pursuit of happiness

we must be strong.
we must persevere.
we must ride the high tides,
and the low ones too.
they are inevitable.
just remember that when you are on the low tide,
think of the impending high tides.
keep yourself interesting.
take an interest in the world.

learn to love,
not just in the form of romantic relationships,
but also,
love your family,
your friends,
your dog,
your local baker,
your children,
your neighbor,
your garden;
most of all, yourself...

stay beautiful,
inside and out.
age gracefully.
maintain a healthy lifestyle.
always be kind to others but know when to take a stand for your own rights.
live with values and principles.
live mightily.
laugh. cry. take walks. cook. travel.
never stop learning.
connect with others.
don't take everything too personally.

it's not easy to be happy. it's a pursuit. happy is a state of mind to most of us now. to reach the level of permanent content, we must first learn how to love without forming attachments. don't cling, don't be jealous. rid of all negative energy. you are one with yourself, and one with the world. allow others to grow but never depend on them. be compassionate. stop judging. help others and make a difference. give and expect nothing in return. that's my goal in life. but first, i must start with myself. i need to start living responsibly, kindly and beautifully. i must first learn to trust myself, then learn to earn the trust of others. that's my goal.

the modern culture places too much emphasis on the degradation of self. i was once a victim, but i realized, why? sooner or later you will wake up and be sick and bored of the life you now lead. hedonism is fabulous. but for me, it's not enough to last an entire lifetime. if i'd die at 30, hell i'd be partying all day all night. but what comes after that? after 40... 50, 60, 70 and maybe even 80? nurture your soul. enrich the mind. what does "enjoying life" entail anyway? we all have different interpretations. for me, i'm over the whole "alcohol-clubbing-drugs-bed-hopping" scene. they meant nothing. they didn't make me any happier. one thing that they did though was made me realize how silly i used to be. it's kind of fun at the time, but after a while, they just got kind of bland...