Your Happiness Permission Committee

 

She doesn't look happy behind that counter today,

Like someone told her that joy shouldn’t stay.

A flash of insight struck there in that line,

She needed permission for her happiness to shine.

 

A committee’s in charge, they hold all her fate,

Several people a-voting, her life they’ll dictate.

Her parents? Her teachers? Her friends? Or her spouse?

Just they can free her from that sad doghouse.

 

She can't just arrange her life to feel great.

She can't just choose what she likes on her plate.

The "gottas" and "shoulds" and "life is so hard.”

She’ll need a permit for those thoughts to discard.

 

She needs their permission, she needs their remission.

She needs their remission, she needs their permission.

Their gavel must drop, to the public they’d proclaim.

Then she could be happy, it’d end all her shame.

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They praise her, she lights up, she’s passed all their tests,

They blame her, she crumbles, those weights on her chest.

They’ve got all that power, they’ve the key to her life,

If they’d give her permission, it’ll end all her strife.

 

But why would they allow her a mind of her own?

They don’t own theirs, in debt we are thrown.

If she’s up there happy and they’re down in the hole?

She’ll not carry her load, she’ll live life on the dole.

 

She needs their permission, she needs their remission.

She needs their remission, she needs their permission.

Their gavel must drop, to the public they’d proclaim.

Then she could be happy, it’d end all her shame.

 

But if there could be just a one percent chance?

After back from their lunch, put them into a trance.

She just needs a quorum, best friends decide her fate,

Begging for mercy, would her happiness they mandate?

 

"I know you've got the power, I’m yours to control,

With your praise and blame cards, the hot and the cold.

I know I might be asking much more than is fair,

Please give me permission, I beg you with prayer."

 

They’ll say “yes” or “no,” as a jury decides,

They’ll vote on her life, which way it divides.

Pick the time of the day when they’re likely inclined,

Seven votes out of twelve will show they are kind.

 

With the small chance of “yes” then she’ll have that key.

All struggle released, she’ll be free as the bees.

She’ll put herself first and stop grinding for results,

She’ll believe that happiness can be for adults.

 

She needs their permission, she needs their remission.

She needs their remission, she needs their permission.

Their gavel must drop, to the public they’d proclaim.

Then she could be happy, it’d end all her shame

 

Or wait, did you notice? She could do this herself!

She could choose courage to stay top of the shelf.

With courage she’ll not rely on others to feel good,

She’ll take care of herself as her only “should.”