The Pursuit of the Blissful

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  • Posted By: nachomom @ 01/24/2008 5:22:17 PM

    Modern society precludes contentment. We are disconnected from the fruits of our labors and cut off from nature and community with others. So we drug ourselves with "entertainment" to pass the time. Evidence of this is in the lack of artistry in everyday life. How odd to be walking down the street on a beautiful day and hear the person next to you talking on his headset without awareness for where he is or who is around him.

  • Posted By: sekarmc @ 01/24/2008 5:18:51 PM

    I rate myself very happy. I listen to NPR everymorning, where I start the day listening to how unhappy I could have been if I was somewhere else at that moment. I feel blessed for everything I have around me ! I rarely compete with anyone else. I see my own progression in life and smile with pure joy!

  • Posted By: sekarmc @ 01/24/2008 5:18:35 PM

    I rate myself very happy. I listen to NPR everymorning, where I start the day listening to how unhappy I could have been if I was somewhere else at that moment. I feel blessed for everything I have around me ! I rarely compete with anyone else. I see my own progression in life and smile with pure joy!
    sekarmc

  • Posted By: closereader @ 01/24/2008 5:07:37 PM

    Was "Weiner a foreign correspondent at National Public Radio?"...watch the repetition Newsweek web writers! (see second to last paragraph)...interesting article but I'd expect better proofing!

  • Posted By: johndoe12345 @ 01/24/2008 2:42:36 PM

    Okay, the person below this comment has way too much time on their hands...Maybe they should move to Moldova( Which they probably can't find on a map) and rant there...Its a win win, we get this idiot out of the country and the Modolvan's won't understand what their saying....and this may lead to happiness in Modova, because they will be humored ny this moron!

    • Posted By: siracusa @ 01/24/2008 2:53:24 PM

      Check your sloppy writing and typos. That would help your post's credibility. The US is full of illiterates like you nowadays. Too bad. Can YOU find it on a map, smart behind?

      • Posted By: galdridge @ 01/24/2008 4:42:05 PM

        This is a good example of the'anger' within a lot of people which is often a reflection of their own insecurities and the realization that they have let themselves down.

  • Posted By: qtackett @ 01/24/2008 12:14:49 PM

    I'm happy on the weekends, though it takes me a while to unwind from work. I think the U.S. should adopt a three-day weekend. Two days is just not enough to re-group and face another work week. Also, we need to start our workdays later... 9 or 10 am. Several people may gripe about lost productivity, but people here are sleep deprived. This results in rollover accidents at 6 am, and exhaustion on the job. We need to take a tip from the Europeans.

    • Posted By: s_sathya @ 01/24/2008 3:31:48 PM

      A person that cannot rest and relax in a 2 day weekend, will not get enough rest on a 3 day week end as well. The problem is not in the no of days but is in one's own discipline.

  • Posted By: GWetz @ 01/24/2008 3:11:49 PM

    I have traveled extensively in Russia and the old Soviet Block (Belarus, Moldova, Ukriane, Russia) and I whole heartily agree with Mr. Weiner's comments about Moldova, but would like to extend exactly the same comments about the rest of the Soviet Bloc. It stems from mistrust, spying and sabotaging neighbors, freinds and family after years of living under brutal dictatorship going back to Lenin and Stalin. I am a metrics driven person and I believe in looking at data. "Happy" is pretty subjective, but I think that you can make an objective case for "Un-happy". I would look at suicide rates by country to determine how unhappy a people are and there is a very common thread, the top suicide rates in the world are all Soviet Bloc countries, in order: 1) Lithuania, 2) Russia, 3) Belarus, 4) Estonia, 5) Hungary, 6) Lativa, 7) Sovenia, 8) Ukraine, 9) Kazakhstand, 10) Finland. Coincidence, I think not. Having said that, I have met "happy" people in each of the countries that I have traveled to, but by and large, it felt like a very dark cloud hung over the populace. But it should be noted, Moldova is not in the top 10.

  • Posted By: s_sathya @ 01/24/2008 2:52:40 PM

    Johndoe, perhaps siracusa reacted in the same way you have, except with heart felt concern.
    - Steven

  • Posted By: danasmokey @ 01/24/2008 2:49:31 PM

    Happiness Schmappiness. This article is rediculous!

