In November of 2008, Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, was released as a guide to success. It is a success that is defined as either financial wealth or skill that brings world renown. Since then it has sold over 1.6 million copies, bought by people clamoring to find out how they too could receive everything they'd ever wanted. Sadly, the book confirmed that many great successes grew out of the seeds of luck and chance. People found themselves back at square one, wondering how they could achieve their success.
Gatsby spent a lifetime making himself into the man he thought he wanted to be. It consumed him so much that his material possessions were needed to fill the growing void of insecurity in his heart. Even Daisy became a check mark, something on his list to prove to himself that he became the man he had always yearned to be. And even as we mock the characters in the Great Gatsby, we fail to see Fitzgerald's warning. We grow up playing dress up, pretending that we are the world's greatest successes. And as we grow older we wish we were young again. Maybe its because we never lived up to our expectations. Every year we set our standards lower just to soften the blow of failure. And sometimes I wonder: if ten years ago I could've seen myself the way I am today, would I be proud of who I am? Probably not.
Happiness is but a moment. When we spend all our conscious moments chasing an idyllic reality, we doom ourselves to failure. Those who constantly worry about being happy are in constant fear of losing that happiness. In fact, Cherophobia is where a person fears happiness because he or she believes that something tragic will follow. And something tragic will inevitably ensue. In the end, the pursuit of happiness is a curse. It makes life a race against the inevitable truth of time. The real gift is the ability to live in the present. But in a world where we must have our lives plotted out by the age of 17, it seems we are destined to live the life of Gatsby, forever chasing the platonic versions of ourselves. I hope that you get everything you thought you wanted, and I hope that it is everything you thought it would be.
Gatsby spent a lifetime making himself into the man he thought he wanted to be. It consumed him so much that his material possessions were needed to fill the growing void of insecurity in his heart. Even Daisy became a check mark, something on his list to prove to himself that he became the man he had always yearned to be. And even as we mock the characters in the Great Gatsby, we fail to see Fitzgerald's warning. We grow up playing dress up, pretending that we are the world's greatest successes. And as we grow older we wish we were young again. Maybe its because we never lived up to our expectations. Every year we set our standards lower just to soften the blow of failure. And sometimes I wonder: if ten years ago I could've seen myself the way I am today, would I be proud of who I am? Probably not. Happiness is but a moment. When we spend all our conscious moments chasing an idyllic reality, we doom ourselves to failure. Those who constantly worry about being happy are in constant fear of losing that happiness. In fact, Cherophobia is where a person fears happiness because he or she believes that something tragic will follow. And something tragic will inevitably ensue. In the end, the pursuit of happiness is a curse. It makes life a race against the inevitable truth of time. The real gift is the ability to live in the present. But in a world where we must have our lives plotted out by the age of 17, it seems we are destined to live the life of Gatsby, forever chasing the platonic versions of ourselves. I hope that you get everything you thought you wanted, and I hope that it is everything you thought it would be.
but being content makes humanity stagnant. if people were not ambitious and hard working to attain their dreams, humanity would take a big step back
ReplyDeleteBut humanity would take a big step back in what way? In all the ways we've made life convenient? Aren't the greatest inventions what made us materialistic in the first place? It's true that technology has had positive effects (like modern medicine), I'm just pointing out that it has negative repercussions as well. And if the goal is to find happiness, then we can't find it by chasing imagination.
DeleteThe connection to Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers and The Great Gatsby was very well done. Your claim that "Happiness is but a moment" (Acharya) is very profound yet strikingly true. I do believe it is a curse, and that the pursuit of happiness does indeed haunt us more than it rewards us.
ReplyDeleteI really like your post. It is interesting how Daisy is just another item to check off of Gatsby's list. I have never heard of cherophobia, but it seems like a very intriguing state of mind. Your ending is very powerful; we will end up just like Gatsby, chasing the platonic visions of ourselves. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteVery well written! I like your comparison to Outliers and how it relates to the Great Gatsby. I think your point about Daisy is very insightful. But I wonder if the pursuit of happiness is truly a lost cause? I think it is what drives people to look forward. Either way, I loved it!
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing and hauntingly true post! I like how you said that "Happiness is but a moment" because there is so much truth behind that!
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