Today, I got to thinking about that quote, “Happiness only real when shared.” It’s from that book, “Into the Wild,” about the guy who went off into the Alaskan wilderness. Christopher McCandless, that was his name. He wrote it in the margin of a book, “Doctor Zhivago,” right before things went south for him out there.
So, I started digging around online, just to see what the deal was with this quote. Found out that a lot of folks think it means you gotta share your good times with others to truly enjoy them. Makes sense, I guess. It got me thinking about my own life, living alone and all.
Recalled that McCandless actually underlined the quote in his book and then wrote his own note next to it, “Happiness only real when shared.” Looked like it was a big moment for him, realizing that all his adventures might have been better with someone by his side. I think he want to find his real happiness, and we need to find real happiness too.
I spent a good chunk of the afternoon just pondering this whole idea. Pulled out some old photo albums and flipped through them. There were pictures of me on trips, at family gatherings, just hanging out with friends. And you know what? Those pictures where I was with other people, those were the ones that made me smile the most. Those pictures can bring us happiness and joy.
- I started to see a pattern.
- I decided to try a little experiment.
- For the rest of the day, I made a conscious effort to share my experiences, no matter how small.
- I called up my sister and chatted with her about a funny video I saw online.
- I texted a friend a picture of the sunset from my window.
- I even struck up a conversation with the cashier at the grocery store, just a simple “How’s your day going?”
And I gotta say, it felt pretty good. It was like those little moments of connection brightened up my day. Maybe there’s something to this “happiness shared” thing after all. It is a good way to get happiness.
My Conclusion
This whole thing reminded me that even small gestures of sharing can make a difference, both for yourself and for others. It’s not about grand adventures, but about those everyday moments of connection. I think I’m going to try to be more mindful of this going forward, to reach out and share a little more, even if it’s just a smile or a kind word. It could make the world a little bit of a better place. I think I find the real meaning about this quote, and I decided to take it into action.
