I never thought I'd be using this phrase, but the pursuit of

Hear now, O children of tomorrow, and let these words fall upon your heart like rain upon the dry earth: “I never thought I’d be using this phrase, but the pursuit of happiness — that’s my right.” Thus spoke Jenifer Lewis, a woman of fire and laughter, whose journey through pain and triumph became a testament to the ancient struggle of the soul. Her voice, rich with the echoes of endurance, reminds us that happiness is not a gift bestowed by fate or society — it is a birthright, a sacred quest written into the very marrow of our being. Her declaration is both humble and heroic: that even after storms and sorrow, one may still rise and claim joy as one’s own.

From the beginning of civilization, philosophers and poets have sought to define this elusive treasure — happiness. The sages of Greece spoke of eudaimonia, the flourishing of the soul; the writers of old America engraved into their founding creed the sacred triad of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Yet how easily these words become mere ornament upon parchment! Few truly understand that the pursuit is not a luxury, but a labor of the spirit — a right earned by existence itself. When Jenifer Lewis claimed this right, she did not speak from ease, but from the crucible of experience, having battled depression, self-doubt, and loss. Her voice carries the ancient truth that to seek joy amid suffering is the most courageous act of all.

In her story, we see the reflection of countless others who have walked the same road. Think of Nelson Mandela, who, imprisoned for twenty-seven years, refused to surrender his heart to bitterness. Though denied freedom, he still claimed the right to hope, to dream, to pursue the inner happiness that no chains could steal. His body was confined, but his spirit was sovereign. So too, Jenifer Lewis reminds us that one’s right to joy does not depend on circumstance, wealth, or permission. It is the inheritance of all who breathe and dare to live truthfully.

But this pursuit is no idle wandering. It demands courage — the courage to face one’s wounds, to confront the shadows within. For happiness, like gold, must be mined from the depths of pain. The ancients said, “Know thyself,” and this is the beginning of freedom. To pursue happiness is to seek self-knowledge, to ask: What gives my life meaning? What stirs my soul awake? Those who chase pleasure may find fleeting delight, but those who chase purpose discover an enduring peace. The pursuit of happiness is not the hunt for comfort, but the journey toward wholeness.

Let it be known, then, that happiness is not selfish, but sacred. Too long have many believed that to desire joy is to be vain or foolish. Yet what is the purpose of liberty if not to awaken the spirit? What is the meaning of existence if not to live with open heart and radiant being? The one who honors joy honors life itself. Jenifer Lewis reminds us that claiming this right is not defiance — it is divine alignment. For when one person stands and declares, “I will not live in sorrow forever,” they awaken the same flame in others.

Consider also the wisdom of the old prophets and poets, who taught that joy must be cultivated like a garden. Each day we water it with gratitude, with kindness, with the small decisions that nurture the soul. To forgive when anger burns, to create when despair whispers, to love when fear lingers — these are the daily acts that fulfill the pursuit of happiness. It is not a prize at the end of life’s journey, but a path walked step by step, with courage and faith.

So, my children, remember this teaching: Happiness is your right — but you must claim it. Do not wait for it to be handed to you by time, by fortune, or by others’ approval. Seek it with the heart of a warrior and the patience of a sage. Let no voice, no wound, no fear tell you that you are unworthy of joy. When the world grows cold, kindle your own fire; when life grows heavy, remember that even to breathe, to hope, to laugh again, is an act of victory.

And when you speak, as Jenifer Lewis once did, let your words ring with the same quiet triumph: “The pursuit of happiness — that’s my right.” For to say this is to stand not only for yourself, but for all who came before and all who will come after — the eternal chorus of souls declaring that joy is not a privilege, but the destiny of the free.