The simplicity of happiness is so simple that we make it complex.

I’ve always observed in people’s younger photos, including my own, that most of us are happy on some level. As we get older, most of our smiles disappear and/or change due to the complications of life (or so we all think). Over time, our thought processes (including my own) somehow learn to attempt to compete with that which is not meant for competition: balance. We all feel if we just do more, we will get more. If we learn more, we will know enough. If we search more, we will find what we are looking for. In this losing battle, it is my view that we focus on the war and learn from the losses in battle. One battle we can win, however, is the battle of figuring out how to be self-reliant if approached from a perspective of depth — not width. The basis of self-reliance is self-confidence derived from the natural goodness, love, and happiness with which we are all born. These three components become convoluted over time based on what we think is intelligence. Most of the time, our intelligence is the root of the complications that affect us for the remainder of life (as opposed to figuring out how to return to our natural baseline of being content with what is). In my view, the pursuit of happiness is a fleeting one unless the pursuit is based on simplicity in all forms.

Is happy birthday a question or a statement for you each year?