What makes you happy?
So, C J sent me a link to a video on YouTube. It is a pretty silly video (methinks), but she said it makes her happy.
As often happens, this converged with two other interactions to form a trio to which I knew I needed to pay attention.
The first was a question Gem posited while we were at Creekside (not A2's closest approximation of Zingerman's). I had just finished litanizing (Clem, is that a word?) on the areas of life that are really hard right now, prompting her to ask if anything was enjoyable.
The second was catching snatches of "The Pursuit of Happiness", the new movie with Will Smith. It is about a man who struggles to provide for his family and has a rough go of it, but eventually triumphs.
As I reflected, I realized that I'm not sure I pursue happiness very much anymore. I think I've replaced seeking happiness with seeking respite. That should probably change.
So, as a small start in that direction, here are some things that make me happy:
- human diversity
- watching airplanes fly
- staring at the lake in not A2
- catching a fish
- planing a piece of wood
- finding an elusive and desirable record
- rollerblading
- writing in my blog
These are, of course, additional to the usual suspects - like being with my family and friends and harassing the bowz.
Some of these things I haven't enjoyed in a long time.
posted by Stu @ 7:48 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Sounds like a good list... I noticed yesterday you were partaking in the plane watching. Was that your ulterior motive for picking me up at the airport yesterday?
;)
Of course not! I can plane watch really well just outside the hotel.
I am enjoying the planes and the people diversity here at the conference. Even if the people make me feel like a square over-the-hill geek.
I think I need new glasses. Time for a Stu make-over?
Stu makeover? Sounds like a challenge.
Did we make you feel like a square over the hill geek when we showed you how to wear your bag?
No, but, using it that way does make me self-concious about my gut. Silly, I know.
Actually, maybe it did. Just a bit.
Then again, I really am an over-the-hill geek.
"Litanizing." Making of lists by Stu. Now it's a word.
A lot of food for thought in this blog. We'll hopefully talk face-to-face about the happiness quotient. I have been receiving some input on it and find it helpful. In a strange way, some of the missing enjoyment may have beneficial consequences in spite of, or maybe even because of how you experience your circumstances.
If this entry seems oblique, that's because I think it needs explanation with more references, in which I hope we can soon engage.
Nevertheless, like the frog says who is holding open the crocodile's mouth, "Never give up!"
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