Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
234 years ago the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Although the vote to become independent from the British Empire was held on July 2, 1776, the declaration was ratified by Congress on July 4th, and we celebrate this great achievement in our nation’s history by pursuing happiness with friends and family each year.
“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”
I heard the Declaration of Independence read aloud on NPR Friday morning. When those familiar words”life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” were read, I swelled with pride. What a risk these men were taking to step out of the assumed safety of the British Empire eventhough that empire oppressed them. There were many incidents which brought about the decision to secede, but it finally came when the American people could no longer stand the oppression and pain they were having to live under.
Our Work and Happiness
I like tell the story I heard from the author of 48 Days to the Work You Love, Dan Miller:
A traveling salesman was visiting farm houses to sell his wares. He stepped up on the porch of an old farm house, and on the porch laid an old dog. As the dog would turn, he’d let out a howl.
The salesman knocked on the farmer’s door, and began talking. He said, “I think there is something wrong with your dog. Every time he moves he lets out a howl.” The old farmer looked at the salesman and said, “oh. He’s just laying on an old nail in the floor. When he moves around it pokes him and he lets out a howl.”
Perplexed, the salesman says, “why doesn’t he just move?” To which the farmer replied, “I guess it just doesn’t hurt bad enough yet.”
At some point in our career, we forget we have the freedom for the ”pursuit of happiness”. We just keep “laying on that nail” like the old dog. Is being in a miserable job really what Jefferson meant when he wrote that we all have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Jefferson was a State Legislator, Governor of Virginia, Member of Congress, Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President, President of the United States, and Founder of the University of Virginia. His passion was making the United States a sovereign, free, and democratic society. Jefferson died leaving a legacy on July 4, 1826. The 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The epitaph on his tomb stone reads:
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Jefferson’s legacy of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness is the foundation of our country. We live in the greatest country in the world, and enjoy freedoms that we should never take for granted. Those freedoms allow us to work in careers that fulfill our lives, and allows us the pursuit of happiness. Pursue your happiness, and Happy Independence Day!
Jay Markunas is a Career Coach and partner in Great Occupations Career Coaching. The newly organized website should make it easier to find the information you need to find the work you love!
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Tags: 48 Days to the Work you Love, and the pursuit of happiness, career freedom, choose, Dan Miller, declaration of independence, Freedom, independence day, jefferson, liberty, life