The key to happiness from Jay Leno??

First read Jay's comments below. These are things we all seem to forget. I say we're cursed by being raised in this modern bullshit culture of materialism. We can't seem to find our happiness because all we are forced to see is what we don't have...

The more we have, the more we want.
the more we want, the less we think we have.
The less we think we have, the more elusive happiness becomes.

keep things in perspective


Jay Leno wrote this; ...It's the Jay Leno we don't often see....
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll
data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source,
right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67%of Americans are unhappy with the
direction the country is headed, and 69% of the country is unhappy with
the performance of the President. In essence , 2/3's of the citizenry
just isn't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking:
"What are we so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week?
Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer
and heating in the winter?
Could it be that 95.4 % of these unhappy folks have a job?
Maybe it is the ability to walk into a Grocery store at any time, and
see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic
Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through
each State?
Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe Motels we would find along
the way that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of Restaurants with varying cuisine from around
the world is just not good enough.
Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to
the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home. You may be
upset with knowing, that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of
trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment
to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your
belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a
burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a
bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack
or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood, free of bombs or militias
raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers
own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we
enjoy, that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67%of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world
has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great
disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed
people in the world, who do nothing but complain about what we don't
have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good
Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no
plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31% approval rating?
Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after
9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession?
Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book
for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled, ungrateful brats safe from
terrorist attacks?
The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there
defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news
or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you
couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and
be glad?
Think about it, ... are you upset at the President because he actually
caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was
failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.
There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general''
discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case
scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69% of
Americans?
Say what you want, but I blame it on the Media. If it bleeds, it leads;
and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with
blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?
The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They
offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by
"justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to
allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about :"How he didn't
kill his wife, but if he did, he would have done it this way"...Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off
the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your
bird cage.
...Then start being grateful for all we have as a country.
There is exponentially more good , than bad...
We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God
several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding,
severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and
with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, ..."Are we sure this
is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Jay Leno
2007