Pursuit

The pursuit of happiness
does not mean
you will always be happy.

In fact, it means the opposite.

A right to pursue happiness
is a right to face the challenges
that come from consciously choosing
to make your life better.

Happiness is not bestowed
upon beginning this journey,
it is the reward
waiting at the end of a life
of constant effort.

This isn’t to say
there won’t be happiness along the way,
but the joy of fulfillment
and knowing you have reached
everything you ever wanted
is what is being pursued,
not what you are granted.

So the next time you see the words
“pursuit of happiness,”
know that temporary glee
is not what this means,
but the eternal satisfaction
of a life well lived.

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Thank you for reading!