the ask@AAR: What makes you happy?
I spent Thanksgiving or, as non-Americans would call it, yesterday, with a part of my extended family. We had two intense discussions. We almost came to blows over who should be cast as the next James Bond—James Norton, duh—and had a generational divide over what makes one happy.
My 84 year old mom believes strongly that faith and family are what bring joy, that serving others and being a part of something greater than oneself is the path to joy. And that has worked for her—she’s one of the most content people I know. My niece said she believes being true to oneself and working to make the world a better place is what works. Others put in being intellectually challenged, making art, having a partner you love, not being afraid, and dogs.
Obviously it’s different for us all although I suspect somethings work better than others over time.
What do you think and what is your experience? What makes you truly happy?
Things that bring me joy:
Our dinner time talk this year included discussing the Ship of Theseus Paradox. My kids definitely came down on several different sides of that one! LOL! That evolved (devolved?) into a discussion of the Trolley Problem. I guess you could say it made me very happy to listen to their brains at work.
I agree with many of the things listed so far. I recently attended a Happiness Café at our library that a friend was very excited about. A speaker from Action for Happiness, a nonprofit group, spoke about the 10 Keys to Happier Living (from a book by Vanessa King). One key involved saying yes to trying new things so I said yes when were were invited to go see Holiday Lights at our Botanic Gardens next week.
I can’t really add much to the general discussion, as you and others have listed the things that make me happy (family, friends, art, good food, etc.), but I do want to say that James Norton would make an excellent James Bond. He can play good guys (see “Grantchester” or “War & Peace”) or bad guys (he’s quite, quite scary in “Happy Valley”), simple or complex, and watching him act is the one thing I’d add to the List of Things That Make Me Happy.
The love and companionship of my husband
When my children come home
Holiday meals with the extended family
A career that challenges me intellectually and where I work with nice people
Good health
READING
I am very thankful for all that I have!
I’m with you mother on faith and family. My family brings not just happiness but joy.(That may be because I like my family. I’ve known families that would bring neither.) I’d add to that music. I possess no musical talent, but listening to music of all sorts—classical, pop, country, jazz, whatever—has always calmed me as well as giving pleasure and lifting my mood.
Being married to my lovely husband for 42 years. Having lovely friends, some since university days, that I can rely on and who share life’s joys, ups, downs, mysteries and annoyances with me. Having my faculties at, so far, about 100% OK. Being able to read, being able to listen to music, having had a very interesting career. Having cats in my life for, after all, IMO they are the dear Lord’s finest creation! I have much to be thankful for. Tonight I am hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for English neighbours who are TG novices! The pumpkin pie baking in the oven fills the house with amazing scent and reminds me of my mother making them before the extended family descended for TG celebrations. And my Echo Show is belting out The Beach Boys. What fun……