Happiness Running
Happiness runs in a circular motion…
Happiness runs, happiness runs.
Donovan, 1968
The three grand essentials of happiness are: something
to do, someone to love, and something to hope for.
Alexander Chalmers
Happiness is wanting what you have
and not wanting what you don’t have.
Shakyamuni Buddha, 500 BC
I think a lot about happiness – what makes a person happy, whether or not happiness should even be a life’s priority – things like that. My best high school friend stunned me at the early age of 17 by suggesting it should not – be a priority that is. Sacrifice, service, devotion to a cause were higher orders he felt, although presumably, since those were choices, their pursuit could secondarily lead to happiness.
Through the years I’ve accumulated a short list of quotes that express a personal view of what makes people happy. You, I’m sure have your own candidates, but most of them probably resemble some of the ones listed above: Stay busy doing something you love; be mindful of other people and the world in, around, and above you; don’t let your reach exceed your grasp; find someone to share your happiness with. My favorite of all of these is the one by Donovan – that somewhat kooky “love generation” folk singer of the late 1960s – if only because it’s so succinct. “Happiness runs in a circular motion…happiness runs, happiness runs.” There may be more to this refrain, however, than appears at first glance, the entirety of which I’ve tried to encapsulate artistically in my open-ended smiley face that wasn’t ever popular when Donovan crooned the tune. For years I thought that the gist of Donovan’s phrase was the obvious – the “be kind to others, pay it forward” allusion – and it undoubtedly is. But there are hidden nuances, at least to me. The “running in a circular motion” also connotes a self-contained, inward-looking, self- satisfaction that equates happiness to being content with yourself as a person. And the last phrase – “happiness runs, happiness runs” may speak to the Buddhist philosophy of impermanence and the priority of the moment. Donovan might not rank up there with Kant and Spinoza, but his little song packs a powerful message. Rock on, flower child, wherever you are.
My wife Sue and I just returned from a 12-day Alaskan cruise where we shared much happiness with fellow PIMCO employees, as well as over a hundred Orange County Teachers of the Year. The joy ran and ran in a circular motion and we are more complete people and a better company for having had the experience. Thoughts, even investment ideas tend to come easier in such an environment and so I reproduce for you near verbatim, a short, three-page memo to myself summarizing analysis and investment strategy that may be applicable over the next several years:
I hesitate to elaborate in much detail. There’s a certain simplicity to these notes – they may not tell it all, and they may in fact be proved wrong, but they sort of lay it out there rather succinctly and certainly quickly. Let me just add that the referenced “reflation” in a “financed based economy” may take years to engineer. As our May Secular Forum suggested, there are substantial structural impediments – “wet logs” – that will make it difficult for reflation to catch fire. Strong cyclical economic recoveries may be a thing of the past until high global debt levels are diluted via reflation, and the negative competitive influence of China and India is lessened via currency revaluation. These and other wet logs may prevent a “quick start” to government’s inflationary efforts. Nonetheless, the high tide for bond (and stock) investors has already taken place, although at different times. Mid-year of 2000 is an obvious high water mark for stocks and June of 2003 is a likely one for bonds. Both bond and equity strategies should begin with the assumption of low, single digit returns for the next decade and then be engineered to improve on those returns by 1% or so annually. My “Crystal Harmony” note pad lists those strategies which currently represent opportunities to do just that in the bond market.
If they are successful, then PIMCO will probably have lots of “happy” clients. “Can’t buy me love” the Beatles sang once, but “happiness?” Well I’ll leave that one for another day. Until then, I wish you “success” in your pursuit of investment market returns and much happiness in your life…if that is your primary goal!
William H. Gross
Managing Director
Disclosures
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. This article contains the current opinions of the author but not necessarily PIMCO, and does not represent a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. The author’s opinions are subject to change without notice. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed. This article is distributed for educational purposes and should not be considered as investment advice or an offer of any security for sale.
Each sector of the bond market entails risk. The guarantee on Treasuries & Government Bonds is to the timely repayment of principal and interest. Shares of a fund are not guaranteed. Mortgage-backed securities & Corporate Bonds may be sensitive to interest rates. When interest rates rise the value of fixed income securities generally declines. There is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations. An investment in high-yield securities generally involves greater risk to principal than an investment in higher-rated bonds. Investing in non-U.S. securities may entail risk due to non-U.S. economic and political developments and may be enhanced when investing in emerging markets. The credit quality of the investment in the portfolio does not apply to the stability or safety of a fund. Duration is a measure of a fund’s price sensitivity expressed in years. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) are guaranteed by the US government however, shares of a fund are not. Treasury securities, if held to maturity, offer a fixed rate of return and fixed principal value. © 2003, PIMCO.