LOOK AT THAT FOR A GIFT OF A DAY.
OK, where are we ? Portugal, The Maldives, Los Angeles鈥
Sunny old England ! What a morning !!
Surely one must sciveth off work today, or at least picnic in the park at lunchtime with a suitable blanket and a nice bottle of rose.
I know it鈥檚 the end of the world and all that but it ain鈥檛 half pleasant.
Laying in bed, a freshly made cup of green tea and honey steaming away to my right, the sun streaming in through my already open bedroom window, the birds alive with the morning鈥檚 gossip and a four pillar pile up behind my head as support, let鈥檚 blog鈥
Had a lovely conversation with my ex, Ms. P, yesterday, she often phones for a chat, especially when she鈥檚 not sure about something.
Yesterday she asked me if was I happy, to which I replied that yes I was, I suppose, in a way.
However the question really made me feel quite uncomfortable.
She then asked me, is being happy what it鈥檚 all about, to which I replied 鈥 no.
This response made me feel far more at ease with the subject.
I think happiness is a by product of living a fulfilling life and I think it鈥檚 importance is vastly out of proportion with it鈥檚 usefulness.
IN SEARCH OF HAPPINESS鈥
The age old dilemma. Give us a break will you.
Wanting to feel happy, is like wanting someone to go out with you when really know they have no interest, it鈥檚 pointless.
I think the point of life, is to feel "alive".
To be here now.
Far more exciting than just feeling happy.
To have that natural spring of energy in your tummy, flowing freely. The guiltless merry-go-rounf of thoughts, actions and emotions driven by honesty, a good diet, plenty of sleep and a healthy outlook on life.
When someone asks, are you happy ?
I have to stop and think for a moment because it鈥檚 not something that occurs to me, it鈥檚 so far down the line. Happiness is over rated and the search for it is an exhausting drain.
When an Olympian crosses the line to take gold, the smile we see on their face isn鈥檛 one of happiness, it鈥檚 one of joy. The interviewer never opens with the question, so you must be really happy then ? The Olympian is ecstatic, she is euphoric, she is on top of the world, she is so much more than happy. She is at one with the world and with her guru or her god or her isotonic drink.
Happiness, to me, almost sounds like second or even third or fourth best. It's an energyless word
When you construct, or create, or toil, or fight, there is a freedom. The freedom is purpose. The fruits of purpose are fulfilment. Fulfilment is everything.
Bertrand Russell鈥 The Conquest of Happiness. Read it.
Next time someone asks me am I happy, I think I鈥檓 going to reply鈥
鈥淧robably鈥ut it鈥檚 not something I think about.鈥
Hopefully, I鈥檒l be far to busy enjoying whatever it is I鈥檓 doing at the time to contemplate a question that鈥檚 well past it鈥檚 sell-by date.
x.
Mr. E
Comments
i made stew last night with home grown veg. yum!
Surely if you are enjoying something then you are happy?
I find that people only ask if you are happy if they think you are not.
Thats enough navel gazing for today. In the words of the python boys "GET ON WITH IT".
enjoy the sunshine shloggers,
J
Mr. E - you're right. I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right. I don't think think we can decry 'happy' but neither should we emphasise it because it is superficial and meaningless. I aim to feel fulfilled, contented, I aim to go to bed at night thinking 'This has been a good day'and if it hasn't, why not.
But then again, there is nothing like the sound of happy children - when I hear my children laugh, it makes ME so happy that I sometimes feel like crying - what's that all about?
Bonjour Monsieur and Schloggers (is there a french equivalent for that word?)
Bung (maybe should use a different word today??) some of that sunshine to the west please - warm but cloudy near Bath.
Happiness eh? Bit like New Year's Eve - everyone expects so much of that evening that it can be hard to have a good time. Constantly looking for it to develop so forget to enjoy the moment. For those of us with a birthday on NYE - there is even more pressure to have a brilliant time - rarely happens but when it does tends to be the result of a relaxed evening developing into something rather than an 'organised good time' delivering!
