‘Hopeless Happiness’ is a product of my attempt to reconcile Truth with Peace.  Serious reflection on the nature of Truth seems to disturb my peace by causing me to consider and acknowledge reality, while attempts to focus and center (seeking peace) seem to impede any progress towards wisdom.  If I found the ultimate Truth (Wisdom) (Purpose) I am certain it would come prepackaged with Happiness. Therein lies the ‘Hopeless’.  I will never, in this lifetime,  find the ultimate Truth so I will never be ‘truly’ Happy. Yet still I can at times trick myself. Like right now, when I  feel? … think? that I am making progress. Or often it is simply when I am active and in good health. Or when I ‘count my blessings’. Or when I am stimulated socially. Or when I am kind, empathetic, respectful, compassionate, helpful. Or when I am constructive, trusting, optimistic, productive. Or even when I feel like I know something or am part of something that everyone else should accept without question.

So is ‘Hopeless’ in this context  a negative? (I don’t think so.)

Is ‘Reality’ a downer? (Yes.)

Should we ignore ‘Reality’? (No.)

Is ignorance – or being oblivious – truly bliss?  (Yes, but that’s no excuse; though it is nice every now and then.)

And what about all those crutches listed above?  Why are they tricks?  (They are only tricks if we don’t dilute them with Humility and Reality.  Proper perspective will allow a burgeoning Happiness to find the sunshine at least occasionally.)

I have begun this discussion because I am not at all certain of my answers above; (although I was confident when I wrote them). There are times I wish I could be certain; or oblivious; or more grateful; or even more spiritually faithful.  Though many of us put on a brave front I believe this doubt to be universal. Perhaps not?  Tell me.  I am looking for lively, balanced, respectful conversation that will argue for and against hope and happiness. Balance is a key. I will do my best to not let this become only ‘Zip-a-dee-doo-dah-Camptown-Races’, or exclusively ‘Night on Bald Mountain’.  I want to learn from a proper mix of dark and light; so please tell me what you think.

I look forward to your responses. I will end this first post with a description of how I encourage myself to keep searching for ‘bits’ of Wisdom that will in turn reward me with intermittent Hope and Happiness:

Never-ending Foolishness, led by an Imagination that is constantly Learning from the cycles of Separation and Structure, while cultivating the Ability to gain Insight (driven by Passion and Integrity, and tempered with Humor and Compassion) into the Depth of my Body, my Heart, my Mind, and my Spirit.