The Search: A Story About Happiness and Contentment

By Gene Robinson

What if you met someone who could actually tell you exactly how to live your life in complete fulfillment? Or maybe someone would write a book about how it might happen, so you could still learn from it, just as if you yourself had been right there in that situation. It would be a fascinating adventure for most. And if you continued to practice these newly found learnings for the duration of your time here, then you would be an example for your children and friends alike, leaving in your wake a solid foundation for a content society.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if most of the people you made any sort of contact with were individuals who were at peace with who they are and what they are doing with their life? The result would be a very pleasant experience for everyone.

You see, the truth is it's not the things you have, or how much money; nor is it where you live, or even who you are... but simply if you THINK you are happy. Then all would be left is we allowing ourselves this privilege of being escorted by contentment through every day for the rest of our days. A fine scenario. And that's what this book can do for you.
Now - let's begin...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781387565467

Book preview

DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this book to all of the people in the world who have ever been parted from someone they love deeply, in hope that they never have to say, I wish I had...

INTRODUCTION

What if you met someone who could actually tell you exactly how to live your life in complete fulfillment? Or maybe someone would write a book about how it might happen, so you could still learn from it, just as if you yourself had been right there in that situation. It would be a fascinating adventure for most.

And if you continued to practice these newly found learnings for the duration of your time here, then you would be an example for your Children and friends alike—leaving in your wake, a solid foundation for a content society.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if most of the people with whom you made any sort of contact with were individuals who were at peace with who they are, and what they are doing with their life? The result would be a very pleasant experience for everyone.

You see, the truth is it’s not the things you have, or how much money; nor is it where you live, or even who you are... but simply if you THINK you are happy. Then, all that would be left is us allowing ourselves this privilege of being escorted by contentment through every day, for the rest of our days.

A fine scenario. Now, let’s begin.

Chapter 1

It all began simply enough. When I was a real little kid, my Grandmother used to take me downtown on a bus on Saturdays, then she would drop me off at the local YMCA where I would take swimming lessons while she ran errands about town. I believe I was something like a guppy, or a minnow in the program. It wasn’t like I was actually doing any real swimming; it was more like playing in the pool with a baby-sitter, who was our instructor.

We got to play a little basketball when it was over. Then we’d take a shower and head for the lobby with our swimsuit and towel all rolled up very neatly, where we would wait to be picked up while we watched some of the older boys playing pool on sort of a raggedy old table. Shoot, I was barely big enough to see up over the edge, much less hold a cue stick up there to knock the balls around!

Soon enough, here she’d come and ask me if I’d had a good time. I’d say yes, of course, and as our reward for the day, we were treated to what looked to me like the biggest milkshake in the world. My toughest decision on Saturdays was chocolate or strawberry. Vanilla was nothing that ever even entered my mind during the middle of the week.

But every Friday night, my towel and swimsuit got neatly rolled and clasped tightly with a rubber band in anticipation of the next morning. Fact of the matter is, I really never did quite learn how to swim all that well.

Sometimes on Saturdays though in the later afternoon on the Wide World of Sports, they would show diving competitions on television to which I was glued. I just couldn’t believe how gracefully those people were from the diving board, all the way through the air, right to the part where they’d slip into the water with hardly more than a smooth ripple to prove they had actually ever even been there at all.

Diving definitely captivated me. There was but one reason to look at the TV guide in the newspaper for the week - was there diving, or was there not?

Well, by the ripe old age of ten, I’d been watching diving for years. One day there was a youth group picnic from our church being held at the nearby state park, which had a swimming pool, fully equipped with high and low diving boards.

Little did I know, but the preacher’s two Sons were pretty well accomplished divers.

Then again, why should I know? These guys were big; they were like eighteen or something. For that matter, I doubt they even knew I existed.

I had seen people doing it on TV, mind you ... but right there in real life? I mean flips and everything, right into the water just