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When can we define our own happiness?100% Voted for by mynameishoneybee, Weydon.
The truth is, we've all been born and raised in a predominantly capitalistic society, which unfortunately consumes all of us, and will also be the death of us. America has evolved into a sadistic society that mass produces only to fulfill the absent-minded with physical objects to satisfy our temporary desires. We make what we want, and buy what we don't need. And everyone suffers because there are no resources left that are of any use to anyone.
Is buying a new car happiness? Does owning a business or buying 5787212057 karat doggy collar make anyone happy? Or the poor dog wearing that god-forbidden object weighing him down? Sure, you can call that happiness. But it's not satisfaction.
Happiness is an immense feeling, and often times a person doesn't know what to do with themselves when they are happy. I think happiness is satisfaction, one that never fades or gets lost in the air when gratuity is spent out, lost in the stock market, rear-ended by a careless driver, stolen by a robber...
The underlying factor is that this country is far too dependent on the physicality of things, especially the Almighty Dollar, lest we forget that.
Happiness can not be bought with some useless (okay, I lied about it being useless) paper bill - those only started out as I.O.U. notes. How can we be so selfish as to rely on something that is so easily destroyed, when we invest in the durability and stability of objects?
Life is not durable, and we -as human beings- are most definitely not stable. There are countries where the monetary value has been reduced to nothing more but a quarter, and there are those who are more than content with their condition. The only reason why people are unhappy in this unduly dependent industrial society is because they constantly compare themselves to others.
Why not be satisfied with what you got. Why not be happy? Why not appreciate everything, and anything that comes along, be grateful for and enjoy the experience? When you find that piece of mind, you will have all the riches you could ever possibly imagine.
That, my friends, -can truly and most likely- is happiness.
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Weydon
February 11, 2006
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February 23, 2006
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easy
you're happy when you smile every day and are generally free of worry. It doesn't matter if you're broke, or even homeless. Happiness is relative to the individual and their personal values. Just calm down, and stop comparing America to other countries. First off I think we would all benefit if each of us stopped thinking of countries as entities instead of the borders that they are. How can you generalize a group of billions of people as unhappy, when looking in the face of one who is, or a thousand who are? The problems are in each individual which partakes in the flawed "system". Self-denial of useless goods is an available option to us all. Consider yourself for a moment. Look around your room. How much of what you see is necessary? Are you happy? Are you not now a hypocrite? Each person has the right to decide what will make them happy. If gluttony is the path to enlightenment, then let the glutton follow. Until he finds that he is dissatisfied, he will stay a glutton. Unfortunately most find that they simply haven't gone far enough and continue going in the same direction until they've died. Happiness is attainable, but change must come first. As we can't change the choices of others, we can't sacrifice our own wellbeing to worry for them. So in the end, the solution is to be selfish, and once you are happy, let others who are willing to learn from you learn from you. Unless a person wishes to change, no amount of impedence will change them. -blakePlease register or login to comment! It's totally free