Happiness isn’t in another place. But this place. Not for another hour. But this hour. We waste so much of our life. This gift that was given to us.
We worry about our futures. We dwell on our pasts. We make great plans but often don’t see them through. This is the life we are here for. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow.
Now.
As appraisers, we’re trained to value everything except the one asset we can never replace: time.
My wife and I joke often, “I’ll be happy when…” We say it sarcastically because we know it’s not true. Our definition of happiness is “a shared journey with mutual respect and laughter. The destination is a mountaintop illusion.”
What journey are you postponing until some vague point in the future?
Maybe it’s, “I’ll be happy
…when I retire.”
…when the business is where I want it.”
…when the kids are settled.”
…when I lose the weight.”
…when I have enough money.”
We spend our careers discounting future cash flows back to their present value. Maybe we should do the same with our lives. Stop overvaluing tomorrow and start appreciating the only asset that has any certainty: today.
One day you’ll realize there was never a mountaintop. There was only this moment. But “tomorrow” is a poor place to build a life. The life you’re waiting for is quietly passing you by while you chase a destination that doesn’t exist.
Pharrell Williams sang, “Clap along if you know what happiness is to you. (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do.”
Don’t wait until you reach the summit to realize the journey was the point all along.