Efrain Franco
Mr. Paul Stacklin
12 A
18-10-24
The Illusion of Happiness
After all our advancements, have we lost our humanity along the way? Society is quickly
creating new tools for the benefit of the human race, but in all these innovations, we are
sacrificing something essential: our true happiness. Today, we have endless distractions at
our fingertips: social media, videos, music, and articles fill our time and act as escapes from
responsibilities. But instead of finding joy, we feel lost in our own existence. We aren’t
controlled physically, but mentally, trapped in a cycle of entertainment and false happiness.
We think too much and feel too little. Our existence has become a prisoner of these pleasures,
blinding us to the true beauty of life and the vast potential within each of us. Today, many
people surrender their dreams, searching for fulfillment not within themselves but by the
media and the approval of others. Happiness has become defined by likes on posts, funny
videos, and positive comments, rather than personal satisfaction.
Are we really happy? Are we living a life that gives us genuine joy?
Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, presents a society where people are happy, but
at the cost of individuality and purpose. In this world, people look down on those who are
different, calling them savages, while staying ignorant of their own society’s situation.
Humanity has stopped dreaming, believing comfort is enough and that there’s no point in
looking for anything greater. This dystopian world looks like our modern times in many
aspects. We’ve lost our humanity by obsessing over a version of happiness that isn’t real. We
think we are satisfied, but depending on distractions online only pulls us further away from
our true selves and real joy.
We must resist the temptation to depend on pleasures. Life has more meaning than just
superficial cheerfulness. We are capable of greatness: flying to the moon, running 100 meters
in less than 10 seconds, reaching unimaginable heights. We don’t have to be consumed by the
distractions of today. We must think, create, and achieve on our own. We are humans, and
part of our soul is to dream and accomplish. Make your life meaningful by who you are and
what you achieve, not by the entertainment that surrounds you.
Let’s end with a quote from the video game Minecraft, one that, despite its source, holds a
powerful meaning: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe
harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
