The Happiest People

By Mike Galski

The United States of America was founded on the idea that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were essential to a nation’s well being and success. For many Americans, the most crucial part of this philosophy is liberty. We pride ourselves on living in a free country, as though we were somehow unique in that aspect. Most industrialized nations are free countries. Freedom in America is more of an idea than a reality. Our pursuit of happiness is living the “American Dream” : owning that house with a white picket fence, two cars in the driveway, and having a spouse with 2.3 children. That dream comes with a house payment, a car payment, and the obligation to support that family. Americans become trapped in jobs that make them miserable.

            Cuban’s are aware that their freedoms are restricted. Perhaps this is why they are more successful in their pursuit of happiness. Since Cuba is a communist country, and also a poor country, I expected to see a lot of unhappy people. I was surprised to find quite the opposite. Most of the people I observed appeared to be happy. Once I got to know them, I believe I understand why. We equate the pursuit of happiness with the pursuit of material things. Cubans have minimal opportunity to pursue material things. They find joy in one another by building strong ties between family, friends, and neighbors. They welcome strangers, like me, with the same warmth as they would an old friend. Cubans find happiness by sharing what little they have with others in exchange for their company. We are social animals that are not happy living in isolation. As a society, we don’t realize that our white picket fences have become cages of our own design.