Imagine that you were born in another country to poor parents, who worked double shifts their entire lives to save enough money to send YOU to the United States and give YOU a better shot at a better life. Of course there would be no guarantee you’d succeed....but at least you’d have the opportunity. How would you live your life knowing that someone else had essentially sacrificed theirs just to improve your chances?
This is what Thomas Jefferson meant when he wrote about “the pursuit of happiness.” There’s no guarantee that any of us will achieve happiness, riches, or success (however we define it).
But, just as tens of millions of immigrants do everyday, we should pursue happiness as if someone had risked everything just to give us the chance. Because someone did. Even if we never met them.
Earn this.