how_to_be_happy A Tired Young Man I guess I'm always looking for a simple answer to a question that has plagued everyone. 060705 ... stork daddy yesterday...i was feverish from the combined effects of food poisoning and having not smoked for two days after a pack a day habit and my girlfriend's father was drunk with his brother-in-law and they were setting off fireworks. there'd be the usual rattling and hissing water sound and then sometimes a loud illegal bang. and then he started coughing, harshly, and gurgling from his own lifetime pack or two a day habit and the fireworks'lights made frequent visits to the curtains of her room, illuminating briefly everything like an epilepctic shadow puppet show but his coughing was terrifying and it all reminded me of a scene from apocalypse now and i just felt like...all life is disgusting and she turned to me and placed my hand across her bare breast, and she was smiling in her sleep and i wanted to cry but i didn't. 060705 ... pSyche stop feeling sorry for yourself. 060705 ... dipperwell Harvard has a psych class called "How To Be Happy", and it is one of the institution's most highly attended. 060705 ... Lemon_Soda Being happy wouldn't mean anything to me if I didn't suffer, too. My heart goes out to those who suffer way more than they deserve, or insanely more than they receive happy moments. I like to tell myself that all those terrible things should make the happy moments worth so much more but that can be a lie in many cases. I think for most of them, its just a terrible feeling they simply never want to feel again and yet it keeps coming back. Thats some pretty horrific and sobering stuff. I wish I could do more than simply pity and fear from afar. I try so often to help them, but it just as often blows up in my face. Most of my peace and contentment comes from just being near and listening to what they have to say more than trying to change them. I want to be wise and say what will help, is true, and is well timed...but I have less than a sparkling record. The greatest wisdom I have learned is to try to be quiet or humorous and just be there for them for when they come to me. Things seem right when I am like that. I have heard so many secrets and been close to so many people using that idea. They go away, but we remember each other well. I have had terrible, terrible moments over those secret and close things and suffered and hurt over them and their loss, aswell. But I am me and have begun to ramble in my thoughts... 060705 ... Ouroboros positive_psychology 060705 ... The Last Saint Remember that you are the ultimate authority over yourself. Want what you already have, think back on happy moments, and be who you want to be. 060705 ... stork daddy stop being so serious all the time. 060705 ... stork daddy and surrender the need to give advice. it helps make you feel happier. i guarantee it. 060705 ... unhinged tonglen 060705 ... nom follow the yellow brick road 060705 ... dipperwell a big step would be to let go of the idea that one must be, or end up, happy all the time "the growing soul is watered best by tears of adversity" -charles schultz 060705 ... Soma happiness_is_fleeting. Joy? Now that's what I'm talking about. 060705 what's it to you? who go blather from