I am happy right now…I just started a glass of wine…
is the pursuit of happiness the greatest good ever…
Yes, very happy, I love letting it all out, all the honesty out, makes me feel really content and relieved, honesty is ecstasy.
Report back when you have finished the wine.
I failed.
Fuck.
It’s only the beginning of the year and I’ve already reached the limit of my patience waay before I anticipated it. Hypocrisy is a bitch. Truth is a real bitch, too. How much can you let people walk over you before you’re forced to let it out? Gawd, I feel like kiling somebody right now. Not happy right now, not with others, nor with myself.
Feel like shit.
I’m not sure I’m capable of anything other than happiness.
my wine time is over…I am so unhappy with the violent world… my little life is pretty comfortable…but my marriage is causing me a lot of stress…marriage seems very very tough…I am not happy with it…
YES. Being happy is both art and science. Anybody can be happy, can remain happy.
I’ve known great happiness. At this point in my life I wonder—is that all there is or can be?
But what was it that proceeded the wine which made you happy?
I’m not sure what the greatest good is - that might depend on the situation and the moment at hand - but I don’t think that the pursuit of happiness is. That can be a very slippery slope leading to a downfall, much heartache and addiction. It’s human and normal wanting to be happy. Living our lives as best we can , trying to live them in harmony and balance, not as a hedonist but an epicurean, (hahahaha-sure lol), practicing mindfulness and self-consciousness, and not so much waiting for that butterfly to alight on our shoulders, but knowing that it may, and being grateful when it does - this is far better than pursuing happiness.
The pursuit of self-discovery, the pondering of the great mysteries of life, knowledge, the unfolding of awe and wonder within us in the moment - etcetera - these are all far better than pursuing that elusive butterfly who will only fly up up and away as you chase it.
Am I happy at the moment? I don’t think so. But the ship on the ocean has sailed into more calm and still waters. And I’m okay and when the ship has sailed out into stormy choppy waters again, I will still be okay even if I am not. 
If I were to be happy all of the time, how could i possibly recognize it.
well thank you arc…I am doing ok…but I have found a problem in myself that causes me trouble…I have just recognized how much…it is like the enemy within…I cant really blame it on anyone in particular…there are reasons for it…but I now need to deal with it…how is your unhappiness coming along…
That’s funny. I’m not sure how it’s coming along. Hopefully, it’s really dragging its feet way way behind me. Unhappiness is like a thief in the night which carefully creeps up behind us. We don’t know it’s there until it strikes. That’s why it’s important to recognize and gather our spiritual and emotional resources, whatever they may be, around us - in order to hold that damn thief at bay and to still experience some equilibrium.
But a question here: Does realizing that one is NOT happy necessarily mean that one is unhappy, turtle?
There are degrees of moods and emotions to my way of thinking.
I am content with seeing the cup as half full, turtle. Don’t get me wrong though - often it is full to the top. So, half-full IS contentment and still waters to me. I would trade happiness for contentment and peace of mind.
Can one count contentment and peace of mind as happiness? Perception is within the degrees of such.
Someone else may see the cup as half empty. That not only takes away their happiness but it leaves them hungry.
Perhaps “real” balance and harmonious happiness is living without hunger, living with knowing that ENOUGH is surely ENOUGH and even more so than that and being grateful for it.
I am glad you are doing well…I am doing well but I don’t see the half empty cup… but it is almost totally empty for the world around me…my life is ok but I suffer from so massive violence and sickness…I don’t see me changing my view soon…
Turtle,
Don’t take the sins of the world upon yourself.
Right now, my cup is more half-full and i am far more than content with that. Anyway…
Is it as Irrellus has said - that you take the sins of the world upon yourself OR is it because of your own personal life situation - which might be different than borrowing the heartaches and situations of others and placing them on our shoulders?
Does this "massive violence and sickness’ come from within or from the environment surrounding you?
“I can’t get no. . . satisfaction.”— The Rolling Stones, circa 1965. Do you think they got it by now?
When was marriage ever about happiness?
At least intermittently, I’d say.
I would at least say presumably (oh how I hate to presume) when one whispers those words “I Do” at the altar - unless it’s a shotgun(?) wedding.
gib, what’s with that avatar of yours? Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkssssssssssssssssssssss.
[size=200]lol[/size]
At my wedding, I said “I guess I have to.”… kidding!
You like it? It’s the self-image I aspire to.
I have laughed this morning and have been upset too. I know I will have both again today, tomorrow I will have laughter light the darkness again. Happy? Yea, mostly. I think if ever I can’t even giggle or smile at least once a day, I will be unhappy.
Here is a bit of cute for you to give you a smile:
