Observations©

By Donald S. Conkey

Date: December 17, 2009 - # 9951 - Title: Pursuing happiness surely helps us find happiness (818)

While reading the Declaration of Independence over the years I often pondered Thomas Jefferson’s words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the ‘pursuit of happiness,…” I don’t ponder these words any more – I now know what ‘the pursuit of happiness’ means.  

Likewise, while reading the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States, I pondered what has become America’s powerful mission statement. Its six stated goals are: 1. form a more perfect Union; 2. establish Justice; 3. insure domestic Tranquility; 4. provide for the common defense; 5. promote the general Welfare; and 6. secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and to our Posterity.

I have lived to see these words become reality in my life and in the lives of my family beginning with my great-great grandfather Arthur Conkey, born in 1781. That was the year the British surrendered at Yorktown to George Washington, the surrender that led to America’s unique Constitution, with freedom built upon the principles of People’s Law (or God’s Law) that allows all members of society to dream, and to work hard to make their dreams come true - with all people equal before God and the bar of justice.

Just prior to the Irish potato famine, Grandfather Arthur immigrated with seven children, to Ontario Canada in 1842. He arrived almost penniless but with “hope” for his family’s future. He died in 1865. His second son, Robert, then 21, worked seven years as an indentured servant that helped him obtain 40 acres of land. By 1909, the year he died, this 40 acres had become 1000 acres plus and he was able to provide each of his 12 living children with an endowment to help them earn their way in life. My father was with Grandpa Robert when he died and dad told me he died happy, with a smile on his face.

Samuel Conkey, his son, became my grandfather. He was born in 1859 and chose to leave Canada and migrate to the United States with his $1000 endowment. Grandfather homesteaded in South Dakota; spend 10 years there before drought and fire forced him to move to Michigan where my father Hall was born in 1899. Continuing the family tradition of helping prepare family members for their future my father was given a university education, establishing a new family tradition, and then served society as an influential teacher, encouraging youth for years.

The deep depression that affected the nation during the 1930s affected our family, as it did many families, and it affected my life as well. Surviving the depression wasn’t easy but the family survived by learning how to work hard, a gift that has blessed us throughout our life. Joan and I have continued the family tradition by providing our children with the education they needed to meet the demanding challenges of raising their families. And our children have done likewise for their children.

            As stated above I no longer pursue happiness because I found it. It came with our own family. But it was sown and rooted years ago by loving parents and nurtured with hard work and faith in God. Our happiness was in full bloom on Thanksgiving Day when our family gathered for the traditional family dinner at daughter Pamela’s home. It continued to blossom during that week when granddaughter Malina stayed with us for several days with her three children, Loren (7), Samuel Hall (4), and Violet (11 months). After they left Joan and I more fully appreciated God’s wisdom in sending children to those in their 20s. Those of us in our 80s can not match the energy levels of children under eight. But watching Malina relate to her children strongly reinforced a truism: every generation regenerates itself. 

Having these three small great grandchildren in our home reminded us that our home is no longer child-proof. Nor do we have the IT toys children relate to today, nor the energy to keep up with the little ones. But as our energy level decreases with age, our love and pride in family increases, especially while watching a granddaughter teach her children those same principles of life my parents taught their children years ago. But true happiness is taking a red-headed eleven month old great granddaughter for a ride in her great-grandpa’s wheelchair and watching her look up at you and smile. Her smiles melted my heart!

The seeds of my happiness today were sown many years ago at the knees of parents who taught their children the principles for correct living, principles that helped us make good decisions throughout our lives. All parents who teach their children the principles of life plant seeds of happiness in their lives. Mine did.

How one pursues happiness is personal but pursuing happiness surely helps us find happiness!