A Wonderful Life
A place where happiness rests within belief
The daily commute to Lower Manhattan passes through the glorious, fabled, “scenic” New Jersey Turnpike.
Amidst the scents of sulfur, the cracked pavement, the “No Shoulder” signs, and drivers who make the mistake of going in the truck lane, I opt for the sound of a familiar voice to help maintain what serenity I have left. His words pierce through my ears into the crevices of my cranium.
Don't you want a life like we saw on the picture show?
So come on, give me something and come on, keep me up all night
You say, my baby, all this time in between drives me crazy
I want a life on fire, going mad with desire
I don't wanna survive, I want a wonderful life
What a concept. A wonderful life
A trip to the promised land that becomes a permanent residence. An existence in which ultimate fulfillment is achieved, your feelings are affirmed, your concerns alleviated, and actions received with merit.
It’s not merely about surviving. It’s about achieving pure, unfiltered, happiness.
That begs a question: what in our lives brings us that mysterious bliss? And not only is it a matter of how we achieve it, but what makes us deserving of it?
For 23 of my 30 years on this earth, one thing, and one thing only, drove me towards what I perceived to be happiness above all else: my career.
I was among the small handful of people who knew what they wanted to do when they were five years old (more on that in a future piece). It was a blessing, and a curse. On one hand, you’re focused and hellbent on reaching your end goal. On the other, it consumes you entirely, and it supersedes nearly all else in your periphery.
Where is happiness for one, if there’s nothing in it for anyone else? Our work certainly can allow us to feel wholly ourselves in the moment, without question. In certain paths, they may even define our legacies. But what is left of us when we clock out? Who do we share our aspirations for more with when we live to grind for ourselves?
For me, at least, that was unhealthy. And it took me a while to come to this realization.
What is left after that, though?
It turns out, so much more than I could have ever envisioned.
One concept carries more power in resonance than anything else in our lives: belief.
Belief is the root of our actions. It is the “why” for our motivations, be them be personal, religious, professional, or beyond. Belief in something carries tremendous weight. Belief in someone holds so much more.
I am grateful to have many great friends and family in my circle. I trust them to be honest with me, and know they will support me in my day-to-day efforts. That’s a given. But I always found it to be difficult in searching for someone who truly and entirely believed in all of me. My hopes. My dreams. My quirks. My quest for emotional affirmation.
All of those are the foundation of the wonderful life we speak of. And until recently, I wasn’t sure that was possible.
When you receive said belief though, everything changes. You wake up differently. You attack your daily tasks with a different ferocity. You live with clarity and optimism. The wonderful life feels…tangible.
Yet the initial greediness of what we receive gives way to the ultimate gift: the ability to return the belief.
There is nothing more heartwarming than reminding someone of the pride you have in their accomplishments. The faith you have in their desires. The admiration in their determination and drive. The appreciation for their depth and selflessness. The awe in their triumph in the face of tragedy and adversity.
Belief in one another paves way to shared happiness. Potentially, a lifetime of it.
It is the essence of a wonderful life. One where the desire for something greater is rewarded with assurance, harmony, and the promise of more.
We don’t wanna merely survive. We want a wonderful life.