Are you happy?

I am reminded of an old quote from somebody wiser than I:

"We speak of comfort and luxury as requirements for happiness. The only thing one truly needs in order to be happy, is something to be enthusiastic about."

It certainly fits what I have observed. People who have something they are very interested in, something they put their whole lives into and either enjoy or feel is very important, they seem a lot happier than people who wander or coast through life.

Oh wait, I didn't answer the thread question...

Yeah, as a music/computer nerd I'm reasonably happy. But I'm also content. The two get mixed up a lot, and they can be codependent, but they are distinctly different.

This thread also reminds me of an old Steven Curtis Chapman song, "Land of Opportunity."

Another day is off and running
And I hear somebody pounding on my door
It's opportunity knocking
Says what I need is just a little bit more
Every time I turn around I'm finding
Another chance to climb a little higher up
But it's never what I thought once I get there
And I'm left wondering "How much is enough?"

I can live like a prisoner to all that could be
I'm living in the land of opportunity
But a heart pure and simple
Is a heart that stays free
Living in the land of opportunity
I'm living in the land of opportunity

I may say that i am genuinely happy in the Lord right now .

I'd say I am reasonably happy. I have this... charming habit of being cynical and seeing the dark side of practically everything which makes me worry, most of the time needlessly. And there are times I am sooo introverted that I know I seem aloof or non-caring. To be honest, I also drop out of relationships for no earthly reason - and I don't know why? I mean, I think I'm ok socially and even fun. Someone told me once that when I came in the room, everybody knows the party is about to start. On the other hand I can be broody and a hermit and just as many somebody's have told me I'm one step away from the unibomber.

But it's like I think they must be talking about somebody else! And probably don't worry much about things I ought to worry about, but it kind of keeps my ship at even keel. I can shorten duress and ignore stress and my boss at work often tells me he'd rather have me on emergency calls because I don't panic. But the real reason I don't panic is I don't think about outcomes, yet! can see the dark side of everything!!

So. Bit of a quandary. But, regardless the contradiction - I'd say I'm reasonably happy.

i'm generally happy. do i have bad days? sure. but those days, i have a good cry in the Lord's presence, and i usually feel better.

what would make me "happier"? finding a job lol.

I am happy with myself, the purpose i serve, and what life presents to me. Life doesn't always do what i want it to do, but it is what it is, and it does what it does.. I am the one who is supposed to be growing anyways, not life itself. So because i am doing what i am supposed to be doing, i am for the most part happy.

I am very much content with where I'm at in life. It also helps that I have a wonderful wife to come home to after each workday. I try to not sweat the small stuff during my sojourn on this earthly plane. I'm a tourist who is just passing through and I won't be coming this way again. I try to live one day at a time and do the best that I can with the resources that God has provided.

I have found that meeting goals may not make you happy but it may lead to a sense of contentment. I ask God what I am looking for each day. There is probably a difference between having joy in your heart or a certain measure of happiness which seems to be fleeting at best and often elusive.

God absolutely has preordained work for us to accomplish what our Heavenly Father has prepared for us beforehand. This is really my purpose in life. Mission First, Last, Always.

I am content with life, but I know there are things that I need to work on in my life. It would make me happier to lose the weight I need to in order to be healthy, which is like half my body weight currently almost...

It’s not a cure all I know, but I know it will help many facets of my life.

It may indeed make you happier to lose weight, especially for health reasons. My problem is that I am underweight. I would probably be happy to gain a few pounds.

Well I have to remind myself frequently that I'm better off than 90+ % of the world, but when I remember that I'm quite content and greatful.

What it would really take for me to be permanently and unshakably happy is the complete elimination of sin in the world ( I think). Since there's no God pleasing way for me to bring that about on my own, I'm looking forward to the more modest gains that a dog, a fireplace, and a clothes washer and dryer in my own home would bring.

I’d gladly donate if I could 🤣

Life ain't so bad

I don't much enjoy my life at all. It's not a horrible life but things have just not gone the way I would have hoped. I had a lot of responsibility put on me as the oldest child, and then married somebody who turned out wanted somebody to take care of him. Then we had children and are now divorced and he was not allowed any contact with the children (abuse issues) and I have been on my own for over 10 years with all the responsibility of the bills and children on a third of the income we had when I was married. Money is super tight and there is almost nothing left over for fun and extras. Then I took my retirement early recently and got a part time job to help my elderly parents. I do what I need to do but I long for a day when I have it easier and could have some fun. I see couples in my age group that are planning retirement or are retired and having fun and getting rest and relaxation, and I feel like I'm on the outside looking in on everybody else. I'm stuck in my small world looking out and thinking I wish I could do that. I don't see a whole lot of hope for the future, and I'm sure not getting younger. I know who my Hope is and Who is taking care of me, but I still want to see a better ending to all this than what my human mind can see.

There are things I used to be able to enjoy (before marriage) but at my age it would not be a good idea to get back into those activities even if I had the money. It's hard not to look back and wonder why it has been so hard and long for the days when I did enjoy my life.

Happiness may depend on our "happenings," yet true joy comes from the Lord, regardless of what's "happening" in our lives.

*perk*

What kind of dog? Do y'all have dog poun... er... animal shelters around there?

For single people living alone, a dog can be a great thing - especially a young lady living alone, with a very large dog, or a medium size dog from a breed (i.e. doberman) known for protectiveness. And a dog's company is more than nice to have, it can preserve a single person's sanity.

A dog that is introverted enough to be left alone all day while I'm at work, small enough for me to manage, and content with whatever amount of yard space I can offer it. Also something being enough to be a proper dog (or at least act like one) and not a high strung little annoying barking machine. And yeah I'll probably get one from the local shelter when I'm ready to get one. But getting a dog before I know what kind of environment he'll have to settle in seems backwards.

Step 1: Make friends with a good Great Dane.

Step 2: Name the dog something that sounds menacing to humans, like "Brutus."

Step 3: Train Brutus to growl on command.

Step 4: Make the "growl now" command phrase something that sounds dismissive to other humans, like "Brutus, take care of this for me" said in a casual tone of voice.

You're out walking, you are confronted by a hoodlum, you say "Brutus, take care of this for me" and Brutus begins growling. The hoodlum suddenly has a strong desire to go back home and rethink his life.