Just Another Day

Really.

Sometimes, Kevin Pereira can write something so profoundly deep. Usually his posts are about the comical things in life. Not this time.

I started to think about all of the things that bring a smile to my face. Happiness. There's a list. It's not short, but it's not long. And then I thought about what brings me joy. Right now, I can't think of anything.

I think I'm having a hard time distinguishing happiness from joy.

You know how in Office Space, Peter says that if he had a million dollars, he would do nothing? That's me. I would sit around the house all day long and do nothing. Maybe I would visit friends that lived in a different city, but I don't think that counts as traveling, as in, I would travel. I would only do it once in a while. A long while.

So, as far as I can tell, the one thing that would bring me joy is the freedom to do nothing. In order to have this freedom, I need to have a lifestyle which does not require money, or a large bank account. The latter sounds more realistic. So, in order to experience joy, I need to be rich.

Does that mean money can buy me both happiness and joy?

I'm talking about joy for the present. Maybe 6 years from now, I won't be able to experience joy without a woman by my side. Currently though, having a girlfriend or wife is not a priority. I'm perfectly fine being by myself.

If I lived in one of the fancy apartment complexes in downtown Austin, with nice furniture and a killer wardrobe, I would have nothing but joy. Even if I worked from 9 - 5 for it, I would be joyous. Of course, if I somehow won a huge lottery, that could work too.

I think that's why I believe I would become addicted to gambling if I tried it. Getting some minute detail right can earn you so much money. It's little to no work for the possibility of doubling your money. Or by a larger factor. And it would lead to my doing nothing.

I just need to graduate, get a job, and then get a nice home. That's all I want right now. Any of these 3 things would bring me happiness. All 3 combined would bring me joy.

I guess that's just one of my frustrating characteristics. For the past 5 or so years, I've thought about my desire to have an impact on the world. Yet, if I were rich, I would do absolutely nothing. My life goals would change, all because of money.

Of course, if I were "Bill Gates" rich, I would be involved with so many charities. I would still sit around and do nothing, but I'd donate like mad.

Stick that in the face of those who say "Money is the root of all evil." Show them charities. Ask them what they want, and then ask them, "If I gave you the money to buy one, would you? And would it make you happy?"

And just for clarification, by "doing nothing" I mean doing nothing productive. Listening to music, playing basketball, and eating all fit under "doing nothing."