Happiness is like a cat, If you try to coax it or call it, it

Opening Scene

The late afternoon light pours softly into the room, casting a warm, golden glow across the space. Outside, the city moves at a steady pace, but inside, the air is calm, almost still. Jack is seated at the table, sipping his coffee, lost in thought as he stares out the window. Jeeny, standing nearby, watches the world outside, her arms loosely folded as her mind seems to wander. The quiet is comfortable, but there’s a sense that a conversation is waiting to unfold.

Host: After a few moments, Jeeny breaks the silence, her voice soft but filled with curiosity, as if she’s been reflecting on something for a while.

Jeeny: “I came across this quote by William Bennett the other day, and it really stuck with me. He said, ‘Happiness is like a cat, If you try to coax it or call it, it will avoid you; it will never come. But if you pay no attention to it and go about your business, you’ll find it rubbing against your legs and jumping into your lap.’ It made me think — how much of our pursuit of happiness is just chasing after it, rather than letting it come to us naturally?”

Jack: “That’s an interesting way to look at it. It’s almost like happiness is something that can’t be forced. When we focus too much on trying to find it, we end up pushing it away. But when we shift our focus to other things, to the things we can control, that’s when happiness finds us, unexpectedly.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s like when we stop trying so hard, when we’re just going about our lives, happiness becomes this byproduct of living authentically. It’s not something we can command or chase; it’s something that shows up when we least expect it. Kind of like how a cat comes to you when it’s ready, not when you call it.”

Jack: “I think that’s the key — not chasing after happiness. We often think we have to make ourselves happy, achieve certain things, or check off boxes to feel fulfilled. But maybe happiness doesn’t work that way. Maybe it’s not about trying to achieve it, but about embracing life as it comes, doing the things that matter to us, and letting happiness flow naturally from those moments.”

Host: The conversation deepens, the weight of Bennett’s words hanging between them. Jack sets down his coffee cup, his expression thoughtful as he reflects on the idea that happiness is not something to be sought, but something to be experienced in the course of life. Jeeny takes a seat at the table, her gaze steady as she continues.

Jeeny: “I think it’s also about trusting the process. When we try to force happiness, we’re not really trusting that life will unfold as it’s meant to. We’re so focused on the end goal that we forget to live in the present moment, to find joy in what’s happening right now. But when we stop trying to control everything, when we just focus on what we’re doing and how we’re living, happiness finds us in unexpected ways.”

Jack: “It’s like trying to force a connection — the more you try to make it happen, the more it feels out of reach. But when you let go of the need for it, when you focus on what’s in front of you, it comes naturally. It’s the energy we put into life that invites happiness in.”

Jeeny: “And that’s what makes it so much more fulfilling. Happiness that comes from within, from living authentically and not constantly chasing after it, feels more sustainable. It’s not dependent on a specific outcome or event; it’s rooted in how we approach life.”

Jack: “So, maybe the key is to stop seeing happiness as something we need to find or earn. It’s already here, we just have to create the space for it to show up. Like the cat rubbing against our legs — it’s a result of being present, of doing things that make us feel whole.”

Host: The room feels lighter now, the weight of their reflection settling into a quiet understanding. The outside world continues at its usual pace, but inside, Jack and Jeeny share a moment of clarity: that happiness, like a cat, can’t be forced. It’s something that comes naturally when we stop chasing after it and simply embrace life as it is. In that simplicity, happiness finds us, quietly, unexpectedly.

Jeeny: “It’s like we’ve been looking for happiness in all the wrong places. We think it’s something we have to chase or achieve, but it’s really about letting go and just letting life unfold.”

Jack: “Exactly. It’s about focusing on the journey, not the destination. Happiness isn’t something we can control or pursue, but something that comes to us when we stop chasing it and start living.”

Host: The evening deepens, the room growing quiet once more, as Jack and Jeeny sit with the understanding that happiness, like so many of the best things in life, cannot be forced. It arrives when we least expect it, when we are simply living authentically, doing the things we love, and allowing ourselves to be present in the moment. The city outside continues, but inside, there’s a quiet peace — a reminder that the simplest joys are often the ones that come when we stop trying so hard to find them.