We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
There was a document, completed in 1776 by a great American. An insightful penman. A future president. The man? Thomas Jefferson. The document - the Declaration of Independence - severed governmental ties with Great Britain. One phrase is quite memorable:
It is as much as most people remember, but it does ring of poetry, doesn't it? There is a certain cadence to Mr. Jefferson's pen as he writes it.
Life. I know what that is.
Liberty. I think I understand what that is.
The Pursuit of Happiness. Now that's an interesting proposition. I mean, it's not a right to happiness, is it? It's our right to pursue of happiness.
Is that the same as chasing dreams? This year, our schoolwide theme at Cecil Floyd is dreams, and one of the first things that comes to mind is Chasing Dreams. We all think we know what we want. We all dream for a better life. We all pursue happiness in our own ways. But do we know how to catch happiness? Sometime we try things we think will get us there, but we fail.
Oh here we go again! We fail. We fall. We stand back up. And we look to our dreams, once again. But the question remains the same: are our dreams the same thing as our happiness? I bluntly proclaim that they are not! Our dreams are merely an image that we create in our minds - an image that inspires us, motivates us, compels us get off our duffs and move toward happiness. If I wish to take advantage of my right to pursue happiness, I must not give up. No matter the obstacle. No matter the hindrance. No matter the misstep. I must never give up.
My dreams are a spring that propels me forward into my future. Whether that future is a happy one may or may not be true, but hey, I stand back up, and I keep chasing dreams. Perhaps, from time to time, I will catch one. I know from experience that this is true.
Life. I know what that is.
Liberty. I think I understand what that is.
The Pursuit of Happiness. Now that's an interesting proposition. I mean, it's not a right to happiness, is it? It's our right to pursue of happiness.
Is that the same as chasing dreams? This year, our schoolwide theme at Cecil Floyd is dreams, and one of the first things that comes to mind is Chasing Dreams. We all think we know what we want. We all dream for a better life. We all pursue happiness in our own ways. But do we know how to catch happiness? Sometime we try things we think will get us there, but we fail.
Oh here we go again! We fail. We fall. We stand back up. And we look to our dreams, once again. But the question remains the same: are our dreams the same thing as our happiness? I bluntly proclaim that they are not! Our dreams are merely an image that we create in our minds - an image that inspires us, motivates us, compels us get off our duffs and move toward happiness. If I wish to take advantage of my right to pursue happiness, I must not give up. No matter the obstacle. No matter the hindrance. No matter the misstep. I must never give up.
My dreams are a spring that propels me forward into my future. Whether that future is a happy one may or may not be true, but hey, I stand back up, and I keep chasing dreams. Perhaps, from time to time, I will catch one. I know from experience that this is true.
