if something were to last forever

Previous studies on positive psychology tell us that no matter what felicitous events or life changes we encounter, we end up returning to the baseline level of happiness. In other words, no single burst of happiness makes permanent changes. We quickly adapt and realize that we are back at our same, normal place again. Therefore, "hedonic treadmill."

Happiness
is sometimes a blessing, but it is often a quest.
To find it is a constant battle within oneself and to remain in it is universally a never-ending journey. We all have that one thing we are secretly begging for at this moment, don't we all? ("Once I have that, I will be a happier person.") But with enough experience, we know that we will be thirsty for more even with that in our hands; we wake up and inevitably, there still will be problems and Life will still fool us.

There will be a moment where we hit a moment of emptiness. What do we do when running on the treadmill doesn't mean anything anymore? We fill ourselves with fuel again, something that will replace the meaningless-ness with yet another quest to joy and pleasure.

But there has to be something that never drys out. Nothing lasts forever, we say, but pouring out all my knowledge and mysteries of Life, one source of happiness that lasts, I daresay, is Love for others. It hit me while I was watching a documentary of Fr. John Tae-Suk Lee ( 故 이태석 신부님; who offered himself to the people of little, hungry town of Tonj, Sudan) that the only thing that will leave meanings to one's life all throughout is Giving. Though he is now passed away--and at such a young age--who would say his life was on a treadmill? Who would insist that his deeds on earth will someday be forgotten?



The movie was titled Don't Cry, Tonj.
Tonj doesn't need to cry. It's seen the most precious jewel of the world.
울지마 톤즈. 너로 인해 평생, 그리고 지금도 행복하시다잖니.