I love how Calvin and Hobbes talk about truly deep issues... like the meaning of true happiness:
You know what's funny? Calvin's answer sounds like some sort of tasteless joke... but I know several people who spent years looking for happiness in either:
- Cars, Money or other material possessions
- Meaningless flings with women (and men)
These people aren't dumb - they're highly educated, successful people. But at some point after you achieve "success", you look back on your life and realize, "Hey, I'm not happy!" That realization has triggered many a mid-life crisis... where these successful people look for happiness in (you guessed it!): cars, money, and sex.
Anyway all jokes aside... what is the meaning of true happiness?
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Comments (20)
maybe it's learning to savor the things we already have instead of yearning for things we don't
Love Calvin and Hobbes!
For each person it may be different.. But maybe true happiness means just that -- learning to accept things as they are and to embrace happiness in its purest form, in each and every moment in life.
I also have to agree with @thewindycity@xanga and his response.
"True" happiness would mean "real" happiness; happiness that is not illusive or passing, a happiness that is constant and lasting. Therefore to seek true happiness is to seek that which is lasting and unchanging and to integrate ones life with it.
Also, to "have" true happiness requires a kind of possession. Yet things like cars and money, or relationships with men and women, are temporal things; we do not have them forever, but only for a time. To have true happiness, again, requires a duration not found in things of this world for, when we die, we lose possession of all earthly things; technically, it is impossible for us to really have anything.
Yet for those who believe in the existence of an immortal soul, we yet possess this and retain it in the next life. So, it seems to me that the meaning of true happiness is to seek in this life what is best for ones soul, since to enrich ones soul and to care for it has positive consequences that will enhance this current life but will also endure forever in the next. To do otherwise, to give oneself over to temporary things and not pursue the truth of human existence, is to basically live a moment to die forever.
A great question on Mancouch this morning!
I am happiest when I am hands on and knee deep in seeking to make life better for other people...
I am happy when I'm reading Calvin and Hobbes.
Happiness is being able to sleep well at night, knowing you did your best today.
And still being able to wake up tomorrow : to handle whatever challenges tomorrow brings.
Comment ...
money cars and sex...
I don't know, money makes me pretty happy =D
I have the entire collection of Calvin and Hobbes.. time to go through it.
I am most happy when I'm with the love of my life. But I don't believe there is such a thing as "true happiness." Since nothing is ever constant. And life isn't all about the good times either. If we never had sadness then how would we know when we are happy? I think the most we can do with our lives is accept it and be content with it. Allow ourselves to be open to all emotions, because nothing is constant other than change.
sex
<3 Calvin and Hobbes. I think the meaning of true happiness is cool life experiences with friends to share it with.
I'm truly happy when I realized what I have.
:)
calvin and hobbes, ftw :D
All 3 for sure!!!
i love calvin & hobbes !
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - aw. that's just beautiful. i don't think i could've said it better myself. (:
I love Calvin and Hobbes!
I'm happiest when I'm with my friends and we're just laughing about nothing in general.