Once there was a girl called Prudence.
She was a practical young lady, raised to be dependable and hard working, who prided herself on the ability to get things done.
She set goals to earn her PhD and run a marathon, so that she could show everyone that she was the best.
Secretly, what Prudence wanted, more than anything, was Happiness.
Everyone wanted Happiness. From the time they were little, all the boys and girls chased Happiness everywhere they went.
Happiness was elusive and a bit of a flirt (Prudence thought) because they would show up and the world was suddenly brighter – and then leave without a word. No one could figure out where Happiness lived, no matter how much time they spent searching.
No one could tie Happiness down, but Prudence was determined that if anyone could do it, she would.
The first part of Prudence’s strategy was to imagine where Happiness might be most likely to show up.
“Success makes for Happiness!” she thought. If Prudence achieved her goals, made something of herself, and earned the respect of others, surely, Happiness would be found.
So Prudence got an esteemed position as a bank manager. She was pleased to note that Happiness did appear a few times, but no matter how hard she worked, she just couldn’t get them to stick around.
Prudence was nothing if not resourceful, so she tried a new strategy: she would get Happiness with Money. Money was both useful and practical, which she liked, and most people agreed it at least made Happiness easier.
Prudence used her position at the bank to learn everything she could about making and accumulating Money. Soon, she had bucketloads of it.
Again, she caught some glimpses of Happiness when the numbers were up and Money was rolling in, but then Happiness would disappear again.
Prudence was forced to consider the possibility that she was going about this the wrong way.
If Success and Money couldn’t help her win Happiness, perhaps Goodness would do the trick?
Goodness was highly praised and considered quite rare. People often pretended at Goodness, hoping the good reputation would rub off on them. Surely, Happiness must be fond of Goodness, too.
Prudence volunteered for a local soup kitchen and made a practice saying something positive wherever she went.
Happiness came around more often, but then Prudence started worrying they would leave again, and sure enough, Happiness slipped away.
At this point, Prudence felt she had to acknowledge the truth to herself; she would never find Happiness. Something was clearly wrong with her, and the practical thing to do was to just give up.
Prudence would make the best of it with Apathy and Boredom, who weren’t that great, but seemed a better alternatives than Depression and Despair.
And so it was that Prudence finally stopped chasing Happiness.
Once she was no longer pursuing Happiness, Prudence was free to simply notice when Happiness appeared, and something miraculous began to happen.
When Prudence was in the park watching the children play, a smile would come to her face and Happiness filled her heart.
When Prudence sipped her morning cup of coffee, the warm glow of Happiness spread through her body.
And sometimes, Prudence would be marching down the street on her way to get things done, and Happiness would wash over her for absolutely no reason at all.
The minute she stopped wishing to be somewhere or someone else, Happiness was there.
Prudence couldn’t find Happiness when she most wanted them because she was looking away from the one place Happiness where can always be found:
Here and Now.
