Faces in The Crowd

Faces in the Crowd

While in the grocery store the other day I started noticing people more than I usually do. I noticed most everyone shopping alone, wore a basically unhappy face.  People’s lips were puckered in dissatisfaction and bitterness.  I was alone and wasn’t particularly happy that day, so I wondered, do I look like that?  I made some subtly changes to my inner mood, in hopes to reflect outwardly a more joyful me. I noticed that Moms with children seemed too busy and preoccupied to actually look unhappy, and the people who were with a husband, partner or friend seemed relatively happier, but even still, they all seemed somewhat dispirited.

Viewing these people’s faces got me thinking about happiness, and why often times, it can be  allusive for most of us.  People in our society are relatively unhappy in my opinion.  The proof is in the pudding, or should I say, on Amazon.com.  Amazon lists the Top 10 books on Happiness on their website, along with claims they will help you find “joy and meaning.”  Books such as; The Happiness Solution, The Art of Happiness, Happiness Now, Authentic Happiness, The Blue Zones, all claim they will help us find more fulfillment, joy, and meaning.   Written words on happiness, seems to bring big business, selling millions of copies.  So, if we are willing to pay millions to get the scoop on happiness, then there must be a problem.

I live in a relatively healthy town.  My town’s people are, eating right, practicing yoga and exercising regularly. Yet somehow, these people still don’t seem happy to me. I asked myself, if despite eating right and exercising, might the overall health of our country be at risk due to, simply being unhappy? Might we die of unhappiness so to speak, and not even know it?  I have heard of people dying of loneliness, this must be closely related. I have also heard numerous times; laughter is the best medicine.  I have always liked this saying and long to believe it true. How can we find more to laugh about?

             I wonder if people in other countries are as unhappy as Americans?  Is the possibility of our current economic demise fueling the fire of unhappiness?  If so, does that mean money makes us happy?  I’ve read many articles exploring the idea that money can’t buy happiness, not by a long shot.  In my opinion, buying ‘things’ only leads to, well…more ‘things’ not happiness. I do understand  that our society is in a compromising position so to speak. Humans have many valid concerns, such as, the un-employment rate, the economy, our misguided government, high taxes, personal issues, and the list could go on.  I challenge these worries however, by asking one simple question; what if none of this changes?  Are we then forever in the perils of discontent due to our personal and societal shortcomings?  In my opinion, we can’t afford to wait for happiness to come to us, we need to feel it now, despite our current state of affairs. 

I believe our world is evolving, change is happening right now, and it’s making us uncertain, as well as, unhappy.   I believe these changes, shouldn’t lead us to a dead end of discontentment, we need to find another route.  This blog will explore the many different ideas and concepts offered through, books, and articles, websites, regarding happiness. Through a bit of research and inner dialogue, we may even discover our own path to true happiness.  I can relate to John Mayer’s, The Age of Worry, when he croons  “sing out in the age of worry and say worry get out of here.”