There is an ancient Chinese proverb that perfectly sums up human nature: If you seek happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you seek happiness for a day, go fishing. If you seek happiness for a month, get married. If you seek happiness for a year, get rich. If you want happiness for a lifetime, love what you do." We all spend our lives chasing quick hits of joy. You take a power nap on a Sunday afternoon and feel like a brand-new person—for about an hour. You go fishing, turn off your phone, and for a single day, life feels completely stress-free. Even the bigger milestones—getting married, buying a new car, or finally hitting that financial goal—bring a massive wave of excitement. But eventually, the shiny new feeling wears off, and reality sets back in. That’s because quick pleasures, status, and material wealth are just temporary backdrops. The real catch is that we spend the vast majority of our waking hours working. If you dread your 9-to-5, no amount of money, weekend getawa...
Human thoughts out loud