Declaration of Independence

“We hold these truths self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” – Declaration of Independence

You know these words, everyone who has grown up in America knows these words, but when is the last time you prodded past the pronunciation, the memorization, and towards the actual meaning of this iconic message?

BLane

Specifically, what does the pursuit of happiness mean to you? When the founding fathers first put these words onto parchment, I wonder what their intentions were? Was it only referring to the happiness exclusive to the separation from a oppressive kingdom, or perhaps it was simple fluffery aimed towards instilling belief in an unmeasurable standard? I can only hope that it meant much more.

I believe the founding fathers were not stating anything new in the Declaration of Independence. It may have been the first time the ideas had been so well articulated on paper, but the concepts of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness is genetically engraved into every sleeping frontiers-man and women braving the new world. The founding fathers were not giving the people these rights, they were instead guaranteeing them for generations to come, and perhaps even challenging the people to use them.

Where's Waldo - BDL

The pursuit of Happiness is a freedom that is not quite so free. It’s a freedom that inherently comes at the price of discovery,challenges, and of course, failures. It can be difficult to assess the lines between happiness and complacency, between hard-work and free-time, and between happiness and success. Perhaps instead of guaranteeing the pursuit of happiness, it would have been more apt to ensure the pursuit of what makes you happy. It’s hard to tell sometimes, but my best advice is to go with your instincts. Go explore, find life, and as always, pursue happiness.