  • Posted By: johndoe1986 @ 01/24/2008 2:41:38 PM

    Okay, the person below this comment has way too much time on their hands...Maybe they should move to Moldova( Which they probably can't find on a map) and rant there...Its a win win, we get this idiot out of the country and the Modolvan's won't understand what their saying....and this may lead to happiness in Modova, because they will be humored ny this moron!

  • Posted By: jennzenigmatic @ 01/24/2008 8:30:20 AM

    Actually, happiness has to be found within. If you are not a happy person, you will make your friends and family miserable. It's nice to have the support of caring people around you while you find your inner happiness or as the article said, "inner child." Childlike is not the same as child-ISH (selfish tantrums.) I am a Buddhist from Cleveland, Ohio but I think even the Christians say, "The kingdom of God is within," and God is love.

    • Posted By: Michigan import @ 01/24/2008 2:40:01 PM

      I took a philosophy course that delved into happiness. We used Aristotle's definition: "Happiness is an activity proper to [humankind], in accordance with virtue, in a complete life." Without re-writing the entire course, it seems that the point Arristotle was making is that happiness is more than just a feeling, that it is encapsulated in a lifetime of good works that human beings yearn to accomplish. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we miss the mark. Aren't those who are most happy (and, as noted by others here) the people who GIVE of themselves in some capacity for the betterment of another? Isn't happiness tied up with touching and impacting "the other" instead of "the self"???

  • Posted By: altitude @ 01/24/2008 2:16:46 PM

    I would say, you feel happy when you realize that life is your choice: to be happy or not. If you have a positive feelings and creative thoughts it will in return build a good habit- to be happy.

  • Posted By: smoobies @ 01/24/2008 2:13:34 PM

    Comment: Nothing gives me more happiness than helping other people. That's why I'm a Art Teacher and wouldn't trade it for ANY JOB! I served 8 years in the Army Reserve and loved every minute of it. I love my family and my self because I love this country more than any one could understand. This is STILL THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Shame on Raina Kelley for writing this article. Perhapes she should go live in one of those countries?

  • Posted By: smoobies @ 01/24/2008 2:07:05 PM

    Nothing gives me more happiness than helping other people. That's why I'm a Art Teacher and wouldn't trade it for ANY JOB! I served 8 years in the Army Reserve and loved every minite of it. I love my family and my self because I love this country more than any one could undertand. This is STILL THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Shame on Raina Kelley for writing this article. Perhapes she should go live in one of those countries?

  • Posted By: mesero @ 01/24/2008 1:45:25 PM

    It has taken me 70 years to discover that my greatest joy is in helping others. I have now joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the local Volunteer Fire Department, and enrolled in courses to become an EMT
    I have actually begun to like myself. Is there a lesson here for others?
    tmrowanusa100@msn.com

  • Posted By: chuckster35 @ 01/24/2008 1:14:02 PM

    Happiness isn't about what you have, it's about what you give.

    If each day you reach out and touch something and make it better than before you had touched it, you will find not only happiiness, but contentment as well.

  • Posted By: chuckster35 @ 01/24/2008 1:06:01 PM

    Happiness isn't about how much you have, it's about how much can give.

    Leave everything you touch, a little better than it was before you touched it. Those acts lead to both happiness and contentment!

  • Posted By: scratchartgram @ 01/24/2008 1:03:44 PM

    Happiness in within yourself,,be satisfied in what you have,let God do the rest, He is in charge,,,He created this beautiful earth for us to enjoy...not making it a waste land,look around the trees ,flowers ,sky sunrise ,sunset,its His presence,reminding us of His love
    Mary Altman

  • Posted By: scratchartgram @ 01/24/2008 1:02:01 PM

    Happiness in within yourself,,be satisfied in what you have,let God do the rest, He is in charge,,,He created this beautiful earth for us to enjoy...not making it a waste land,look around the trees ,flowers ,sky sunrise ,sunset,its His presence,reminding us of His love
    Mary Altman

  • Posted By: zipznap @ 01/24/2008 12:49:07 PM

    "Happines is the pursuit of the meaning of life." When one has attained the meaning of life and our purpose on earth, this is when happiness has no bounds. Learn who Jehovah is, and read your bible daily and you will find the purpose of our existence, and the happy future that awaits us if we are meek hearted.
    Anonymous

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