A Joke about Happiness – with a very serious punchline

Once there was this guy (we’ll call him Ralph) who was walking along the beach…when he saw what appeared to be a genie bottle in the sand.


He bent down, and on a what-the-heck whim, rubbed the bottle.


Sure enough a genie came floating out.


“Geez, it’s claustrophobic in there,” she said. “Thanks for getting me out. In appreciation, I will grant you one wish.”


“Hey! Isn’t it three wishes?” Ralph asked.


“No, no, it’s just one,” said the genie.


“Hmm,” said Ralph. “How about if I make my one wish that I get three wishes?”


“Sorry, honey,” said the genie. “I’m onto that trick. It’s just one wish. And while you’re deciding, can I borrow your sunblock. It’s so bright and hot out here.”


Begrudgingly Ralph handed the genie his sunblock, while he pondered what one wish he wanted most. He could ask for a red Lambourghini. That would be fun. Or a mansion in Malibu? A new designer-labeled wardrobe? A sexy babe to share it all with?


No wait, he reminded himself, he could only pick one wish.


Damn this one-wish-only genie!


And that’s when it hit him.


HE FOUND A GENIE LOOPHOLE!


“You ready yet, honey?”the genie prodded him.


“Yes, I’m ready,” said Ralph, “I now know what to ask for to get every wish I could ask for.”


“Um…I told you, sweetie,” reminded the genie. “I only grant one wish.”


“Well, my one wish is to be happy,” announced Ralph. “Because happiness is REALLY what I’m looking for in every wish I can think up for myself. I want all those other things because I want to be happy! So when you grant me happiness I’ll actually be getting everything I want in one wish.”


“Not bad,” said the genie. “You’re a smart guy!”


Then the genie tapped Ralph on his head with his sunblock, and Ralph got his wish: happiness.


Best of all…you don’t need a genie to grant yourself this wish!