Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight
  

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20 Sivan 5764 - June 9, 2004 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Keep Smiling

Short inspirational pieces by Avrohom Tzvi Schwartz, Kiryat Sefer, author of A Handful of Light, Hearts on Fire and other works on Mussar and Hashkofa

Circle of Happiness

Where do we stand on the Circle of Happiness? This is not a simple question. We keep swiveling around. At one moment we can be close to depression -- at the next, close to ecstasy.

Still, there is an average position that we hold -- that we guard -- for ourselves, for our families, for our day, for our week. This position depends on how close we are to having what we need. Do we have the food we want? Are our living conditions comfortable? Do we have family, friends to interact with, live with, support and be supported by, encourage and be encouraged? Do we have stimulating, meaningful activities to fill our minutes, our hours?

And still, no person reaches perfect happiness. Somehow, it escapes us, stands beyond us.

Within our desire to increase our happiness lies our challenge. Will we look for honest, honorable ways to fill this gap in our life? Or will we look for cheap thrills, extravagance? Worse, will we mock and make fun of others for our pleasure?

The first option is the true target, something great, awesome -- but it requires great and awesome efforts. The second, while easy, is a mistake. For by acting in evil, ugly ways, we lose Hashem's support and blessing and step onto the path that leads only to poverty, misery and unhappiness.

Only with wise decisions may we be happy.

 

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