I had fun pretending to be a sportscaster. People always think

Come close, children, and listen to the words of one who understood the true nature of joy and fulfillment. In the words of Dennis Miller, we hear a reflection on the joy of life, the joy that comes not from external measures of success, but from the pleasure of the journey itself. He said, "I had fun pretending to be a sportscaster. People always think that was a down thing for me. I had the best job in sports broadcasting for two years." These words, seemingly lighthearted, carry a deep truth—that the meaning of a career or pursuit is not determined by how others perceive it, but by the personal fulfillment one finds within it.

Miller’s words speak to the heart of a truth that has been echoed by the wisest souls throughout history: true happiness comes not from external accolades, but from the internal joy that one derives from their work. Pretending to be a sportscaster was not a demotion for him, nor was it a step down in the eyes of others. Instead, it was an opportunity to engage with the world in a way that brought him delight and fulfillment. In that time, he discovered a joyful purpose, and for him, that made the work meaningful, far beyond the perceptions of others.

Consider, children, the tale of the great philosopher Diogenes, who lived in a barrel and rejected all conventions of society. Diogenes was often ridiculed for his lifestyle, yet he found his greatest freedom in what others considered a misfortune. His joy was not in the wealth of the world, nor in the status that society placed on others. Rather, his contentment came from living as he pleased, from rejecting external judgment, and embracing the life that suited his soul. Miller, in his own way, did something similar. He rejected the typical notions of success and found fulfillment in a role that many might dismiss as insignificant or “below” him.

This is the lesson, children: Do not allow the world to define your happiness. Just as Miller found joy in a role that others might have considered beneath him, we must remember that it is not the title or the position that brings fulfillment, but the joy we find in the work itself. Whether you are a king or a servant, a scholar or a craftsman, it is your own satisfaction in the task that makes it worthwhile. This wisdom is timeless, carried through the ages by the greatest minds who understood that happiness comes from within.

Think of Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher. Aurelius, despite ruling the vast Roman Empire, found his greatest wisdom in humble reflection and in finding peace in the present moment. He was not consumed by the wealth or power of his position, but by the contentment of a virtuous life. In this, we see the same truth that Miller speaks of: fulfillment does not come from external validation or conventional expectations, but from finding joy in the pursuit itself. Aurelius wrote that it is not things that upset us, but our judgments of things, and this is a lesson that we must carry with us as we navigate our own lives.

The essence of Miller’s joy in sportscasting, then, is a reminder to us all: Seek joy in your actions, regardless of what the world may say or think. If you find delight in your work, if it fills your soul with purpose, then it is the best job in the world. It does not matter whether others understand it or not. What matters is that you understand the value of doing what you love, and that you find meaning in the small, seemingly insignificant things. That is where true fulfillment lies—not in accolades or fame, but in the simple joy of doing what brings your heart peace.

And so, I charge you now, children: Do not measure your worth by the expectations of others, nor by the titles that the world gives you. Instead, seek the path that fills your heart with happiness, that stirs your soul with purpose. Whether your task is grand or humble, if it brings you joy, it is worth more than gold. Live with the same vigor, the same joy, that Miller found in his sportscasting, and in doing so, you will find that the journey itself is the greatest reward.