Frank Chimero makes me think again as he considers if we should try and quantify happiness.
I used to play hide and seek with my niece. It was fun and infuriating. She’s not very good at hiding, so I’d have to pretend that I didn’t see her. “Where is she? Where could she be?” I’d stumble around the house. Eventually, she’d get so impatient she’d yell hints. “I’m not over there!” or “Come upstairs!” or “You’re on the wrong side of the room!” After more of my poor seeking, she’d get frustrated, pop out and say “I’m over here!”
It was more fun that way than if I had seriously looked for her. And maybe happiness is a bit paradoxical like that: if you stop pursuing it, there are fewer places for it to hide. You just have to be listening when it says “I’m over here!”