, good or bad, with a smile - THAT is happiness.

With all this in mind, I hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful Christmas… with or without presents.