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Happiness

by

Gerald Locklin

So many people search for it.

this search for personal happiness

becomes all their lives are about.



i was raised to think in terms of

accomplishments for oneself or

for others, of goals, of striving.



rest was something for the next

life

peace was something put off till

eternity

happiness was a static thing to

want,

an artificial and impossible par-

adise.

better to keep on trying to accom-

plish

what one has set out to accom-

plish.

in one's life.



and yet, without seeking it,

and even now that i've quit booze,

or even maybe especially now that i i've

quit booze.

i often find that, momentarily at

least,

i am extremely happy, even quiet-

ly ecstatic.



and sure i get "stressed out," espe-

cially

when i take one or have thrust

upon me,

more than time realistically

allows,



but something tells me that,

in spite of struggle, strife, and

tension,



and regardless of what the future

brings,



i have known, on balance, much

more happiness

than those who go through life

thinking

that it's playing hide-and-seek

with them.

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