So it goes...
My brother noted that some of my recent entries have been highly introspective, and he sort of has a point. That's not to say that I regret writing them, but I realize that in my one semester of college so far, I have become far more contemplative than I ever expected to become during high school. I can't remember what it felt like to be carefree, living day to day and worrying about challenges as they came rather than thinking about how to prepare for them in advance.
Which leads me to ask... Is ignorance really bliss? Is it better to take life at face value and not be concerned with how I can possibly "better myself," or is there a deeper, richer happiness to be had somehow? It's common to hear that people who love their careers have a more meaningful happiness than those who live for physical commodities and money, but what does that really mean? Can happiness even be measured, or is it too subjective for any effort to describe it to be worthwhile?
Having given this issue some thought, I think it's safe to say that while "happiness" is not quantifiable, there are definitely foundations on which it is based. And while societal expectations dictate to some extent what we "need" in order to be satisfied, I think nobody can deny that there are certain things which do grant happiness, or at least a sense of fulfillment and wonder.
For example, I, among many people I know, cannot help but feel a certain way when I stare up at a clear night sky and see hundreds of bright, twinkling stars. Even the mere fact that I'm able to appreciate such a beautiful sight is gratifying, and usually just a few minutes of stargazing is enough to brighten my mood any day. This is meaningful happiness, not the short-lived excitement felt after winning a prize or getting an A on a test.
Or, consider witnessing the curiosity and delight of a baby exploring the world around him/her for the first time. This is a joyful notion because we find it remarkable that this baby, the creation of two human beings, is able to live and think and question and wonder with a fresh perspective that is so easily lost with age. It reminds us of how we should be, that being worldly and experienced is not always so great. And we are glad for that reminder.
So where am I going with this? To be honest, I'm not sure. But I do know that as long as I sincerely search for meaning in my life and not waste all of my time away on fanciful whims, it won't matter what obstacles get thrown at me, because I'll be ready to meet them with an attitude of true preparedness and joy. That search has only just begun.
This photo has nothing to do with the entry. These are my closest friends at Yale. Don't they look fun?
Which leads me to ask... Is ignorance really bliss? Is it better to take life at face value and not be concerned with how I can possibly "better myself," or is there a deeper, richer happiness to be had somehow? It's common to hear that people who love their careers have a more meaningful happiness than those who live for physical commodities and money, but what does that really mean? Can happiness even be measured, or is it too subjective for any effort to describe it to be worthwhile?
Having given this issue some thought, I think it's safe to say that while "happiness" is not quantifiable, there are definitely foundations on which it is based. And while societal expectations dictate to some extent what we "need" in order to be satisfied, I think nobody can deny that there are certain things which do grant happiness, or at least a sense of fulfillment and wonder.
For example, I, among many people I know, cannot help but feel a certain way when I stare up at a clear night sky and see hundreds of bright, twinkling stars. Even the mere fact that I'm able to appreciate such a beautiful sight is gratifying, and usually just a few minutes of stargazing is enough to brighten my mood any day. This is meaningful happiness, not the short-lived excitement felt after winning a prize or getting an A on a test.
Or, consider witnessing the curiosity and delight of a baby exploring the world around him/her for the first time. This is a joyful notion because we find it remarkable that this baby, the creation of two human beings, is able to live and think and question and wonder with a fresh perspective that is so easily lost with age. It reminds us of how we should be, that being worldly and experienced is not always so great. And we are glad for that reminder.
So where am I going with this? To be honest, I'm not sure. But I do know that as long as I sincerely search for meaning in my life and not waste all of my time away on fanciful whims, it won't matter what obstacles get thrown at me, because I'll be ready to meet them with an attitude of true preparedness and joy. That search has only just begun.
This photo has nothing to do with the entry. These are my closest friends at Yale. Don't they look fun?