Do what makes YOU happy

I'm a firm believer in doing what makes you happy, so long as it isn't hurting someone else in the process.

As I've noted repeatedly on the blog, what makes you happy isn't always in line with societal expectations. Sometimes the things we do and people we associate with won't make us the coolest, most popular person in town by society's standards, but we do it because they feel right. Here are a few examples:

Working in a traditionally low-paying field like teaching or non-profit work
Dating someone who looks "different" (e.g., gothic, heavy set, etc.)
Becoming heavily invested in something that most people care little about (e.g. reading 18th century literature)
Opting not to have children
Opting not to get married
Renting rather than buying a home
Riding a motorcycle rather than driving a car
Staying home reading rather than attending a party

If we all did to the letter what society expects of us, what a boring world this would be! Variety is one of the essential ingredients that makes life so much more interesting.

It's a good thing that there is so much variation between and among us. If we were all, say, extroverted sports fans who work in the medical field, there'd be nothing left to learn from each other.

We ought to embrace those characteristics that make us unique rather than try to change them to appease others. If people aren't happy with your stated preferences, they can either suck it up or move on.

I know a lot of people find my love of history kind of drab and stodgy. Does that mean I'll cease to devour history books anytime soon? No way.

People are always quick to put down things they don't understand or have trouble relating to. It doesn't mean you have to placate them by abandoning your bedrock principles or hobbies.

Stand your ground and continue doing whatever it is makes you happy. People come and go, but one's passions can endure for a lifetime.

Comments

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