Happiness
I was watching telly the other night, as I do most nights, knitting needles in hand. I do enjoy a bit of compass on a Sunday night. They had a forum type show on about happiness and one of the guests was the guy that wrote the book Affluenza, I have only read the reviews of the book being in a mostly non-reading stage of life, but it does sound like a good read.
Anyway, the show started and I was feeling a little tired, Author of Affluenza was talking along the lines of the misperception of happiness as being having the big house, fancy car, massive TV that sort of thing, the crazy pursuit of material possessions, etc.
It was at this point that I found myself saying to Husband, "I wish we had one of those fancy set top box thingos so we could record this and watch it later, because it looks really interesting but I'm tired and want to go to bed."
The irony was not lost on me.
Oh, and in case you are wondering we don't have a VCR as it broke and we didn't see the point in replacing it, our DVD player has also given up the ghost and it wasn't a recording one anyway, so that's why I couldn't record the programme.
Speaking of material affluence, my boy monkey is very materially orientated and was whinging all morning about some new lego set he wants. I told him he would have to wait for Christmas, and he'd better stop whinging or Santa wouldn't bring him anything.
"Santa can't see me."
So, in that annoying parent way, I started singing, "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness' sake. You better watch out, you better not pout...."
Surprisingly, he listened patiently while I sang myself out, then said, "That song's just to make kids be good, it's not true. Santa can't see me, he lives on the other side of the world."
I have to admit I was quite pleased at his response. Good boy. I wonder when he's going to work out how Santa manages to come all that way from the other side of the world to give everyone gifts in just one night?
He has thought about it, but he sees the presents in the morning and that is evidence enough apparently. Unless he is keeping up the farce, in case it stops when we find out he knows. (As I did, when I was a child. I remember saying to my parents in the morning, "I saw Santa last night, he looks a bit like Dad" just to see how they would react. I also remember asking my Mum about where babies came from just to watch her squirm, not because I really had any interest in the answer.)
Anyway, the show started and I was feeling a little tired, Author of Affluenza was talking along the lines of the misperception of happiness as being having the big house, fancy car, massive TV that sort of thing, the crazy pursuit of material possessions, etc.
It was at this point that I found myself saying to Husband, "I wish we had one of those fancy set top box thingos so we could record this and watch it later, because it looks really interesting but I'm tired and want to go to bed."
The irony was not lost on me.
Oh, and in case you are wondering we don't have a VCR as it broke and we didn't see the point in replacing it, our DVD player has also given up the ghost and it wasn't a recording one anyway, so that's why I couldn't record the programme.
Speaking of material affluence, my boy monkey is very materially orientated and was whinging all morning about some new lego set he wants. I told him he would have to wait for Christmas, and he'd better stop whinging or Santa wouldn't bring him anything.
"Santa can't see me."
So, in that annoying parent way, I started singing, "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness' sake. You better watch out, you better not pout...."
Surprisingly, he listened patiently while I sang myself out, then said, "That song's just to make kids be good, it's not true. Santa can't see me, he lives on the other side of the world."
I have to admit I was quite pleased at his response. Good boy. I wonder when he's going to work out how Santa manages to come all that way from the other side of the world to give everyone gifts in just one night?
He has thought about it, but he sees the presents in the morning and that is evidence enough apparently. Unless he is keeping up the farce, in case it stops when we find out he knows. (As I did, when I was a child. I remember saying to my parents in the morning, "I saw Santa last night, he looks a bit like Dad" just to see how they would react. I also remember asking my Mum about where babies came from just to watch her squirm, not because I really had any interest in the answer.)
posted by crafty at
10:06
8 Comments:
My friend Elda's motto is quite simple. If you don't believe, you don't receive.
I think Climber still believes. I don't think he's as logical as Monkey #1.
The problem I'm finding with living my life the way I like - not getting caught up in mortgage or possessions or chronic workaholism, balancing family life with pursuing the stuff that makes me happy (ie dancing), is that it's not seen as a real or grown-up or valid choice sometimes. Because it's all about salary and holiday pay and superannuation isn't it? And maybe when I'm living in a cardboard box in a railway station when I'm 90, I'll find out they were right...maybe I should have got a real job.
Ah, bugger it. I've never had a 'real job'. I'm just lucky Husband does.
I think you work very hard, and your job is as legitimate as any other. And it is what you love doing, good on you, I say.
That whole work vs life thing is a quandary isn't it?
Ooh, I agree Crafty! I envy people like Stomper who can combine a love of something with a way to make some money. Most of us just do what we have to do to earn.
But, I would like to have enough money that I didn't have to worry. Those that say money can't buy happiness are just full of crap. I would not be stupid with my money, I would make it last a lifetime, but enjoy it at the same time.
Oh Hell! Everyone knows money buys a better class of misery.
But...I do believe you can pay too much for your money. & being happy tops a high paying job every time...plus you will probably live a helluva lot longer!
I think we get mixed messages about affluence. We are encouraged to try hard, get good grades, so we can "go far in life." But what does that mean? Ohhhhh, I love a good Santa Threat! I start using it in July. I think that is why the Santa myth was invented. Parents needed a scare tactic.
Boy monkey is a bright young man. You've done well.
I'm not criticising, really I'm not, but it's been 5 days since your last post.
My happiness at your Happiness story is receding...
:)
ok ok
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