Recently asked my fella if he was happy. He replied he was more relaxed and content than he had been for years which meant he was really enjoying life again and did that answer my question. Guess he must be on the same wavelength as yourself Mr Evans! Now there's a scary thought.
Off to the gym, coffee with friends, al fresco lunch, attempt the crossword. For some reason, couldn't even getting going with The Times crossword yesterday. Happiness is completing one!!! Ah well, back to full time work on 2nd Oct after 7 months off, so must make the most of my freedom.
Have a good day one and all.
Christopher
I totally agree, I always thought the bit in the American bill of rights (or whatever it is) about the pursuit of happiness was just - flarch. You are right, joy, elation, being thrilled to bits, they are by much more real and almost tangible feelings.
I really don't know how I would answer if someone asked me if I was happy. Probably by saying I suppose so. But as well as that, I'm challenged by my job, apprehensive about some things, and delighted by my children. Does one score higher than another?
Have a good day Chris - enjoy the weather, the picnic and the green tea. x
Good Morning to everyone
For some it may be that this morning is a beautiful one, where I am I awoke to the sound of big gusts of wind (outside not under the covers) and a smattering of rain. It sounded really horrible out there. I opened the curtains a bit with my toe - so I didn't have to get out of bed - and was delighted to see that the sky had taken on a yellowy hue and that the weather wasn't as miserable as I had imagined - a bonus. Also I wasn't stuck in traffic for 30 minutes travelling 3 miles this morning so another bonus. 2 bonusses already - it's a good morning!
I'm glad to see that you're keeping on track with the green tea thing - it can only be good for you but remember the honey man? Didn't he say that honey was in decline, use it sparingly just in case. Or have a honey blow out and enjoy.
Happiness is such a difficult thing to define, deep down happiness would be rather more like contentment I think. To know that everything is just so must give such peace to a person. To chase happiness surely doesn't give you any time to stop and smell the roses. The smallest things can make me happy, the dog chasing his tail is one of my favourites - as long as you are fed, watered and rested you will be happy - those are the bits most of us can control. As soon as we start looking to the bigger picture it all becomes a bit of a mess.
Am rambling slightly now so will go and make a cup of tea then do some real work, I wish I had a job that makes me feel fulfilled - it's my responsibility to change it so that's what I'll focus on. Thinking about what you can do about something rather than what's the problem is a good start on the road to contentment.
:o) Jo
PS well done on the stew with home grown veg - was it good?
I am happy with some parts of my life, but less
so with others. I have a crappy menial job which
I know I should change but then I wouldn't
have so much time with my kids. They make
me very happy, but also very sad when they are
sad.
I agree with whoever said we, the bloggers,
shouldn't meet up, as I think I'd feel more
awkward blogging you all if we had met
eachother. I'm quite a private person, and I
don't like telling people stuff about myself on
the whole.
This blog gives us the chance to open up to
people who have no preconceptions about us,
and I love that.
Em xx
I saw Million Dollar Baby at the cinema and I
have never cried so much in my life; I felt like
my heart was breaking.
Did anyone see Bindi Irwin on TV today? That
was a bit of a tearjearker too, even my ten year
old son was crying.
ha ha! Well Chris I finished reading your blog and was obvioulsy left contemplating scrolled down and saw cheryls entry!!! I loved thatchange of tone!!!
Well a relevant topic for me today Chris, Yesterday I was diagnosed with Bi polar, or manic depression, luckily a mild case, and how extrodinary good old Mr Fry doing a programme on the very same issue last night! I will be forever grateful, as he broke up my lonliest day! I mean if someone as coll, and he is the coolest, MrFry can have it maybe its not so bad!
In the cold light of day I am left questioning where this illness leaves me. Can I still be the very best for my son? and he deserves the very best. Will he inherit the illness from me? that would break my heart. Can I still be everything I strive?
When will my next "manic" stage come? It is usually a huge high when people come to me like a magnet and I write the best I ever have, but even then I know what will follow!
Will medication take away my soul that makes me? Would I change it if I could? Stephen says no, infact all but one said no! My opinion changes, I think it gives me my spark, and also has the power to curl me up into a ball! Can anyone live with those extremes?!
em25x
D'Oh... Just remember why I'm not happy this morning; I missed the answer to 'Fox the Fox' last night... I'm going in search of that 0.1% right now!!
Snowman
Morning to you all! It's a gorgeous day in lovely Nottingham!!! :)
Wow Chris, that's a deep but really good blog today! Made me think, asking if someone is happy is a slightly odd question really isn't it? Or is it? Don't you think that we ask it to satisfy ourselves that we are making that person happy, that their lives are ok and therefore we can get on with our lives and not worry about that one? Another person is ticked off our 'to do' list to ensure that they are ok and pootling along the path of life with a smile on their faces. Or is that just a moderate dollop of cynicism dropping in on me there? Boh, as the Italians would say with a shrug of their shoulders... who knows?!
This morning I woke up and felt hugely content. After a day of it yesterday I realised that it was all to do with the woodpigeons on the house roof across the way (that and the sunshine!). On Monday I looked out of the window (usual morning ritual to check out that the world is still turning, see what the weather is like and generally just see the life outside) and there were two woodpigeons mid-smooch on the roof across the way. I looked and smiled. Love was in the air even if it was only in the woodpigeon world. Yesterday I looked out and saw only one pigeon on the roof. I was saddened, had he/she (can't tell sex if anyone can - Dr McC? - can you advise?) been stood up by the other woodpigeon, had they had an argument? My day went slowly downhill from there. This morning I looked out of the window, flicked my eyes across to the woodpigeon love roof! There I saw them both... just at that moment before the moment of kissing. That moment when they look at one another from a distance, catch a look in each other's eyes and feel that flip and flutter of passion overtake their stomachs before they slowly sidle up to one another and gently start kissing. By the time I walked into the bathroom and took another peek out of the window they were into a full on kissing session. By the time I got into my bedroom again, there was one woodpigeon alone. They'd seen the other one off to work for the day with passion! :)
The world is good, the world is turning, I feel at one with my life and the world! Am I happy? I guess I am, but I'm with you Chris, it's not something I think about all that much because that leads to me overanalysing.
Have a lovely day everyone, sorry for babbling!
Lots of love
Clare
xxxxxxxx :)
Scientists say that happiness is 80% inherited. What they really mean is that the potential to enjoy life depends on your parents. I disagree. My parents were largely absent and I'm not an unhappy person. Unflailingly optimistic most of the time, actually.
I think that 'happiness' is a transient state of mind that is often confused with contentedness. You look at at dog wagging it's tail, or a cat purring. Are these animals happy or just content?
In some ways, contentedness is preferable. I remember one time, many years ago, when I experienced an extreme episode of happiness after seeing one of my first research papers awarded 5 stars at a young scientist awards ceremony. In fact, I was so happy that I become ungloriously drunk and tried to seduce the daughter of the dean of the university giving out the award. Unfortunately the dean was standing next to his daughter the whole time. He tolerated my outrageous flirting for about 10 minutes before stepping between us and cutting me off mid slur.
'Hey, do you know who I am...' I said by way of an ironic and drunken attempt at celebrity self-importance. 'I'm the happiest man in this room, that's who.'
The dean kept giving me the cold shoulder. Now, I don't know about you people, but being snubbed when drunk is not the best way to ensure continued happiness. I pulled on the deans shoulder and forced him to turn round.
'Leave us alone, Joseph' said the dean.
'Ha, that's just what Dolores says!' I replied with drunken gusto. 'Listen, I don't think just because you are dean, and therefore in a position to block my application for employment at this university, that you are in any rightful position to stop me from seducing your daughter. She is a very, very nice girl.'
'Your wife will agree I'm sure, Joseph. Now if you'll excuse me.'
