work worth doing

If you want to be happy for a year, win the lottery.
If you want to be happy for a lifetime, love what you do.
--unknown

The secret to a happy life is work worth doing.
-- Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

This makes sense to me. When I was younger, I might have argued that the secret to a happy life is actually found in healthy and fulfilling relationships. And happy relationships are indeed wonderful! But day after day, it's work worth doing that gets me out of bed each morning.

I don't know exactly what the Justice was referring to, but my definition of work is broad. It might involve counseling, gardening, parenting, writing, or cleaning the kitchen, as well as the typical nine to five kind of career work. But I think she was right that engaging in meaningful activity which serves a useful purpose is often deeply important for maintaining a sense of personal well being. And it's up to each of us to figure out what kind of work we personally feel is worth doing.

I remember reading a story once about therapists who were successfully treating depression by giving their patients pets or plants to tend to, or even assigning them the simple task of keeping the front porch neat and welcoming. I love that such simple, purposeful contributions can bring the soul back into alignment with itself. It's so beautifully human to feel a need to make a difference.

ps: you can read the article where Justice O'Connor was quoted here: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2009/04/the-secret-to-happiness-according-to-justice-oconnor.html