I love the movie The Pursuit of Hapyness it so appropriately captures all that is possible in this great country, but there is another side of that pursuit as well. I think the statement below says it much better than I, so I shall let you read on.
In America I saw the freest and most enlightened men placed in the happiest condition that exists in the world; it seemed to me that a sort of cloud habitually covered their features; they appeared to me grave and almost sad even in their pleasures.
The principal reason for this is that the first do not think of the evils they endure, whereas the others dream constantly of the goods they do not have.
It is a strange thing to see with what sort of feverish ardor Americans pursue well-being and how they show themselves constantly tormented by a vague fear of not having chosen the shortest route that can lead to it.
The inhabitant of the United States attaches himself to the goods of this world as if he were assured of not dying, and he rushes so precipitately to grasp those that pass within his reach that one would say he fears at each instant he will cease to live before he has enjoyed them. He grasps them all but without clutching them, and he soon allows them to escape from his hands so as to run after new enjoyments.
When was this written and by whom you ask? It was written in 1840 by Alexis de Tocqueville in his work titled Democracy in America. One hundred seventy two years later it appears not much has changed. I think the axioms “enjoy the moment” or “be content with what you have” are as appropriate now as they have ever been. Now if I could just learn that myself I could teach it to my children.
