As some of you may have read, my nephew Michael (aka Redkloud) recently decided to give up his life in Los Angeles and move to New York City.  He’s hoping he’ll be able to start fresh and build a new life for himself.

It’s a big decision.  As you can see from his posting, it’s also fraught with emotional turmoil.  He’s leaving so much behind — his friends, the life be built for himself, school…

But I understand the decision.  He so aptly spelled out his reasoning, much of which revolves around self-realization.  Is he happy where he is?  Has his life, in the last year since he returned to LA, fallen into place as he was hoping it would?  Has being in LA made him happy?

Although central to his particular situation, these are questions I believe we should all ask ourselves on a regular basis.  Even when we don’t like the answers, it empowers us to take action.

As I’ve always made clear to those around me, there is one central truth to life as a human: no one can make anyone happy and no one will ever keep our best interests at heart, so it’s up to us to look out for our own self interests and to ensure our own happiness.

No, I’m not advocating the selfish and uncaring attitude that so many Americans seem to be plagued with.  I am pointing out a universal truth however, and that is that we are responsible for our own happiness, our own fulfillment.  If we do not take action to ensure our happiness and to address our needs in life, we can’t expect anyone else to do it for us — at least not with the honest concern for our well-being that we would demonstrate.

I’m glad to see that Michael has evaluated his life and has given serious thought to what he’s striving to achieve with it.  The pursuit of happiness isn’t just a constitutional phrase.  It is in fact an endeavor with which each of us is charged from birth.

Michael’s already called to let me know he made it to NYC safely and is getting settled in.  There will be much work ahead for him — home, job, school, friends, etc.  This is no small undertaking.

I wish him all the luck in the world.  I sincerely hope things fall into place for him, that what he’s looking for can be found in the city that never sleeps.

I love you Michael, and I wish you well.