Should We Pay a Price for Joy?

What is the Price of Joy?

We and most animals on earth are born with the ability to experience Joy.

I watch Pelicans glide in the wind with no evident purpose. I watch puppies play just to amuse themselves. Cats pounce on things imagining they are big game hunters. Humans always want to have fun. Let’s Party.

So what happens to us? Why do we trade in a life of fun for a life of purpose?

We are led down one path and not given much insight into the alternative.

From the very first we are taught how to do and how to behave. We are given the rules. We are taught morality, religion, and reading. We are schooled on the importance of success.

We see living examples every day of role models in every endeavor. We, of course see examples of people crashing and self destructing all around us. What happened on their path?

We are separated from who we are into what we should become. We are born Joyful, We are born into a universe that has been here a trillion years. Earth has been here 5 billion years. Man has been here millions of years.

What exactly are we supposed to accomplish that will change the course of the tides? Let’s not take ourselves too seriously. It’s an open palate regardless of what people have told us. It’s our choice. In the long run it will make no difference.

We could choose to appreciate the fact we are here. We could look around and say this place is not too bad. I personally happen to like living at the beach but I could also be happy in the mountains. I feel connected. There are much bigger forces here than me and I can thoroughly enjoy them everyday.

We could choose to recognize our connection and work from there. What is it I could do that would keep me connected to why I am here and yet allow me to help others have a better life as well.

I could choose writing, cooking, building, flower arranging, doctoring, lawyering, surfing, or what ever I feel best expresses me and the reason I am here. I don’t have to achieve something to feel connected. I was born connected. I can have joy everyday just because I am here and expressing myself. I don’t really need to win the Super Bowl or buy a BMW to have joy.

I have choices.