Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for June 15, 2022

First, Rat needs to know the definition of happiness.

If you do find the key, will it fit in the lock?

Never thought of Rat as a smart ass. Just an ass.

Looks like the wise a$$ was replaced by the dumb a$$

My SiL recently asked me that very question. She sez, “Alex, you seem cheerful all the time. How do you do it?” “Don’t be sad!” I sez…

Actually, I often reflect on how much worse off I could be. It’s not exactly counting blessings, rather, it’s just being a realist and adjusting to be OK with it.

It says WISE Ass on the Hill, Rat, not DUMB Ass on the Hill. (BOOT!)

Rat started off so well. And then he demonstrated why he is who he is.

Inadequate replacement I would say! Or dare I see incompetent !

“In the right front pocket you’ll find the key…”—-sung by a harp that was captured by a giant.

Pig just keep taking your Debbie Downer Pills …

Rat is no different than that donkey.

“When you think about it, there’s a lot of stuff in the world. Some of it you can explain, and some of it you can’t.”

The problem is when you fixate on controlling other people and their perceptions in order to make yourself feel better.

Under a rock, next to the front door.

“You who must leave everything that you cannot control, it begins with your family and soon it comes round to your soul.” Leonard Cohen

That’s why people don’t send donkeys to school. No body wants or likes a smart ass.

There’s no simple solution…everyone differs…

It’s like the key to eternal life, Pig: keep breathing. So, keep smiling!

There us a similar saying about being granted the the knowledge of knowing the difference between what you can and cannot control.

Found it. God grant me the serenityto accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

I’ve tried controlling those things I can’t control because I’m a control freak. Don’t even try to go down that road. It sucks.

on vacation in The Grand Canyon,Wise Ass is shanghaid into pack mule duty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql4p7ipnFWE

That is the key for some people, because they are happiest when they are miserable.

Re-examine your paradigm: why do you want to be happy, anyway?

Pig’s big mistake here was not turning around when he saw Rat standing up there.

He can’t be that wise to have Rat cover for him.

And here I thought Wise Ass’s advice was useless! Rat is even worse!

All the keys to happiness I find never seem to fit the lock. It must belong to someone else.

this strip came out on my 15th birthday

The key to being happy is the one that unlocks my chastity belt. Does anyone have a spare?

The key to happiness is being satisfied with what you have and what you are.