Can we really obtain happiness? Or are we like racing greyhounds chasing an artificial lure around a track, only to cross the finish line empty handed? Pursuit is an act of striving for something...the effort made to try to achieve or obtain something over a period of time. What is this happiness that we‘re striving for? Is it a great career or being successful? Happiness, by definition is described as an emotion caused or characterized by pleasure, contentment, or joy. Well...if happiness is identified by pleasure and contentment...then I've caught happiness a time or two; just to see it escape through the cracks of my hands. Pleasure can come in many forms, most of which satisfies for only short periods at a time. During our pleasure, whether it's eating a double chocolate sundae or losing ten pounds, we're only content as long as the pleasure lasts. But as soon as we gain our ten pounds back from eating too many chocolate sundaes, our contentment flees with the momentary pleasure. But to associate joy with happiness is to look through a darkened glass. There's only one form of joy, and it's not the same as happiness. In my experience I have faced many forms of happiness by pleasure or contentment. But there's only one kind of joy that I've obtained...and it's completely unexplainable. Why? According to science, matter is the only explainable substance. But when it comes to things of the mind and soul--which can't be classified as matter--they just can't be rationalized. But...through my life...I have defined what joy is. Joy is spiritual and can be identified by an overwhelming feeling of delight. It's not being able to wipe the smile off your face, when you're life's in utter chaos. It's being content when you have everything and remaining content when you have nothing. Joy is...not putting your hopes in material stuff (things that fade with time and eaten by moths)...but having hope and realization that no matter what happens in this life, there's an exceptional life to come. Money is that stuff that fades with time and eaten by moths. Living a joy-filled life is too put ones hopes and expectations into unfading things...living life to dust one-self off after each fall. So what draws the line between joy and happiness? Happiness fades with each punch that life throws, but joy gains momentum with every test. Joy is going beyond a pocket full of money and living life to it's fullest. It's stopping from a busy work day to step outside and take in a deep breath. It’s when you don’t give up with every trying circumstance, that you appreciate your prize at the finish line. Happiness is a pursuit, but joy is the journey.
