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The secret to happiness is different for all of us. Most of us are so caught up in the pursuit of it that we wouldn't know happiness if we were rolling in it. The first paragraph in the Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal, with certain unalienable rights. Those rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I wonder what our forefathers would have thought if they could see what the pursuit of happiness has cost us today. Would they reword that great text? Perhaps not since they never promised the pursuit would be easy or for that matter if it would ever end. For some of us the pursuit will never be over, it's an endless race for more that consumes us and prevents us from appreciating what we already have.

How many of us can say we have truly achieved happiness in our lives for more than a few moments at a time? Is that the best we can do? Life was not meant to be a race, it was meant to be treasured and appreciated. Remember that when you get to the finish line all the material things you pursued cannot be taken with you. We only get one shot at this so why not ask yourself what makes you happy? Does your job make you happy or does it just make you money? If you had to stop and think about it then you know what the answer is. Most of us spend the majority of our time at work so having a job that makes us happy and is fulfilling should be essential.

Do you need more or do you just want more? Apply that question to all aspects of your life. If you want something very badly, ask yourself if it will make you happy to have it. If it will then you should go after that but within reason. Don't hurt others to achieve what you believe to be happiness, that won't come to you at someone else's expense. You must ask yourself hard questions and not be afraid to really listen to the answers. Will another car, a bigger home, and a fatter wallet be worth the sacrifice that it requires?

The value of your family cannot be calculated and happiness does not have a price tag or quota. It's the simple things in life that bring the most happiness. Playing with your child, laughing with your spouse, participating in a favorite hobby are the only secrets there are to happiness. If you have one or two good friends then you should consider yourself wealthy. Having the kind of friends that you could call in the middle of the night if your child was sick or sit with you during a crisis is priceless.

When will the exhausting pursuit of happiness end for you? When your life is over? Why not take a look around at what you have right now. You might find that you had the secret to happiness all along and the race could have ended long ago if you had just stopped running.

Learn more about this author, Marsha Sigman.
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