The Meaning of Happiness (and Taco Bell)

What is bliss? Is it when you lie down in a super-comfy bed? Is it when you finally get that super-long essay for English done? Bliss to me is an umbrella term used for things that give you a sense of happiness, accomplishment, and just overall, overwhelming peace. It’s that feeling that you get when you do something and it turns out to be worth the process. Winning a sports game, studying for a test and getting an A, or just accomplishing something. Bliss is quite literally just ultimate joy, where you have no negative emotions, not a care or matter present in your mind, just living in the moment. Imagine yourself in a field, doesn’t matter the location. The breeze is cool and light, but still enough to blow your hair back. The grass is void of any bugs, ticks, or itchiness, and you just embrace the wind and ignore anything going on in your mind. Weirdly poetic of me, but that’s such a good example of what I think bliss would be if it was a physical place.

Everybody probably has their own definition of what bliss is. In life, bad things always happen. It’s inevitable. It could be something small, like stepping on a Lego, or something huge, like the passing of a loved one. I’ve experienced it all. But sometimes, you need to get through it to get somewhere. I’ve learned that happiness is accomplished by pain and work, but sorrow is accomplished by constant pain. You gotta do something to get to that point of bliss.

Anyways; a weirdly poetic moment from me, I know, but that’s truly what I think. When I was young, I learned that you must always look on the bright side of life while watching Life of Brian with my dad (fantastic movie, by the way). A great example right off the top is when Taco Bell took away the Steakhouse Burrito (greatest menu item in history, by the way). But there’s always the delicious Cheesy Gordita Crunch, there by your side in times of need. If something bad happens in your life, always move on, but accept what’s new now. Use the Gordita Crunch to get somewhere, and power through it. Achieve total happiness. Now that I’m looking back on what I just wrote, I have no clue what I just wrote, but dang it was interesting.

Back on bliss, it’s really just the peak of your work and the outcome of your efforts. You may pain yourself in climbing the mountain of work, but once you reach the top, you have a total sense of accomplishment. Not “Oh what about that? What about this?” No, you’re there, not anywhere. Not crying at the Taco Bell drive-thru because there’s no more Steakhouse Burrito; you’re there, at the peak, enjoying your Gordita Crunch. Don’t worry about things, that’s how you get stressed, and if you get stressed, then you get hyperfixated and annoyed, and you walk past the things that are worth appreciating.

Stay there, clear your mind, and enjoy what’s around you. Enjoy life, because it’s not infinite. Make the most of it, don’t take things for granted, and try to pass through the things that you think ruin it for you. Dunno how this article turned Taco Bell into an example for the meaning of happiness and bliss, but it did.

Bliss, to me, is just that spirit of mind where you can embrace what’s around you, and get past the bad things. Use these things to achieve happiness; don’t use them to undermine yourself and ultimately ruin your mood. Thanks for reading.