A Tribute To Being Happy

I just finished watching Jeremy Clarkson’s newest TV series – Clarkson’s Farm. Most of you know Clarkson from BBC’s Top Gear. I found it pretty funny, and even my wife who isn’t into cars enjoyed each episode. The show follows Clarkson attempting to become a farmer.

To achieved this, Clarkson used a Lamborghini tractor (naturally).

And at end of his first year as a farmer, despite the cost, the enormous amount of work, and all the challenges, he turned a paltry £144 profit. I found the most profound moment of the series came at the end when Clarkson said that he was the happiest he’d ever been.

You can’t put a price on doing what makes you happy.

The show brought back memories of my grandparents who spent their lives farming in the Texas Panhandle. They didn’t have the cash Clarkson has, and my grandparents were teenagers when they got married. It’s impossible to imagine the hardships they faced together, growing wheat and raising cattle day in and day out. Bill and Ruth had 5 children and survived numerous challenges including drought, the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and floods to name only a few. When I was a boy they came to visit my family in California. They stayed only 3 short days. I asked my grandfather why he had to go home, and he said,

“Mark, the cows don’t take a vacation.”

And neither did the rest of their farm. My admiration and gratitude for farmers is immense. Not only for their hard work and passion, but also for our food that we often take for granted. Despite the demanding job, ask most farmers if they’re happy and they’ll say yes. This is because they’re passionate about what they do, and it makes them happy. This is at the heart of every Cars Yeah interview. The guests are doing what they love instead of just working for the money. It’s the secret sauce to a happy life.

Thank God for farmers.

Paul Harvey wrote a wonderful tribute to farmers that pretty much says it all. Listen here: Farmers Tribute

You’ll find Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime.