See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Joanna DelBuono
Brooklyn Daily
As I pondered the world’s visceral queries — What makes us happy? What was I cooking tonight? How was I going to pay this month’s bills? What topic would be this week’s column? Where was I going to find a seat on this crowded subway car? — I saw a sign, “Sustainable Happiness.” It hit me like a jolt of lightening. Thinking that I had at last found the secret to forever happiness, I juggled my purse, searched for my specs, and then put them on to read the fine print.
It said (I’m paraphrasing here), looks fade (faster than LiLo’s sobriety on a Friday night), jobs change, and riches come and go — so what really makes us happy? The answer is “Practical Philosophy.” You may ask “WTF?” as I did. And, no, it was not the answer to life’s ponderances or mine, either. It was an ad for a school, The School of Practical Philosophy, a 10-week course in which students expand their thinking and the view they have of themselves.
Really? I need school for that?
Then the sky parted, the angels sang, the doors opened, and lo and behold the train stopped and I got a seat. And that’s when a funny thing happened. As I opened my phone to play a game of Candy Crush, an overwhelming need to gaze at the photo gallery took hold. Why? I can’t tell you. But as I looked at the pix, I discovered a picture of my cats Snowy and Paw Paw. They were sitting in the windowsill, the sun streaming behind them and dust motes danced in their eyes, and they were happy. As sustainably happy as you can get.
The bulb went off, this was the answer. The Hindus have it wrong. The path to enlightenment doesn’t end as a cow, it ends as a house cat.
That’s correct. A well-fed happy house cat. It is as close to nirvana as you can get.
All your needs are met, you are fed, housed, groomed, petted, and the only thing that is required is to recline in a window seat and bat at dust motes all day long. If you want, you can purr a bit and feign some interest when the humans come home. That’s it.
Heck, there are no bills to pay, no meals to cook, no house to clean, no kittens to pay cellphone bills for, no cars to buy, no taxi service to provide, no parties to throw, no worries, no staying up late (unless you want to), and last but not least, no husband to contend with.
Just lounging in a sunny window batting at dust motes and an occasional trip to the litter pan.
Sustainable happiness.
Not for Nuthin™, but as I exited the train, a feeling of sustainable happiness enveloped me. Not only did I have this week’s column, but my path to enlightenment was attained. I’m coming back as a house cat.
Follow me on Twitter @JDelBuono.