For a long time, I didn't like or quite understand the term "The American dream." When you replace the phrase "the American dream" with Thomas Jefferson's term "the pursuit of happiness," it makes a lot more sense. It doesn't have to take your whole life to get there. It's about pursuing happiness. Every one has there own take on what happiness is. When you look at it this way, the American dream isn't a goal, it's more like a lifestyle. It's about setting a goal and having the freedom to complete it - that's the American dream.