In life, all we want is happiness.

We want it to fall into our hands as easily as sand seeps out between our fingers.

Yet, it seems as if we only listen to those who don’t know what will bring us happiness.

We don’t listen to ourselves.

We listen to our parents.

Our counselors.

Our friends.

And everyone in between.

It doesn’t make sense.

I have friends who are applying to colleges they haven’t been dreaming of since they were kids.

I have friends that dream of careers that others tell them will never take off.

I have friends who are constantly thinking of seemingly unattainable lives,

Until the day turns to dusk and dusk turns to dawn.

But nothing makes those dreams unattainable.

Nothing but themselves.

Nothing but ourselves.

We are all responsible for the happiness deficit that plagues our society.

Pushing others so they can make us proud.

Pushing ourselves so we don’t let others down.

It’s like our dreams are behind a locked door and we forgot that we have the key,

So we keep asking everyone else if they have it and get disappointed when they don’t.

I don’t want to live in a place where my dreams will not be attained.

I don’t want to live in a place where my friends will not be as happy as they deserve to be.

And I definitely don’t want to be the one who pushes someone else into a dream,

That may actually be their nightmare.