Road to True Happiness?

" So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future" (Krakauer 56-57).

Topic: Inspiration or Fool?

This sentence was in a letter that McCandless had written to Franz, a man who had cared much dearly about the young man. McCandless was trying to get the man to realize the true meaning of life and happiness, and that all it depended on was himself. The quote clearly explains how there are many people in society who are living boring and unhappy lives, but despite this they don't ever try to change it. They tend to not change it because the way they are living their lives is simple and so secure that they don't have to feel the pains of failure and have a life of uncertainty, where the future is unknown. But what they may not realize is that the damage of being unhappy is greater than they think it is. Franz was living a closed, boring life. He was clearly unhappy with himself and his lifestyle, but made no attempts whatsoever to change it. If it hadn't been for Alex, the man would've never truly moved on and escape the negativity his unhappiness spread. A statement telling you to change your life in a way to be happier is not in any way foolish, but more helpful like advice. So in the end, it was an inspiration to not only Franz, but perhaps the reader themselves as well.