I love seeing people having fun. Everyone over in L.A. is too

Lukas Haas speaks with a candidness that echoes the timeless wisdom of those who have sought to understand the true nature of joy and the human spirit. In his words, “I love seeing people having fun. Everyone over in L.A. is too cool for it. That’s the problem,” we find a reflection of a deeper truth, one that has pervaded the hearts of many who have lived before him. It is a call to reconnect with the simplicity of joy, to step away from the self-consciousness that often paralyzes us, and to embrace the freedom of being—unfiltered and true to the moment.

In the ancient days, joy was seen as a sacred, almost divine gift—something that could be accessed not through the pursuit of wealth, status, or appearances, but through authentic living. The Greek philosophers, in particular, spoke often of eudaimonia, the pursuit of the good life, which was not marked by the accumulation of things, but by the fullness of living, the enjoyment of simple pleasures, and the connection with others in honest, unsophisticated ways. To be present in joy was to transcend the fleeting distractions of the world and touch something eternal.

The contrast that Haas points to is the culture of coolness that has taken root in places like Los Angeles. In the city of angels, a strange malaise often settles upon the hearts of its people. There, social masks are worn with such precision, and the pressure to appear unaffected by life’s simplest pleasures is heavy. This culture of detachment from true joy is not new. It is an ancient struggle, one that can be seen in the lives of many who sought glory but found emptiness in their pursuit. Consider King Midas, whose desire for wealth turned him into a man whose every touch turned to gold. In his wealth, he was cursed with an inability to enjoy life’s simplest pleasures, for he could not touch a thing without it becoming gold. His heart, once full of joy, became hollow, and he was left longing for the simple human connection he had sacrificed in pursuit of something greater, yet hollow.

Lukas Haas, in his reflection, speaks to something equally tragic that has taken root in modernity—a kind of societal coolness that prevents people from experiencing genuine connection and spontaneous joy. The affliction of being too cool is one that robs individuals of their authenticity, their willingness to laugh, to dance, to live without fear of judgment. This is the problem: that pride and pretense have taken the place of human warmth. People, too consumed by their image and reputation, have forgotten the wisdom of the simple joy that can be found in being rather than performing.

There is a profound lesson to be found in the teachings of those who have gone before us. The true joy of living is found in surrendering to the moment, in laughing with friends, in dancing when the spirit moves you, and in allowing your heart to be light without concern for what others may think. Emperor Marcus Aurelius, though a ruler of vast power, found solace not in his empire, but in the simple pleasures of the present moment. In his Meditations, he writes: “Receive without pride, let go without attachment.” He understood that joy is not found in the pursuit of status, but in the embrace of the present. True joy is a humble thing, unencumbered by pretense.

To live as Lukas Haas suggests, to “love seeing people having fun,” is to reclaim the essence of life that the world often tries to steal from us. It is to step away from the artificial facades of modern life and to live freely, to share laughter, to enjoy the company of others without the weight of self-consciousness. This is the antidote to the hollow pursuit of coolness that ensnares so many.

Practical action for our lives, then, lies in rediscovering the joy that resides in simple things. It means shedding the heavy cloak of social expectations and allowing ourselves to enjoy the present moment. Let go of fear—the fear of looking foolish, the fear of being judged, the fear of appearing “too eager” or “too excited.” Live fully, without concern for the opinions of others. Laugh freely, dance when the moment calls for it, and cherish the connections you make with others. For in these moments, true happiness and fulfillment are found.