The meaning of Happiness
According to Hearne, Happiness as perceived by animals is quite different from what most human would consider it to be. The author explains that the exhibition of happiness in animals varies significantly from one species to the next (even across different breeds of the same species). For example, what a Doberman dog may consider to be happiness may be viewed as frustrating and tiresome by a Chihuahua. As such, happiness as it pertains to animals is relative. However, the one thing they are have in common is the fact that happiness is delivered from the satisfaction of engaging in work. A dog is happy when it is able to exercise or perform acrobatic activities without being forced by humans.
On the other hand, humans perceive happiness as any activity that brings about comfort and pleasure. As such, human beings believe that an animal is happy as long as it is given a good place to sleep, food, and shown love. However, this thinking is wrong given that animals like to engage in work be it walking, running, jumping, wrestling, breaking things, swinging, and swimming. The omission of such activities from an animal’s life in spite of giving it shelter, food, and “love” will cause the animal to be stressed and miserable. The same can be said for humans, it is the sense of purpose delivered from work that makes people truly happy. I therefore wholeheartedly agree with Hearne with regard to what is the true definition and measure of happiness both for humans and animal. Conclusively, work should be the greatest source of happiness across the board for all species on earth.
A Hiking Excursion
Two months ago on a cold Saturday morning, my friends and I decided to go on a mountain hike (it was more of a hill) through a density forested area of a game reserve. The trip to the reserve had been planned for weeks so everyone was pretty excited to be at the park. However, we got to see very few animals and the trip seemed to be a total disappointment. We informed the park ranger of our displeasure and she offered to take us on a hike up the mountain early the next day, while the animals were still active. Early the next day every one assembled at the base of the mountain led by the park ranger and everything was going great considering we could already see bison, deer, different birds, and coyotes.
So we started up the mountain via the forested path because the ranger said it would be more “fun”. As we trekked the path seemed to be getting steeper and more challenging by the minute; however, we were kept amused and distracted by animals that we saw maneuvering through the woods (we even got to see a 15 year old black bear that was clearly very old and struggling like we were to make it across the forest). The ranger pushed us and kept pushing until we got to the top. We were all very tired, but all in group were pretty happy to have completed the 4 hour summit to the top of the mountain. And honestly, that is one of the happiest days of my life due to the feeling of accomplishment that cradled me that day.