And with that he walked off, holding onto his daughter's arm. I went back to my table, deflated. Dolores was sitting alone, twiddling on the stem of a fake rose. She asked me where I had been.
'Oh, I've been over there, creating a scene whilst talking with the beautiful daughter of the dean. Hey, that scans. I'm a poet and...'
'Shut up Joseph. Your attempts to chat her up did not go unnoticed. Four people have already asked me if everything is alright. I think we should go now.'
My state of happiness had by now completely passed. I was forced to leave the ceremony, tail between my legs. Dolores made me promise never to get that drunk again and ignored my needs for two weeks. Two days after normal relations resumed I received a letter from the university telling me that I had been removed from the short list for a lectureship position that would have given me job security for life.
The moral of this tale is that contentedness brings its own rewards. It is an inherently stable state, and less prone to causing chaotic outbursts of inappropriate behaviour. If I had merely been content with the resarch award, I may well have got the job at the university and formed a mutually satisfying relationship with the university dean. As it happened, happiness only brought me misery.
J McC
Me too - remember being asked searchingly if I was happy and thought it a disquieting question at first, and then unnecessary. Hadn't managed to figure out why, but your ramblings Chris helped me to understand.
Happiness, the way I see it, is a passing thing - like the moments or minutes, maybe hours if you're lucky, of pure joy. Contentment is long-lasting but sounds dull, doesn't it. Good though! To me it's about having a BALANCED life. Body, mind, spirit, work. Right amount of each. Not likely to get the balance right all the time, but when I feel it's veering too much one way or the other I try to think about it and sort it out a bit.
Love, admiration etc... Great how the shlogger family is growing and blooming.
Jill xx
I'm content!
"Are you happy" That is an imposible question to answer isn't it. How do you measure it? I take one day at a time.
As the great philosopher Ken Dodd said once
Happiness, Happiness, the greatest gift that I can give.
Making other people happy makes me happy. It might be a joke, a gift or just being a friend in need.
Whatever, your blogs are very thought provoking Mr Chris
Hi Chris
Being alive, living for the here & now, yes yes YES! I sometimes wonder at the expression going "in search of happiness". I for one am just glad to be here. Alive.
ttfn Val B.
I am off and on reading 'The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living' by Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler (veh clever psychologist).
Howard Cutler sites the the Dalai dude down and presses him on all of lifes little questions. Its very interesting... YOUR take on the happiness thing, Christophe, is a cmpletely different take on things...
'Feeling alive' is essentially 'feeling happy' n'est ce pas? Although... saying that...I've just typed it but realised that one could feel alive in the depths of grief, for LIFE has wrapped around them and consumed them with an emotion - happy or not... yeah.. ok. So, feeling alive can be happy or sad - feeling alive is to feel AN emotion. Feeling dead would be emotionless I guess.
The Laughing Lama reckons that human beans are born happy, its how we APPROACH life that can let us down and cause us unhappiness.
I reckon all the bloggers on here have the right approach, they are beautifully joyous ALL THE TIME eh? How great is that?
So happy IS good Chris.. do you just have a problem with the use of the word.. like people referring to things as 'nice'... such a non-descript word... nice.
Have a NICE day people!
Kyleigh xx
PS. What sun...? here in Bournemouth its misty and grey...
I am off and on reading 'The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living' by Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler (veh clever psychologist).
Howard Cutler sites the the Dalai dude down and presses him on all of lifes little questions. Its very interesting... YOUR take on the happiness thing, Christophe, is a cmpletely different take on things...
'Feeling alive' is essentially 'feeling happy' n'est ce pas? Although... saying that...I've just typed it but realised that one could feel alive in the depths of grief, for LIFE has wrapped around them and consumed them with an emotion - happy or not... yeah.. ok. So, feeling alive can be happy or sad - feeling alive is to feel AN emotion. Feeling dead would be emotionless I guess.
The Laughing Lama reckons that human beans are born happy, its how we APPROACH life that can let us down and cause us unhappiness.
