in pursuit of happiness
From Seattle Simplicity:
“There are three things we must figure out in order to live our best lives.
One: Where we want to live.
Two: What we want to do for a living.
Three: Who we want to be with.When you’ve figured out those three things, you’ll be happy.”
when i first read it, it indeed sounded so simple. but, is it, really?
where do you want to live? what place would you pick out over all other possibilities in the world? i find it difficult to answer that myself because there are so many places that i can imagine living in. there are so many options. the world is so full of possibilities. possibilities that i do not even realize exist. i am clear on the places where i do not want to live, though.
same with what do you want to do for a living. there are endless possibilities. while it is sometimes easier to figure out what you don’t want to do, i find it more difficult to pinpoint and narrow all the possible choices to one single path. i have varied interests and capabilities, which i believe makes my life rich, and it’s not so easy for me to single out just one thing i want to do.
who i want to be with, i’ve figured out more or less. i have a partner i plan to be with for the rest of this lifetime, but i take “to be with” to also include friends, neighbors and communities. now tell me, how do you rid yourself of people you don’t want to be with?
and then there is the difference between having figured these things out, and actually putting them into action, especially when you put all three together. maybe i’d love living in seychelles, but what am i gonna do there for a living (hm, with the proximity to south africa, maybe should start paying more attention to gold price quotes and invest in metal trading, haha!)? would i love the people and would the people i’d bring with me love it there, too?
seattle simplicity ended her post with this:
It really IS that beautifully simple. Three little things. Amazing. I loved having it all boiled down to three little things.
i think there’s even a simpler approach. just a two-step, this time:
1. take stock of what you have, and learn to love it, live it, make the best out of it.
2. if you can’t, then go seek change. you may find yourself going-and-seeking your whole life in search of that state called “happiness”, but then, isn’t that what life is all about?
Seattle Simplicity found thru Simply Thrifty.
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8 Responses to “in pursuit of happiness”
January 17th, 2006 at
for me, happiness is within. if i don’t have it in my heart, no amount of wealth or love can make me happy. at this moment of my life, i choose to be happy wherever i am (even if it’s freezing cold), whatever i’m doing (multi-tasking galore) and whoever i’m with (lucky me, i’m with hubby).
January 17th, 2006 at
1) hmmm, having had the chance to live in 3 countries already (with all their pros and cons), i could say that it is how i choose to live it there. no matter where i am, it is me who would make it enjoyable or not.
2) i have things that i want to do but now isn’t the time. perhaps it would never happen. who knows? meanwhile, i have to make the best of what i am now and see where it brings me.
3) thankful to have been given a husband with whom i want to be with for this lifetime and the next, kids that i would happily have again if i should, family and friends that i was blessed to meet and have.—those said, i guess i should not focus on unimportant people.
for me, contentment IS the key to happiness. my mom always says, ” be happy with what you have because not everyone has it”— pardon for the lengthy comment, i liked the topic
January 18th, 2006 at
ako, in my pursuit of happiness, as long as may pagkain, ok ako. hehe
seriously…yun talaga.
January 19th, 2006 at
Answer to 1: New Zealand. The fresh air, the scenic beauty, the slow-paced lifestyle, the emphasis on the family as a whole and children’s individuality, and the emphasis on healhty living appeals to hubby and I very much. Plus, no new language to learn more difficult than kiwi-speak.
2. Working with children. If i can work with children right away and make a career out of it right now, I would change.
3. I’m gonna have to say Woody!
Great food for thoughts!
January 19th, 2006 at
misis14: amen! you’re such a positive person, i should stick around you… kaso -11 ba kamo dyan sa inyo? er….
justice: (1.) but you did not answer the question. where do YOU want to live? not your husband, not your children. YOU. (2) if you know what you REALLY want to do, there’s no better time to start getting there than NOW. (3) *should not*, but unfortunately we do, don’t we?
des, haha, mas simple pa pala yung strategy mo: one-factor lang, haha!
pinayhekmi: ey, long time no see! great to see you back! you know, i envy you, because you’ve identified the answers to the above questions. and knowing is already half the battle, right? it’s like having a game plan in life… maybe i should also buckle down and try to pin down my answers to something specific as well…
January 19th, 2006 at
??? 1) i thought i put my answers! NZ or Palau pala. it’s the nature around there that attracts me to it. 2) yeah, i know what i want, but given the situation NOW, i’m pretty tied-up. 3) yeah, *we do* (sometimes too much that it affects our lives) and that HAS to change.
January 21st, 2006 at
hey, i like this post! just curious, what are the places you don’t want to live in?
can i borrow this topic for my blog???? pls????
January 23rd, 2006 at
hey tintin, justice and ruth — tara, lipat na kayo dito