c. 2002 · Short essay — on motive.
What motivates me? Why do I do the things I do? I’ve always thought that it centered around one basic truth: that our lives are lived in pursuit of happiness. With that in mind, I suppose that ultimately I’m motivated by pleasure. For example, right now, I am typing these words because I delight in them.
A likely argument against this might question why we do things-even routinely-that we don’t enjoy doing. But I feel that if we chose to do them, then they are basically guided by our quest for joy. For example, most people spend a large portion of their lives toiling at their respective workplaces. Ask them if they like spending their time there, and most will say they don’t. All the same, they do it because it serves as a means to get that which does bring them happiness. We work, we get paid, we use our money to survive, and, if we’re fortunate, we purchase luxuries.
Even love, often considered the virtue of selflessness is just as much the virtue of selfishness. True love is the bond that gives the lover the ability to work toward another person’s happiness while bringing him or her an even greater amount of joy. Two people who truly love one another are two people who are ultimately happy, because so long as they are able, they serve one another’s needs for happiness. I will go on to say this is a fine example of how love is self-sustaining.
I’ll likely add more to this subject. Goodbye for now, and be happy!
Composed 2002 · part of the Essays collection · authorship documented on the Provenance page.