I always wish the hotels were like they are in movies and TV

Gilbert Gottfried’s words, "I always wish the hotels were like they are in movies and TV shows, where if you're in Paris, right outside your window is the Eiffel Tower. In Egypt, the pyramids are right there. In the movies, every hotel has a monument right outside your window. My hotel rooms overlook the garbage dumpster in the back alley," reflect a humorous and realistic observation on the contrast between the idealized images we see in movies and the mundane truths of real life. Gottfried’s reflection highlights how the world of cinema often presents an illusion—one in which the fantastical and the extraordinary are seamlessly woven into everyday experiences. In contrast, the reality of travel and life is often far less glamorous. Yet, there is wisdom in his words: the gap between expectation and reality is a profound part of the human condition.

In the ancient world, this theme of expectation versus reality was also deeply understood. The Greek myth of King Midas offers a striking example. Midas, granted the power to turn everything he touched into gold, initially sees this gift as a blessing. But as the story unfolds, he realizes that his greed and his inability to recognize the true value of life—love, family, and connection—lead him to despair. His wish for wealth (an idealized form of happiness) is met with the harsh reality that greed and the pursuit of material things cannot offer the true fulfillment he sought. Much like the garbage dumpster in Gottfried’s story, Midas’ life was overshadowed by the mundane—his wealth turned to isolation, and he could not find happiness even in the treasure that surrounded him. The lesson from Midas is clear: the pursuit of external grandeur can often distract us from the inner peace that comes from appreciating life’s simpler moments.

This notion is not only confined to myth but is deeply rooted in philosophy. Socrates, for instance, lived a life that rejected the luxuries and material comforts of his time. He famously walked barefoot through Athens, engaging with the world not through the lens of wealth or status, but through intellectual pursuit and self-reflection. Socrates understood that true happiness did not lie in the monuments and riches that surround us, but in the inner life—the questions we ask, the knowledge we seek, and the virtues we cultivate. The juxtaposition of the garbage dumpster with the Eiffel Tower in Gottfried’s quote reflects this wisdom: our quest for external markers of success can often obscure the simple beauty of the world around us.

In many ways, ancient philosophers like Diogenes exemplified this attitude. Diogenes, the famous Cynic philosopher, rejected the trappings of society and wealth, choosing to live in a barrel and embrace the simplicity of life. He famously carried a lantern in broad daylight, declaring he was looking for an honest man. Diogenes understood that the true value of life lay not in what was seen from the window—whether a grand monument or a garbage dumpster—but in the simplicity of living authentically and embracing the world as it is. For Diogenes, it wasn’t about what you had, but how you responded to life’s challenges and how you embraced simplicity.

Similarly, in Rome, the Stoics such as Seneca and Epictetus taught that contentment did not come from external circumstances, but from cultivating an inner tranquility that could withstand the turbulence of life. Epictetus, a former slave, emphasized that true freedom and happiness came not from wealth, status, or control over external conditions, but from the ability to control one’s own mind. He believed that external things—like a hotel room view—were often beyond our control, but how we perceive and react to them is where our true power lies. Just as Gottfried contrasts the glamorous expectations with the mundane realities of travel, the Stoics remind us that our peace comes not from perfect conditions, but from embracing what is, with gratitude and acceptance.

In modern times, this message resonates in the way we often pursue perfect lives through social media, advertisements, or consumerism—ever seeking the next luxury or destination that promises to bring fulfillment. Yet, as Gottfried humorously points out, the reality often falls short of those illusions. The view from the window is often not the Eiffel Tower, but the garbage dumpster. This is not a condemnation of enjoying life’s luxuries, but rather a call to balance. True contentment is found in appreciating life as it is, even in the mundane moments—not chasing an idealized version of happiness that can never be fully realized.

The lesson from Gottfried’s reflection is one of acceptance and realism. Life will often fail to meet our expectations, but in that gap lies an opportunity for us to cultivate gratefulness and perspective. Just as the ancient philosophers taught, our peace comes not from the external, but from how we approach and accept life’s imperfections. We must learn to embrace the view from the back alley, recognizing that it is within our power to find beauty in the ordinary and meaning in the everyday. When we stop chasing the ideal and accept the real, we find a deeper contentment that no perfect view or grand monument can provide.

As you walk through life, remember to look beyond the surface of the external world. Whether in your career, relationships, or personal pursuits, understand that true happiness does not come from the perfect circumstances or idealized goals. Instead, it is found in the simplicity of the present moment, in the gratitude for what is, and in the peace you cultivate within. Whether you are looking at the Eiffel Tower or a garbage dumpster, choose to find beauty in what is, knowing that contentment comes not from the view outside, but from the attitude you bring to it.