This is a picture of Mr. Happy. I used to love these books when my son was little. There was Mr. Grumpy and Mr. Messy and Mr. Silly, etc. Actually, I think I just used my son as an excuse to buy them! Just reading them and looking at the simple pictures made me smile.
Last night on 60 Minutes there was a segment on the happiest country in the world: Denmark. The weather there is cold, the people are heavy drinkers and smokers, there is not a lot of affluence - and yet, everyone is simply content. They interviewed quite a few of the people, and the one thing that sets them apart from the rest of the world is that they don't appear to worry or struggle with self-doubt like so many of us. Of course, they do have universal health care, they are paid to go to school, they work 37 hours a week - with 6 weeks vacation, they have 6 months paid parental leave for both the mother and the father (with each child) and they have free care for the elderly. There doesn't seem to be the continual "striving" for more or the angst, depression and anxiety that we have here in America. Actually, when interviewed, they admitted that they don't really have any high expectations. They just take things as they come. They don't come out of the womb programmed to expect excellence.
America was rated #23. We did score higher than Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Whoopee. As the 60 Minutes report said, the pursuit of happiness in America, is a booming business. The bookstores are filled with volumes that promise the reader he will find happiness and inner contentment if he will only follow "x" number of easy steps. If we don't find it in books - we can certainly find it in shopping! More stuff, newer and improved stuff, etc. - which is constantly in a state of change. Look at the phenomenon of the Iphone for example. People stood in line for days to get that thing - and they already have a newer version out that does more stuff than the old one. So - if shopping doesn't do it...then there are always pharmaceuticals. Pills that will numb the pain of anxiety - pills that will rev you up, or bring you down, or keep you calm. Of course, they come with some nasty side effects - but don't worry, they have pills for the side effects, too.
So does attaining the prize of happiness really boil down to that goofy song from years ago? You know the one: "Don't Worry, Be Happy". Maybe. Perhaps the answer is in being present in the moment. Right now. Not worrying about the past, or the future - but just being like a Dane - and live in the moment and accept it as it comes. I think it helps to have a positive attitude, though. And to be grateful for all we have - because we do have a lot.
Maybe happiness is simply focusing on the good stuff and not obsessing about the bad. Mr. Happy did that in the book. No matter what life brought his way - that little yellow man kept smiling....all the way through the book.
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