… AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
MAY 9, 2007
The founders of this country authored a remarkable series of documents that declared to the
world our philosophy of life and the extent to which we would go to defend that philosophy.
One of the most interesting passages in the Declaration of Independence contained the phrase …
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The meaning of the first two words is unequivocal and
was the object of an intense seven-year war for independence from Great Britain. The meaning
of the last portion of this sentence, penned by Thomas Jefferson, is less clear. It may be that the
founders felt that no explanation was needed.
The government could and should guarantee life and liberty, but they were not obligated to
provide happiness. Individuals were free to pursue happiness in any way that did not conflict
with the rights of others.
I have been reading A Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier the recollections of a revolutionary
war soldier from Connecticut. It is a sometimes-rambling personal history of Joseph Plumb
Martin, who was fifteen when he first enlisted in the Continental Army.
In his memoir, Martin paints a vivid picture of the life of a citizen soldier who was fighting to
make the ideals of the Declaration of Independence a reality.
While the narrative describes the struggles to form an army, the battles and skirmishes that
frequently occurred between British and Colonial forces, it also describes the sickness,
deprivation and hunger that Martin and his comrades experienced over those crucial years. In
one passage, Martin’s regiment responded to a potential threat from a marauding British force in
the depths of winter. Finding that the threat had diminished the troops bedded down in the lee
of a snowy hillside and attempted to survive the night. They had not eaten in three days, had no
water to drink that was not frozen and for food, they warmed the soles of an old pair of shoes
over a smoky fire and attempted to eat the leather. In short, they were fighting the elements
more than the enemy and their only thought was how to survive the night. Their devotion to the
cause of life and liberty was unquestioned, but for them happiness was freedom from hunger.
We, as a country have come a long way since that snowy winter of 1780. Our country exists and
thrives as a result of the sacrifices of Joseph Plumb Martin and his comrades. We enjoy a good
life by global standards and the liberties we have are the envy of the world. But are we really
happy?
Remember, the Declaration of Independence made us personally responsible for our own
happiness. What can or will make you happy as you move from the relatively protected situation
of being a student where some of the decisions about your life were made by others to a
pharmacist who makes similar decisions for the patients you serve?
Just as the founders declined to take responsibly for the happiness of others, I cannot state
definitely what would make you happy, but I can offer a few suggestions drawn from personal
and observed experiences.
FIR S T
F I N D S O M E T H I N G T H A T Y O U C A N B E P A S S I O N A T E A B O U T - too
often we use the term passionate to describe affairs of the heart, but it has other meanings too.
In my context it includes hobbies, work, service to others or involvement in your community or
church. We must all find something in life that has meaning and about which we feel passionate.
Something into which we can devote a part of our intellect or skill and from which we derive the
satisfaction of adding meaning to life.
S EC ON D
S E E K A M E N T O R A N D B E A M E N T O R T O O T H E R S – you are not
successful simply because of your good looks, your intellect or the drive and determination that
has allowed you to enter the profession of pharmacy. You are very simply a success because of
the mentorship of others. Your family, your teachers and pharmacists that have been your
professional guides for much of the past year are all responsible for your success. They have
taken an interest in your welfare and assisted you in your pursuit of happiness, because they care
about you. That care comes with an unstated requirement that you will do the same for others
one day. That is how it works. You are mentored and you agree to mentor others to assist them
in their quest.
Your education is also just starting. Society is changing rapidly. New drugs and devices will enter
the health care arena at a dizzying pace. To use and understand these will require a continued
commitment to your personal education but the wisdom that allows you to understand how best
to use these technologies will come from interaction with your mentors. Seek them out and
acknowledge the importance of their guidance in the practice of your chosen profession and in
the conduct of life.
FIN A LL Y
G I V E B A C K T O T H E C O M M U N I T Y W I T H I N W H I C H Y O U L I V E – it is
all too tempting to feel that your community owes you because you have skills that are in high
demand and for which society will reward you. We forget that, in every community, there are
those who cannot even reach the first rung of the ladder of success. There are individuals you
will meet every day who need your skills as a healer or educator but cannot reward you the way
society does for your knowledge. Find opportunities either informally or through civic
organizations to help those less fortunate than you.
I was standing in line at a rural grocery store a few years ago waiting to purchase a few items for
my mother. The woman in line ahead of me was obviously of limited means and when I
approached, the check out she was counting out all the change she had in her pockets to go with
a few crumpled dollar bills that were already on the counter. Her purchases were modest – a
loaf of bread, a can of soup and a half gallon of milk. In embarrassment, she realized that she
didn’t have enough money for the purchase and said “I’ll go out to the car and see if I can find
the rest.” The clerk, a young fresh faced teenager, remarked with some disgust, “Yeah, you go
ahead lady.” He turned to me and said, “She’s probably not coming back, so I can wait on you.” I
asked quietly how much was needed to complete the purchase. He responded, “Two dollars.” I
handed him the money and he turned as he accepted the cash and yelled to the woman who was
about to pass through the door, “Hey lady, this guy paid for your stuff.” The woman returned to
the counter obviously relieved but even more deeply embarrassed and mumbled a thank you as
she gathered up her purchase. After she was safely out of earshot, I turned to the clerk and
asked, “When was the last time you left the house with only a quarter in your pocket?” He
looked surprised and said, “Why would I do that?” I responded, as I paid for my purchase, “so
you can call someone who cares when the clunker you are driving breaks down (again). He
looked puzzled and I walked out the door thinking that he may never “get it.”
You are entering the profession of pharmacy and are about to begin a career in health care. You
are among the best and brightest our society has to offer. You will be successful, but you must
never forget that there are those who leave home every day in the pursuit of happiness with
only a quarter in their pocket.