Bear Necessities

Welcome back to The Effortless Present. Quick note before we dive in: I am not formally trained. I do not have an MD or a PhD. I am simply a sixty-year-old man who has led an interesting life and happens to be hyper-observant and I have learned a thing or two. My education and my opinions are exactly that—opinions. I graduated from the school of hard knocks, and believe me, my knocks haven't been nearly as harsh as the ones I’ve seen others endure. I am extremely lucky to be where I am, and I wake up grateful each and every day for the opportunity to engage with others, especially the people I care about most.

Anywho, sticking with our bear theme, I want to talk about happiness and how I manage to find it every single day. We all have responsibilities, goals, and milestones we want to reach in life. But the longer I am alive, the more convinced I become that most of that superficial stuff just doesn’t matter.

The Bear Necessities Think about the true, bare necessities of life. We spend so much of our time complicating our existence, hoarding worries, and carrying around excess baggage. But when you strip it all down to the absolute essentials—the "bear" necessities—you realize how lightly you can travel. The true essentials aren't found in a bank account or a storage unit; they are found in the way we spend our time and the peace we cultivate within our own minds.

The Stuff Will Not Bring You Happiness Society tells us that gathering more "stuff" is the ultimate goal. We spend decades accumulating possessions, convinced that the next purchase will be the one that finally makes us feel complete. But stuff is just stuff. It breaks, it gathers dust, and eventually, it ends up owning you. The fleeting thrill of acquiring something new fades almost immediately, leaving you right back where you started, searching for the next fix to fill the void.

The Money Will Not Bring You Happiness The same goes for money. Yes, we need it to survive this blue marble, and the money gained, earned, and saved might add up to something significant. If you can use it to help others, fantastic—that is a noble route to satisfaction. But the endless pursuit of wealth for wealth's sake is a trap. If your entire existence is tied to a paycheck or a promotion, you will constantly feel empty. True satisfaction does not come from a swelling bank balance; it comes from finding a purpose that makes you forget about the clock.

The Journey and the Company We Keep What truly matters is the journey itself and the people you share it with. My conclusion, after sixty years of wondering what I should do with my life, has led me to this simple mandate: Find your passion in life. Why the emphasis? Well, my wife, Tonie, has preached this to me for as long as we have known each other. She is one of those truly special people—at least for me, though many others would agree. The people walking beside you, the ones who encourage you to pursue what sets your soul on fire, are your real wealth. Only your shared journey with them can bring you lasting joy.

Finding Your Passion Find your passion, and the rest falls into place. Recently (and here is my selfish plug), I have written about a dozen and a half educational children’s stories, and I absolutely love it. I look forward to sitting down in front of my screen and keying out those strokes. It is so deeply fulfilling. I love what I do.

Now, to supplement my existence here, I drive rideshare. This isn't just a gig; it is a daily opportunity to engage with people from all walks of life. I get some of my absolute best ideas just toting folks to and fro the airport. When you are passionate about what you are doing, you work harder willingly. You spend extra time on it—not because you have to, but because you want to. If you are passionate about your work, the money, the promotions, and the accolades will naturally follow as a byproduct.

Just two cents from an old man who is truly grateful for his journey on this marble and actively practices TAG: Tolerance + Acceptance + Gratitude. These are three virtues I can actually live by.

Stay present in this beautiful, chaotic journey. Find your passion today, and discover your joy.