happiness is a chase and not a race

​Matthew McConaughey says, "happiness as most of us are taught, or as many of us see it, is result oriented. If then. If I get this then I will be happy. It's almost like a ta da moment."

According to McConaughey, "there is no ta da moment."

There is no ta da moment.

I should memorize that. Like scripture.

I find myself reflecting this morning, how much of my life has been spent chasing that ta da moment?

If I get good grades, then.

If I get voted the captain of the football team, then.

If I graduate college, then.

If I get that promotion, then.

If I get married, then.

If I buy a house, then.

If I have kids, then.

If.

Then.

It can go on forever.

I find myself reflecting this morning, how much unhappiness have I experienced in my life because of the disappointment I have felt when the other side of then never felt like ta da?

How much resentment have I harbored in life because the other side of then felt more like a lie than a ta da?

How many people are facing grave unhappiness today because the story they've been told about happiness, or the story they've told themselves about it, has turned out to be a fairy tale?

How many people have not discovered what I thankfully am starting to, that ultimate happiness comes through enjoying the chase of a happiness you're never going to find this side of eternity.

Happiness isn't found in becoming a dad. Happiness is found in enjoying the process of becoming your image of the perfect father you'll never become.

Happiness isn't found in getting married. Happiness is found in enjoying the process of working together toward your image of the perfect marriage you'll never have.

Happiness isn't found in getting straight A's. Happiness is found in falling in love with the process of learning everything you can about a life you'll never get to learn even a fraction of what there is to know about it.

Happiness is discovering that we can get to racing toward happiness so hard that we hardly notice all there is to be happy about in the chase.

Happiness is discovering it is indeed a chase; not a race.

A goal in life, so I've come to believe, isn't to find happiness at the finish line of life but to create it as we chase life all the way to that finish line.

There is no then, when it comes to happiness, there is only now.

And oh, what a sweet and beautiful happiness that can be found in understanding that.