option #1
Throughout watching the film “Best in Show”, all I was thinking about was what is it with reward that people try so hard to obtain it? These people were all obsessed with the blue ribbon that they would spend each moment of their life thinking about it. What was more interesting was that this blue ribbon does not reflect anything about themselves but only about how good, expensive, original their dog is, yet it brings them happiness. Would it be like since they are the owner if their dog is rewarded with the blue ribbon, it makes a statement like “he is my dog and since I raised him in such way that he is so good”?
Then I realized it was not only these people in the movie that strive for rewards to obtain happiness but also every single person in this world including myself. Everyone has their own blue ribbon they want to receive in different forms. Whether they are in forms of material, idea, reputation or in some cases like students, grades, we all want to be rewarded with something after our action has been taken and we think that is the only way that will make anything worth doing and if it brings us positive results, we are happy.
But as I was watching the ending of the movie, my mind kind of changed. When the contest was over and Gerry and Cookie won, it still seemed like everyone has received something and they were satisfied and happy. Even though their blue ribbon has found its way to another person’s arms, they did not lose happiness. Then my question has changed from is it reward that makes everyone happy to is experience of what they love to do that brings happiness at the end? Not a single person in this movie became depressed nor gave up anything. All found a new way to brings themselves joy and happiness. The gay couple now creates a calendar of Shih Tzus, the yelling couple changed their depressed dog for an energetic pug, Christy and Sherrie-Ann did not give up and published a magazine called “American Bitch” dedicated to lesbian dog owners and finally the fishing guy found his new dream to improve his ventriloquism. Every single character found a new way to continue on with their lives.
As a conclusion to my response, which question do you think is the right question? Are they still striving for a new reward to bring themselves happiness? or do they obtain happiness while doing something they enjoy doing? Which question is the right question about how we, all human beings, obtain happiness?
I think the right question to ask is “do they obtain happiness while doing something they enjoy doing?” For when we strive for a new reward, we are simply setting goals to make our life to become meaningful and occupied. However, if we enjoy the things we are doing, we become happy during the process.