Cheer Up, Buttercup

Today has been designated as the "International Day of Happiness". If all things were equal, this day might be on everyone's agenda, put a smile on everyone's face, and  allow every dog to have their day. But things are not equal, not by a longshot.

Finding Happiness would be a logical gold standard to reach for. Sadly, for what appears to be the situation for many of the planet's inhabitants, Happiness falls way behind Survival on the daily bucket list most folks haul around with them, day in, day out.

It is nice that there are folks who want to remind us to be happy, even if our world is in the shitter. With slogans like, "It could be worse" , "Every cloud has a silver lining", or the one I hate the most, "Everything will be okay"; all of them can make whatever misery one is dealing with, that much worse. 

I understand the urge to try to help someone, some group, some anyone, any critter feel some optimism in a world bereft of much to be optimistic about. Compassion and empathy are tops on my list of postive traits in anyone. But hearing anyone tell me "Everything will be okay" is lip service; empty words that have nothing to back them up with, except Hope. 

The real goal is often to just make themselves feel better by telling some poor slob they percieve as being worse off to buck up, better days are ahead. I did just that myself a few days ago when I handed a homeless guy a twenty dollar bill. It made me feel good to do that. The guy's situation ran second billing to my personal gratification. 

Tell one of the amost billion people on the planet living on $3.00 a day, "Everything will be okay" and see their reaction. Tell the almost 30 million people who are victims of of Human Trafficking, Cheer Up Buttecup, you could be dead instead". I am sure that would make them smile. Tell the billions of women suffering under the sliding scale of systemic Patriarhcal Brutality, "What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger". They might openly agree, but curse your soul under their breath.

It's nice when folks who don't deal with true sufferring remind us to be happy. But who are they really talking to, us or themselves?

"Don't Worry Be Happy .........................

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Contrary to my above post, I am a believer that finding Happiness should be everyone's goal. It is too bad the process is buried beneath the dire real world needs for so many folks around the planet. Here is the famous Bobby McFerrin tune, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" performed by mostly chidren from around the globe as part of the wonderful collection of music known as "Playing for Change".

It made me smile. Maybe it will pick your day up also.