The American Dream: Life, Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness

Achieving The American Dream What is “The American Dream” and how does one obtain that lifestyle? Many believe the American Dream to be, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” brought to us by the Declaration of Independence. But if one looks up the actual definition in the dictionary you’ll get something that sounds a little like this: “The ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity.” Although in the end, the American Dream is perceived through many different perspectives, I believe it is very much obtainable. The American Dream is achievable through dedication, a well balanced lifestyle, and maturity. One way, among many others, you can acquire the American Dream is through dedication. In the aspect of success you must be determined to work harder than you’ve ever worked before. You have to want it, you have to crave it; just as Gatsby craved Daisy. He dedicated his weekends and money to throwing these huge, extravagant parties, just so that Daisy may accidentally wander upon one one night. “‘I think he half expected

Now you may be asking yourself, “what does a well-balanced lifestyle consist of?” Well for starters, it means being actively healthy in all aspects involved with physical, emotional and social health. Let's take Gatsby for example, he was physically well, but lacked the social and emotional health. “‘He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths--so he could ‘come over’ some afternoon to a stranger’s garden?’” (Fitzgerald 63) This alone shows how Gatsby's emotional health was harmed at the expense of Daisy. Say Gatsby would have had more emotional self control, he may have obtained Daisy sooner than five years. Although we will never know that for a fact, we do know that it shows how a well-balanced lifestyle is essential to the achievement of your American