It is the very pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness.As Emily Esfahani Smith (*) notes:
happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue. One must have a reason to be happy.via There's More to Life Than Being Happy (*) by Emily Esfahani Smith (*).
Iain S. Thomas on Happiness and Memories:
Happiness isn't forgetting. Happiness is finding new things to remember.via The Haunted Quiet by Iain S. Thomas.
So obviously true, but mostly forgotten or neglected. Thanks for the timely reminder, Iain.
Meaning is not only about transcending the self, but also about transcending the present moment. [..]via There's More to Life Than Being Happy (*) by Emily Esfahani-Smith (*) via happiness and meaning (*) by Shooting Wide Open (*).
Meaning is enduring. It connects the past to the present to the future. [..]
Having negative events happen to you decreases your happiness but increases the amount of meaning you have in life.
I find happiness (*) in sadness (*) in a strange way – there is something that uplifts (*) me and keeps me waiting, looking for the next thing.via Trent Parke lets his camera play God in inspired new street portrait series (*) by Alex Needham (*).
Garry Kasparov on Dreams and Happiness:
If you always have a dream, the happiest day of your life is never over.
via Saint Louis University 2015 Spring Commencement Address - May 16, 2015 by Garry Kasparov.
Bronnie Ware on Life
Change is constant. We make it easiest on ourselves by accepting that fact. Our ability in letting go of the need for control, giving up the insistence that things have to be a certain way, is a courageous gift of freedom.via Enjoy Life by Bronnie Ware.It is also a gift of love and gratitude. By surrendering to life, accepting that change is a natural part of the flow, we learn to appreciate the moment for what it is.[..]
Life really is such a short and precious gift. It can also change unexpectedly in one tiny moment. So please, love yourself enough to commit to enjoying your life. Make decisions that support your happiness – your genuine, heartfelt happiness.
Give up the past (*). We’ve all been hurt, we all [..] made mistakes (*), we’ve all had challenges (*) and faced our own battles (*). But don’t let your past define your future (*). Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but they don’t define our future – we are responsible for who we become and for our own happiness (*).via Are you happy ? … 10 things to give-up in exchange for happiness (*) by Jeremy Rolleston (*).
Everyone should do this. When you play you need a vision of something. It can be human, it can be a tree, it can be abstract, it can be happiness ...via Giovanni Sollima breaks rules with the ACO by Nick Galvin.
Intention? That has to come from you. But I would suggest that, as a functional person, you no doubt find things in life that spark you up. Give you pleasure, satisfaction, happiness. That inflate your will to live. Distill down to those things and make them the base of your art. Then the intention will drive everything else.From Developing muscle memory and fluid technique is almost as important as developing a sense of purpose (Kirk Tuck - Wed 28 Sep 2009) (*).
Appreciate every moment of happiness and remember it when you despair. Hold them close. And when you are happy, remember the moments of despair and think to yourself, "I told you so."
The First Day On Earth by Iain S. Thomas.
Before Tim did what he did, I'm pretty sure I did not know what Despair meant. When we left Canberra the day after we said Goodbye, we went to the place he decided to leave us. When I took this photo of myself, this is when I finally understood what Despair meant - it's written all across my face. And more importantly, I found out what it felt. A hard way to learn the meaning of a word. This is Life and we take from it what we can to make us stronger and more resilient.
Tony Martin on a Moment:
It was just the right moment for me to try my chance.
Adding:
I don’t know what happened in the back but I was so nervous, I was just pulling. I don’t know how many watts I pulled but it was more than I ever did. Now I am so happy, and a thousand thanks to my team for supporting me the whole week.via GC stalemate on the cobbles as Martin strikes it fourth time lucky by Cycling Central and Tour de France quotes: Martin digs deep for yellow jersey by Cycling News.
Watched this live – it was 1:15am this morning on the coldest night we have had this winter. Warmed my heart to see him make that break with 3.2km to go and just take it home like he did. You just knew he was going to do “it” and it was not even his own bike, at 20km to go he punctured and swapped bikes with his team mate (as my 3 year old nephew told me 15 years ago - a team is a powerful thing). As Tony Martin said - I actually was [on my limit] when I launched in that moment .. It was just the right moment for me to try my chance. And he found something in himself that he did not know he had - I was so nervous, I was just pulling. I don’t know how many watts I pulled but it was more than I ever did. Often your best is not good enough and the first 3 days of the Tour showed this to Tony Martin and those watching. You have to go Beyond Yourself to find the Happiness he displayed on a life-time Dream come true last night. Just brilliant to watch his performance and his post-race interview. Congrats to Tony Martin.
[Fond memories of Sandy Casar doing the same kind of break in Stage 18 of the 2007 TdF, after crashing with a dog at 27km.]
Iain S. Thomas on Trying:
I've been told I'm special in so many different ways my entire life, why should I have to try, and continue to educate myself, try, and maintain a healthy marriage, try, and exercise, try, and work to accomplish something -- anything -- great?This is one of the hardest illusions in the world to break. I am not special and I need to try if I want anything. There is nothing sad about that. The only happiness, joy and beauty that isn't temporary, that will nourish your soul and make you feel human and connected to yourself, is found in realizing that you actually have to try.
To me it seems to be important to believe (*) people to be good (*) even if they tend to be bad (*), because your own joy (*) and happiness (*) in life (*) is increased that way, and the pleasures (*) of the belief (*) outweigh the occasional disappointments (*). To be a cynic about people works just the other way around and makes you incapable about enjoying the good things.via Isaac Asimov on Optimism vs. Cynicism about the Human Spirit (*) by Brain Pickings (*).
for us, life in the sun is a reality, and we who build in the sunlight sense the joy of space and light. It is our delight. The magic of shade and shadow capture our senses and direct us towards our purpose, which is to dispense comfort and happiness through useful formvia Sun and Shadow House by Elizabeth Musgrave.
Been lucky enough to have had an Architect and Builder who knows what this means. I live in the result of that intent and purpose, and I still can't believe it.
