On the Good Life

 

 

It must be fair to conclude that all of us want to be happy. I mean there really isn’t much of a point to exist besides this fact. In an attempt to find happiness, we will try various endeavors, explore certain faiths and practices, and adhere to many teachings, trends, and philosophies. One major aspect of philosophy is of course, the good life. Boiled down, it really is the purpose of all things philosophical. To find goodness… that is the aim of a worthy human life.

Now, there have been many thinkers who have commented and added to this idea. Some say we must have trustworthy friends, worthwhile relationships, and honorable camaraderie within the family. I believe that all of these are true. Take a look at our history and even the anthropological beginnings of human beings. However, there is still this pervasive attack against our repose. Why can’t people find peace? Just turn on the television or read the news. Somewhere in America, in every nook and cranny, there is a person suffering. Now there can be many reasons as to why that might be the case, and some causes are easier to explain than others. Even simpler still, we may conclude that many of us are not living the good life.

Why is that though? For me to take the time to write a short piece about the inevitability of human suffering would be pointless and a waste of time. It is something that everyone knows about life. Nobody ever told me that life was going to be easy, and I’m sure that is for all of us. I think the easiest reason (or the most layman) would be to bring up money and class. It’s probably true that a poor person will spend more of their lives feeling the restrictions of freedom because they don’t have the capital to do things that might produce such a desirable feeling as to be content. Yet, don’t we see just as many people who have money depressed and downtrodden? So what is the solution? Better yet, maybe we don’t even know the problem. How can a riddle be solved if it isn’t fully understood?

I’m certainly not here to offer any answers. I don’t write for self-help reasons, nor do I even care enough about people in general. My callousness is probably felt by each and every one of you anyway on a daily basis in your general affairs and activities that you share with others. I could write about how living a simple life, or that our pursuits could be better purposed if we were exercising our freedoms to that of intellectual endeavors and no one would change. We could go on about how physical activities make the brain produce natural chemicals that make us feel good… yet, no one would listen. Or, they would tell you they did but continue on with business as usual.

So perhaps a better question is this: what do you want given to you? What are the things you deserve? How much are you owed by others for all the sacrifices you have made? It’s all egotistical bullshit. It’s probably just as old as government and that is why we have people in charge, making decisions for us. Because for some reason, we can’t – or we won’t. What if the solution was right in front of you? Instead, you deny yourself every day and every moment thereafter looking around and meandering about like a mouse in its den.

Furthermore, people want to talk about the importance of being open minded. That our troubles lie in our conservative nature as people. That if it isn’t broke, it should be fixed anyway just for the sake of something new and different. And if we don’t get our way, there isn’t enough blame to be thrown about for everyone to feel the wrath of our unfed complacency.

This isn’t about people wanting things they don’t need to work for. This is not about appreciating the things we already have. It’s about figuring out who we are as people and who you are as an individual. Then and only then, can rational, authentic decisions be made towards our striving to be happy and comfortable. Or maybe there is no such thing at all. And the culmination of our lives is merciless, shrouding nonsense of reason and choice. Our willing… nothing but a broken compass. Look around you. People put themselves in situations. We like to see what we can get in and out of, I guess. A game of wills is all it really is. There are no winners and there are no losers. So, then, what is the good life? It’s the idea that we can live a life absent from fear. Because if we aren't afraid, then there is nothing to worry about.