This past weekend I was a happy man. My happiness was fostered, interestingly enough, for two distinct and diametrically opposed reasons. One of those reasons was I happened to be attending my first ever writer’s conference. Writer’s conferences are fun (or so I’ve heard) and guaranteed to make you a smarter and wiser man. And maybe even a better writer, tho that’s not guaranteed. And second, this conference was being hosted by a local woman’s college which in and of itself provides all sorts of opportunities to pursue happiness if you happen to be a dirty old man. While I myself am not a dirty old man (at least not yet) I will confess that I secretly admire and respect those dastardly debonairs who can chase and swoon young women and can do it while managing to stay out of jail. It’s a dang pity the writer’s conference didn’t offer a class on the fine and manly art of how to be a dirty old man because I’d surely have been the first in line to sign up if they did.
But I discovered something about happiness on that bucolic college campus that made an impression on my X-rated mind. While I was wandering about like a lost tourist I noticed a decorated rock that some creative lass painted up and left sitting on a low border wall. The rock, about the size and shape of a squashed egg had a message painted on it that read, “You don’t find the happy life. You make it.” Seeing it got me to wondering about the anonymous artist that made this and just what their life story was? Was this quote something they coined on their own? Was their own life a happy one? And how much do they really know about happiness anyway?
I often catch myself at sundry times not only marveling at art but the artists behind them. I just can’t help myself because every piece of art is really a message from a fellow creator like myself who felt compelled to create and share something deep and moving with others whom they’ll probably never meet. I find that profound and inspiring. Work that continues to generate positivity and happiness all on its own is creativity at its finest. And that’s no small feat when your humble happy project somehow rises above the noise and turbulence of an angst filled world and makes a happy impression that’s not easily forgotten. I dare say painting this odd rock made someone happy for a few minutes. And true to form, that happiness didn’t stop there but it continues to charm all those who continue to find it and marvel. Even for dirty old men!
