“Only in America, dreamin’ in red white and blue.
Only in America, where we dream as big as we want to.
We all get a chance. Everybody gets to dance.
Only in America.”
Brooks and Dunn, Only in America.
I started this blog because after years of comparing myself to others I was finally beginning to see I was enough. I was enough for me and was ready to start living my life for me. Not for friends, not for my boyfriend, not for family, but for me. I was happy with who I was and realized if somebody had an issue with that they could see their self right out the door.
As an American I was born with the right to pursue my own happiness and it was time for me to stop taking that for granted. It was time for me to stop comparing myself to others and trying to abide by the way others defined happiness.
As American’s we’re taught about our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness starting in elementary school. Then in each following grade that concept is reinforced through our history classes. It’s drilled into us at such a young age, yet we lose sight of that the older we get. We forget what that fundamental right really means. The pursuit of happiness becomes just another phrase from our old textbooks.
How many of us live mediocre, semi-happy live because we’re too afraid of what society will say? Or too afraid to chase our dreams because we might fail? Or worse, we aren’t even sure what makes us truly happy?
It would be easy for me to call out toxic environment YouTube and Instagram influencers create by showing off their perfect lives online just so others will validate their worth. But here’s the thing, if that makes them happy… if that’s their pursuit of happiness, then good for them. If we allow their content to diminish our own happiness, then that’s on us.
Look at musicians and song writers. Do you honestly think before they made it big, they didn’t have multiple people tell them they needed to get a “real” job? They didn’t have people trying to talk them out of their happiness or comparing them to more successful artist? They chose their pursuit of happiness over societal norms and standards.
I love music as much as the next person, if not more. I’m not saying quit your day job and go become an artist because music makes you happy. Instead I’m asking a question. Are you taking full advantage of your fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness OR are you living a half fulfilled life because you’re allowing outside factors to hold you back?
Maybe you’re not sure what happiness actually means to you? Try new things. Taking a gardening class. Go play a new sport. Learn a new language. Travel to a new city. Keep exploring new things until you find your happiness and once you do, keep trying new things. Just because you’ve found one thing that makes you happy doesn’t mean there aren’t other things that will excite you too.
Don’t limit your happiness. Don’t be complacent. Don’t be a mediocre version of yourself. Take risks. Enjoy life. Keep pursuing happiness.
I’m challenging you to reevaluate your life. I’m challenging you to chase your happiness. And most importantly, I’m challenging you to not allow others to define happiness for you.
Happy 4th of July!
Still trying to figure it out,
Madison
PostGradMad 