The Pursuit of Happiness or The Happiness of Pursuit? (Pt. 1)

Happiness is a ball after which we run wherever it rolls, and we push it with our feet when it stops.

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

In my field, I often encounter legally blind patients. To my surprise, many of them are genuinely happy (a concept we call "20/happy"). One common thread I've noticed is that their happiness often comes from a personal mission or pursuit – something to strive toward, no matter what life throws at them.

Today, I want to share an inspiring story of one such patient who, despite her challenges, found happiness and meaning through her pastry shop business.

For The Love of Baking

One day, a new patient (we'll call her Yoona) came in with a disability application form. She had been diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa years ago, an untreatable condition that causes gradual vision loss (sometimes complete blindness).

When her eyesight worsened to the point where she couldn't take public transit alone, Yoona asked her specialists to sign a form that would grant her Wheel-Trans service. Wheel-Trans is Toronto's para-transit service for persons with disabilities.

Unfortunately, her vision was marginally better than the "legally blind" definition, and as such, doctors didn't want to sign off on her form. In her desperation, she came to see me.

Why was Yoona so determined to get a para-transit service? Because she ran a small pastry shop which was her pride and joy. She wanted to continue her passion project.

Without hesitation, I signed the form.

Yoona was ecstatic, and she thanked our team profusely. She spoke of her love of baking, and how she and her husband started her shop years ago. Though her poor vision was a constant struggle, her husband was incredibly supportive – guiding her to work hand-in-hand whenever he could.

Her optimism and positivity lingered in my thoughts long after she left. How can she find happiness despite being essentially legally blind? To be positive, knowing that she will eventually go blind... Could I be strong like her if that happened to me?

The Happiness of Pursuit

A few weeks later, Yoona and her husband dropped off boxes of freshly baked goods for our staff. They were so delicious that I decided to visit the shop and buy more for my wife.

Knowing the extent of Yoona's poor vision, I assumed she was working behind the scenes. To my utter surprise, she was working alone at the busy counter (with a big smile).

When I went up to order, she greeted me warmly. She didn't recognize me, and I didn't want to hold up the line by sparking a conversation. While carefully working the cash register, Yoona explained that her eyesight wasn't great, and that if she made any mistakes, I should let her know. I thanked her and left.

Once again, I was struck by Yoona's positivity. Despite her struggles, she found happiness and meaning through running her bakery business.

As I walked out with my bag of pastries, I concluded that lasting happiness doesn't stem from any single life event. Rather, it comes from chasing your life goals, overcoming challenges, and the personal growth you gain along the way.

Yoona’s journey is a powerful reminder that life isn’t about perfection—it’s about embracing our imperfections, persevering, and finding joy in the pursuit of what matters most.

Enjoy the journey, my friends. 😊

In Part 2 of this article, I’ll share how training for a marathon helped me discover positivity during a significant health challenge. Subscribe so you don't miss it!

Join me on a journey to redesign life, one step at a time! 👊