Posts Tagged ‘happy’
On Happiness and Values (and why I hate Palo Alto)
All this talk of jobs and lifestyle has had happiness on my mind lately. What is it that makes one person happy as opposed to another and why? Is there any universality in this?
I think about this often in relation to my “job.” (I use scare-quotes to denote that my job is probably only loosely a job; because it’s through Americorps, it is bureaucratically “service,” and I get paid a “stipend,” not a salary by the government’s definition. Also I don’t like thinking of it as a job because I don’t like it). I am perpetually unhappy at my job. I feel like it is taking away from my real life goals–-not only taking away, but detracting in fact, not building towards anything at all. I would be okay with a job that took up all my time if it allowed me to save money, because that would equate to eventual freedom from work. I would be okay with a job I didn’t like if I worked part-time and had more freedom with my time. I would be okay with a job I liked. This job fulfills none of those requirements.
Anyway, I wonder at how unhappy I am because so many of my co-workers seem pretty contented. I’m kind of the anomaly. Even though we’re working for a nonprofit, I don’t find the bureaucratic busywork in the least bit stimulating. But most people here seem pretty happy, pretty fulfilled. I’ve kept very secret my own feelings towards the state of pure work into which my life’s been funneled.
Admittedly I feel frustrated that others are happy when I am not. Why is this? Why can’t I be happy in something that so many others seem to not only find contenting but downright enjoyable?
AFAQ part 2
A Fictional Interview of the Author by an Inflamed Conservative, part II (Anticipated Frequently Asked Questions [A.F.A.Q.])
IC: Why can’t you liberals just be happy?
KC: Ah, I’m very glad you asked this, IC. This is something that both liberals and conservatives–but particularly conservatives–have at the core of their beliefs about America and developed-world lifestyle. The aforeposed sentiment is exemplified by this bumper sticker:
“Annoy a Liberal – Work hard. Succeed. Be Happy”
IC: Yes, I suppose that is the sentiment I was expressing.
KC: I like this sticker because it illustrates the core difference between conservative and liberal–particularly eco-liberal–value systems. In order to examine this difference, I am going to start with the original sentiment and move on to the bumper sticker. Read the rest of this entry »
