The Pursuit of Happiness?
Ask a dozen people "what do you want most from life?" and you normally get a majority of "happiness, health and wealth" responses. It makes me wonder about happiness and if people - particularly women - are referring to the same state-of-being I label happiness, or if it's a horse of a different color all together.
For example, recently an acquaintance made the comment "I'd be the happiest woman on earth if I just looked the way I did at 35." REALLY? That's the key ingredient in the happiness recipe? If I look younger I will automatically be happier?
So, I guess, if I follow that logic, if I am a perfect size 4, get the perfect hair color dye job, the perfect fake nails and boobs, have my face cosmetically altered so I shave off 15-20 years, have the perfect eyes and nose and oh-so-pouty lips then I would be supremely happy.
SERIOUSLY? Why do we women assume that if we're the 'prettiest girl at the prom' that we'll also be the happiest? Is there a defective gene in the female genetic code that prevents us from achieving happiness unless we're young and beautiful? Does this gene prevent us from accepting the natural aging process?
Think about it... I know I'm not the only one guilty of this. A new ad in Cosmo or on tv or splashed across your news homepage about a new creme, lotion or gel that "erases fine lines and wrinkles" or "restores a youthful complexion", or "let's you lose 10 pounds in ten minutes" and we're running to Walgreen's with credit card in hand. We know somewhere in the back of our resistant minds that it's not going to make us younger or thinner, but it's a hanging offense to get in our way of trying it.
And guess what? Not only does it not promote happiness, it makes us Unhappy because it did not work. Well, duh??
But what if it did? There've been a lot of advances made and are a lot of procedures available that can trim the years off your face and your body. So let's say we invest in all of it and come out at the end looking like the absolute best possible version of ourselves - or a clone of Kim Kardasian. Will that really make us happy?
Probably not because in my experience we're never really happy with our appearance. There's always someone prettier, or more shapely or with better hair.
So how do we achieve happiness without perfect looks? I've developed a three part plan that's pretty damn effective:
1. Stay away from mirrors as much as possible
2. Either run like hell or duck behind something when someone points a camera at you
3. Try and enjoy the journey of life, including aging. After all, it IS part of the adventure.
And if all that fails .... tequila:)
Ask a dozen people "what do you want most from life?" and you normally get a majority of "happiness, health and wealth" responses. It makes me wonder about happiness and if people - particularly women - are referring to the same state-of-being I label happiness, or if it's a horse of a different color all together.
For example, recently an acquaintance made the comment "I'd be the happiest woman on earth if I just looked the way I did at 35." REALLY? That's the key ingredient in the happiness recipe? If I look younger I will automatically be happier?
So, I guess, if I follow that logic, if I am a perfect size 4, get the perfect hair color dye job, the perfect fake nails and boobs, have my face cosmetically altered so I shave off 15-20 years, have the perfect eyes and nose and oh-so-pouty lips then I would be supremely happy.
SERIOUSLY? Why do we women assume that if we're the 'prettiest girl at the prom' that we'll also be the happiest? Is there a defective gene in the female genetic code that prevents us from achieving happiness unless we're young and beautiful? Does this gene prevent us from accepting the natural aging process?
Think about it... I know I'm not the only one guilty of this. A new ad in Cosmo or on tv or splashed across your news homepage about a new creme, lotion or gel that "erases fine lines and wrinkles" or "restores a youthful complexion", or "let's you lose 10 pounds in ten minutes" and we're running to Walgreen's with credit card in hand. We know somewhere in the back of our resistant minds that it's not going to make us younger or thinner, but it's a hanging offense to get in our way of trying it.
And guess what? Not only does it not promote happiness, it makes us Unhappy because it did not work. Well, duh??
But what if it did? There've been a lot of advances made and are a lot of procedures available that can trim the years off your face and your body. So let's say we invest in all of it and come out at the end looking like the absolute best possible version of ourselves - or a clone of Kim Kardasian. Will that really make us happy?
Probably not because in my experience we're never really happy with our appearance. There's always someone prettier, or more shapely or with better hair.
So how do we achieve happiness without perfect looks? I've developed a three part plan that's pretty damn effective:
1. Stay away from mirrors as much as possible
2. Either run like hell or duck behind something when someone points a camera at you
3. Try and enjoy the journey of life, including aging. After all, it IS part of the adventure.
And if all that fails .... tequila:)
