Hello,
A persuasive attempt context piece is included. Will accept all criticism on it with gratitude. Before the corrections, I know that there is little quoting evidence from texts.
This was for a teenage audience for a youth magazine.
Writing in Context
Persuasive
“Finding one’s identity is a critical factor in one’s appreciation of true happiness”
What is true happiness?
Does happiness stem from being wealthy? Does it come to those with many friends? Where does it come from?
If you’re asking yourself these questions, don’t worry – we ALL ask ourselves these questions at some point in our lives. You are not alone, believe me. Now, I may be no doctor of true happiness, but please, just allow me a chance to tell you what I have learnt from my many, many life experiences – about what I have learnt about happiness.
Let me tell you, if you think happiness comes from money. You’re wrong. Completely. If you think it comes from how many Facebook or MySpace friends you have, you’re wrong. If you have even thought as far as believing it may come from popularity, you’re – still – wrong.
Perhaps by this point you may be thinking, ‘How does he know?’ and no doubt you want answers. Well, I will tell you how I know that the real happiness does not come from the above. Because I had them all – and let me tell you, I was nowhere near happy. You just wouldn’t believe it.
Let’s face it. We’re all on this earth together. We’re all made the same. We all desire similar things. We want to fit in, we want to have that feeling, that feeling of knowing that we belong – at home, at school, or outside of school, we just want to know that we belong somewhere. No money, no amount of “internet friends”, no popularity, will ever replace the feeling and knowledge that we have a place where we belong.
The secret to happiness lies (spelling?) in finding our identity. If you disagree, then it’s time to sit down and have a long, hard think. Your senses will eventually come back to you, because if you’re ignorant to the key between identity and true happiness – then unfortunately, you’re doomed for unhappiness. The link is there, everyone knows it. Even J.D. Salinger. J.D. knows of the link between the two so well, that he even dedicated a whole novel to it. Now, still don’t believe it?
Did you ever notice that Holden Caulfield, throughout the entire novel, was never happy? Because I sure did, and I dare say, any others who took the time to read it picked up on it, too. Now, this book is a very good example at explaining the key connection between our sense of identity and happiness. It’s so blatantly obvious, it’s just not even funny, how desperate Holden is to find his identity. Everywhere he goes, everyone is a “phony”, everyone is “crumby”, and everyone’s a fake. Now, doesn’t that sound depressing? Quite the opposite of happiness, isn’t it? And all because Holden was unable to find his identity.
If the dedication of J.D.’s novel wasn’t convincing enough, I’ll provide another example. I just want you guys to find true happiness, but first I need to show you show. So, let’s take a look at the Amish. An American community, which separates themselves from the rest of the world. In Peter Weir’s film, “Witness” we can see Officer John Book, a man of power, and likely quite comfortable financially. But, again, we see the recurring unhappiness, just like with Holden Caulfield. Unfortunately, although John Book has established his life, he does not know where he belongs. Not until he meets Rachel Lapp in Philadelphia, at least. After having moved in with the Amish, among their community, it’s so very clear that John finally was happy, he had found where he wanted to belong, and that was among the Amish. Although temporarily, living with the Amish depicts how finding a place to belong, our identities, brings us true happiness.
In the “Devil’s Playground” what do we see? We see teenage children, about your age, going on what is known as “Rumspringa”. They leave their Amish communities, and enter among the English. And what do we see? We see them as unhappy teenagers. Why? Because they simply do not belong among the English. Among the English, they no longer have their sense of identity and belonging, and because of this, they are unable to experience true happiness.
If you’re looking for true happiness and so far have been unsuccessful, with all my experience on the line, I recommend against seeking popularity, wealth and similar values. These will not, believe me, bring you happiness. You need to find your sense of belonging within the world. Once you do this, happiness comes naturally. Believe me, I know it firsthand.
Where do you belong?
Home
Help
Search
Login
