Longevity is a matter of perspective. I never expected to reach where I am and did not want to, having seen many, incidentally some optimists in them, suffer at even younger ages. Fate decided otherwise and I am still plugging along.
Well, the cartoon’s not funny, ‘haha’, but it does prompt some serious thought. I think we are all somewhere in between—optimistic on some days, pessimistic on others. We all swing on the happenstance of circumstances, in spite of our resolve to have some control over our lives.
I read a great book, The Happy Person, about 40 years ago. The author was way before his time and was trying to understand why some people were happy and others weren’t. In fact the happiest people he looked at didn’t have the easiest lives, it’s just that they valued happiness. I’m one of the lucky ones there. The original subtitle of Cheerful Monk was Happiness as as Spiritual Practice. Now I would just say happiness as a practice, a way of life. It works for me.
I’m more of a pessimist when it comes to external events —- I’m a Six in the Enneagram, we expect things to go wrong, so I always have contingency plans. I don’t worry or expect them to work, but it keeps me flexible when I need to adapt to new circumstances. I’m 77 and Andy’s 82 so it’s hard to believe we won’t have to make some major adjustments in the coming years. Is that any reason not to be happy? No, it just means valuing what we have while we still have it. I’ve never been happier in my life, and I’m not going to throw that away for an uncertain future.
I went through a stage not long ago where I wanted to try to really make a difference. with my money (or lack thereof!) … I mean what I spend it on … and my vote and my ‘green’ habits.
I realize now that I am truly a speck of sand on a beach. we will soon be over 8 BILLION people on this planet ! we breed like rabbits and nobody is even addressing that anymore that I can see. we try to fix the hole in the dam by putting a band aid on it. then we fight over the band aid!
i’m through worrying about any of it. it’s enough to stay happy and contented in the face of it all. i’ll keep doing what I think or feel to be good things for the planet. but other than that… I have given up being concerned about it.
i’ll face whatever comes whenever it happens. in the meantime I will eat ice cream when I want to and ENJOY my life! 🙂
It’s best not to fret. Make things as nice and comfortable for yourself as you can, and let the rest of it go. Now if only I could follow my own advice!
I don’t think so.
Perhaps who is not enjoy the life as it is… tend to be less healthy.
I think if you look at the data you would find people with healthy habits tend to enjoy life more.
I’ll just go with my own “flow path…”
Me too!
Longevity is a matter of perspective. I never expected to reach where I am and did not want to, having seen many, incidentally some optimists in them, suffer at even younger ages. Fate decided otherwise and I am still plugging along.
As you know, I’m a happy pessimist. 🙂
Well, the cartoon’s not funny, ‘haha’, but it does prompt some serious thought. I think we are all somewhere in between—optimistic on some days, pessimistic on others. We all swing on the happenstance of circumstances, in spite of our resolve to have some control over our lives.
I read a great book, The Happy Person, about 40 years ago. The author was way before his time and was trying to understand why some people were happy and others weren’t. In fact the happiest people he looked at didn’t have the easiest lives, it’s just that they valued happiness. I’m one of the lucky ones there. The original subtitle of Cheerful Monk was Happiness as as Spiritual Practice. Now I would just say happiness as a practice, a way of life. It works for me.
Oh, I don’t know about that. Optimists tend to be risk takers … Maybe they just die faster due to accident.
I’m more of a pessimist when it comes to external events —- I’m a Six in the Enneagram, we expect things to go wrong, so I always have contingency plans. I don’t worry or expect them to work, but it keeps me flexible when I need to adapt to new circumstances. I’m 77 and Andy’s 82 so it’s hard to believe we won’t have to make some major adjustments in the coming years. Is that any reason not to be happy? No, it just means valuing what we have while we still have it. I’ve never been happier in my life, and I’m not going to throw that away for an uncertain future.
I went through a stage not long ago where I wanted to try to really make a difference. with my money (or lack thereof!) … I mean what I spend it on … and my vote and my ‘green’ habits.
I realize now that I am truly a speck of sand on a beach. we will soon be over 8 BILLION people on this planet ! we breed like rabbits and nobody is even addressing that anymore that I can see. we try to fix the hole in the dam by putting a band aid on it. then we fight over the band aid!
i’m through worrying about any of it. it’s enough to stay happy and contented in the face of it all. i’ll keep doing what I think or feel to be good things for the planet. but other than that… I have given up being concerned about it.
i’ll face whatever comes whenever it happens. in the meantime I will eat ice cream when I want to and ENJOY my life! 🙂
yep, ice cream is soooooooooooooo good…
It’s best not to fret. Make things as nice and comfortable for yourself as you can, and let the rest of it go. Now if only I could follow my own advice!
Commitment and practice. We don’t have to do it perfectly to make a big difference in our lives. Thank goodness!