Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain. ~ Joseph Campbell

Look for joy and happiness, not just comfort

My life is clearly marked by a level of comfort. I understand absolutely, that makes me a privileged person. I would imagine that having a life of comfort puts me in a better position than likely 40% of Americans, which means that I’m likely in a better spot than literally billions of people on this planet. So let me start by saying I know how fortunate I am to be in the position I am in, and right now my life, even post surgery, it is full of comfort

What do I mean by comfort, I have shelter, I have food, a job, but it’s more than that, it means not just the basics, not just the base of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. But it means that I can not just afford to eat, but can afford to eat good food, to go out to dinner, to live in a very comfortable apartment, albeit one with thin walls. I’m not constantly worried about finances or whether or not I can afford a vacation this year. Hell, given my job I’m even comfortable in the sense of time, I get a good number of holidays and five weeks of vacation each year. Pretty good, at least by American standards.

But the thing is, something is missing, has been for awhile now and that’s joy. Sure, I occasionally still take decent vacations, I spend time exploring San Francisco, I have good books to read, great music to listen to and from time to time have some really exceptional meals. About the only joy I have in my life right now is my weekly pizza.

Now, given my life of comfort and privilege in many ways I have no complaint, as I stated at the beginning I know that I have it much better than most, but I have large appetites and I’ve lived my life in search of joy and happiness, not just comfort.

For me, my joy and happiness usually comes through adventure, when I’m traveling, or out in nature particular on long-distance hikes. It’s been far too long since I’ve done any of that and the days are getting shorter. My next chapter needs to contain a lot more joy than I’m having right now, as far as I’m concerned, our lives are made by how much we live, how much love, how much adventure and most of all, how much joy and happiness. Stay focused on that and you’ll have happier days my friends. ~ Rev Kane