My fourth post, from October 13th

[low_delta]

Excruciating happiness, exquisite sadness

Whorlpool has been posting about happiness; asking what has made us happy, lately.

I tried to think of something that made me happy that day. I couldn't think of anything. I posted that I enjoyed a duel I'd had with Ms. Fledermaus. It was great fun. But it didn't really make me happy. Happiness is longer term than that. Happiness comes from friendship and love. Happiness comes from being pleased with oneself and one's surroundings.

My friends (including some who are around here) don't really give me happiness. They make me smile and laugh. They beautify my world.

Should that make me happy?

I saw a beautiful sunset the other day. It was the archetypal sunset. Fluffy horizontal rows of glowing pink clouds. Brilliant pink sky fading into orange near the horizon. During my short westerly drive home, the pink faded entirely to orange. The clouds' glow turned towards the underside while a gray crept down them.

It was the sort of thing that I've always said made life worth living.

Does it? It adds so much to life, but can it sustain one on its own? Or does the beauty just prolong the agony?

Have you ever heard Patti Smith's "Farewell Reel"? It is for the loss of her husband. It is so sad. It is so beautiful. It is of a pain that most people can only hope to ever feel.

Smith's love gave her an exqusite sadness. A sadness that ultimately speaks that her life was worth living.

I am merely a witness to her pain, but when I witness this, it gives me hope.


I guess in the absence of true happiness, I'll settle for hope.

Comments

Wow

[princessteasy.livejournal.com]

Wow, you are a very deep person.
And I think the sunsets are there
To help us along our way.
I guess.
I mean kinda like a prize for living,
For making it through the tough times
Make it easier or more tolerable when
Things are not how they should be.
The greater powers, whoever that may be,
Way of saying it gets worse so suck it up
And enjoy this little bit of joy while you can.

Re: Wow

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree about the sunsets.

happyness factor

[beadge.livejournal.com]

I find happiness comes in different levels. First, there is short term happiness like the $3.00 scratch-off ticket you just won or the really good indian food you just consumed. Then there is the long-term happiness which is your average level throughout the day. This can vary from hour to hour but stays mainly the same. Its affected by stressors like cash flow, health, job pressures, time allocation, relationships, etc. I try to force out the negative factors like money and focus on positive factors like friends, etc. Sometimes I even make stuff up to put me on the positive side. Its hard to stay positive all the time. I think part of it is the chemical balance of the brain while the remainder is thought induced. Sometimes its easier just to go off by yourself and be miserable for awhile until it wears off.

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

i think, as long as there is hope, one can be happy or find happiness......and one can truely live.......

when all needs are fulfilled, no goals are there to attain, no hope is required, then people are truely miserable.....

regarding sunsets........truely one of the best times of the day.......soon the sun (here) will be setting in the north by northwest (not the hitchcock film) and they will be hours long.....it's a great time to reflect.....