Reality vs Rhetoric

The mirages are fading. The illusions that we have been portraying are crumbling. Smiles turning to frowns. Laughs turn to cries. Our rhetoric becomes reality. No longer can we muster the energy to 'front' like all is well. When someone asks "how are you?" we reply "ok" and "good." The fact is if we gave a true/honest answer people would likely be shocked. Moreover they likely would relate to our trials and tribulations.

However, thanks to rhetoric, people seem offended when we are honest. The rhetoric precedes judgement and then we become outcasts for expressing our true feelings. And then comes the generic responses: "everything will be ok," "pray about it," "you just need some rest," & "give it to God." What happens when the rhetoric doesn't work anymore?

Riddle me this: What does happy look like?

Some might say when a person smiles they are happy. Not so much...people can smile on the outside and be tormented on the inside. Some might say money makes you happy. I have seen some of the richest people in the world in the worst type of mental anguish. Some may think that having a spouse and kids would bring the most joy. Nonetheless there are those who are ready to slit their wrists because of that family.

What does happy look like? It is different for each person. There is no template for it. There is no recipe. It is much like DNA ~ specific to one.  But like other resources as of late, happiness is becoming extinct. Now we are cloning what's left of it and using harmful injections of unnatural substances to create the illusion of happiness. Similar to chickens being injected with hormones but the side effects are much worse. The American dream looks bigger and better like the enlarged chicken breast. But is it worth the falsehoods? Is it worth the side effects? Reality vs rhetoric...