Wildflower Wisdom
“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise man grows it beneath his feet.” I heard this quote while watching an episode of Heart Guy, (known as Doctor, Doctor in Australia, its country of origin.) The character quoted his insight thoughtfully and slyly, alluding that he was its author, yet not claiming it outright as his own.
Curiosity made me look it up and it turns out that James Oppenheim, an American poet, novelist, and editor penned the lines in his 1916 poetry collection War and Laughter. I interpret his words to mean that in our search for happiness we can only find it in the present. When we welcome and appreciate what we already have happiness is a reality, not an illusion.
Surely there are things we hope for in the future — experiences, accomplishments, or a change in our health. However, it is misguiding if we look to the future to secure happiness, especially if happiness depends on making more money. While riches play a role in deriving pleasure, the cliche is true: money cannot buy happiness.
There is nothing wrong with setting goals to improve circumstances, if we enjoy the means used to reach them. Nor is there anything wrong with gratification if we understand it will not sustain joy. We do no harm by enhancing our lifestyle or profession either, if we acknowledge that what we achieve cannot make us more valuable in God’s eyes.
In 1976, Erma Bombeck wrote The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank, humorously capturing the ups and downs of suburban life. In Debbie Macomber’s A Christmas Miracle Christmas, one of her characters says, “If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.” All joking aside, if someone else’s grass appears greener, we must not be noticing what lies at our feet and it is time to fertilize our pastures with a happiness mentality.
When I try to visualize Oppenheim’s quote, I picture two women. The first shields her eyes with her hand above her brows as she surveys an expansive field. Not able to block the sun completely, she strains to spot something recognizable, anything that will satisfy her longing.
The other woman is wearing sunglasses amid a small, enclosed garden. She is squatting and humming a playful tune as she chooses a butterfly weed and attaches it to the ribbon on her sun hat. She is not grinning, but her frame of mind is clear— she is content and delighted.
Johnny Lee sang about lookin’ for love in all the wrong places. My ditty suggests we stop looking for happiness where we may not find it, and instead seize the day, seize the hour, seize the moment. Pick a wildflower and adorn yourself with joy!
We can find beauty even in the cracks of cement.