I reckon all the bloggers on here have the right approach, they are beautifully joyous ALL THE TIME eh? How great is that?
So happy IS good Chris.. do you just have a problem with the use of the word.. like people referring to things as 'nice'... such a non-descript word... nice.
Have a NICE day people!
Kyleigh xx
PS. What sun...? here in Bournemouth its misty and grey...
Morning Chris and the blogettes鈥
Mmmmmmmmwah!
The weather鈥檚 not too good here in the south west 鈥 looking a bit grey 鈥 warm though鈥︹. I may hop on a train鈥︹.
贬补辫辫颈苍别蝉蝉鈥︹赌..
What is that, exactly? For me, happiness in the general sense is not having anything too much to worry about鈥 but we always have something to worry about, so maybe that is what makes us think we aren鈥檛 happy, when really most of the things we worry about, aren鈥檛 worth worrying about , cos we cannot change them. True happiness must be a really scary place, cos you鈥檇 have to worry about everything that might come along and upset the apple cart and that would make you really unhappy?
It鈥檚 better I think, just to take life on the chin and keep going鈥.pack your little moments of happiness in an old shoe box, tie it up with string and take it with you, wherever you go鈥︹
Real happiness 鈥... Is a collection of moments from your life that you choose to remember, because when you think of them, they make you smile鈥︹.
Keep smiling
Rachel
x
You are so right - felling alive is the point of life. I was sick some years ago and although I was living I didn't feel alive. I was in my early 30's and told I would be lucky to reach 40. Well I have passed 40 and I feel more alive than ever - life is good. There is so much to look forward to and so many things I want to do. I am spending time building up happy memories so that if I am ever sick again or if I am lucky enough to get old I will have lots of good memories to keep me feeling alive. As Lance Arnstrong says LIVE STRONG.
I am not happy all the time but I am pleased to be here. I have great people in my life and I am enjoying the new experience of blogging.
Thanks Mr E - hope you Mum is doing well.
Cate D
Wow
Never done this before and really should be working but hey could not help myself!
Happiness - never been asked if I am happy but I tend to agree with Mr E (although in a far less philosphical way!). Last night I was happy I created a culinary masterpiece of chicken stuffed with feta in a tarragon and white wine sauce - I was happy for every mouthful! Cannot compete with the home made veg but the tarragon was grown with my own fair hands!
I am happy in the company of good friends and family and just as happy sometimes alone with a good book or listening to good music. However I do not stop and think am I happy - I just get on with it!
Have a fab day all
S x
I always look on the positive side of things - that makes me happy. Even if it's a grey dull day outside - I feel happy inside.
Even crying my eyes out to a soppy film - but I'm happy.
I get annoyed however with people who always seem to see the negative side of things - or they feel down because it's grey outside.
Also...
It's good to stay in touch with ex's. As long as it doesn't affect either of you from moving on. I remember once mourning an ex for two years after even though I ended the relationship after 5 years. It was a very intense relationship - but I needed other things out of life. We were very young 16-21. It hurt and it felt like he had died. We kept in touch for a while - but it dwindled eventually. I still wonder how he's doing 17 years later - but we've both moved on. I have never felt as intense with anyone since. But I don't regret that - my life is more rounded.
The list I have just made for what I have to do tonight when I get home, after working here from 7am-6pm usual, is not making me happy:
washing
ironing
vaccuming
washing-up
clean loo
dusting.
how is that going to leave time to watch 'how clean is your house'? haha, v ironic
Anyway, things that we DO for ourselves, are always perceived to be the source of happiness, but I always find I am happier when I have done something for someone else that has made them happy...perhaps happiness is contagious and you havent been rubbing up against enough happy people, Chris?
RE Kayleaigh * 18 " The art of happiness.." by the Dalai Lama is Great. Very inspirational
Re EmM * I saw Bindi Irwin thia morning and it brought me to tears. It also made me think I should phone my Dad today.
hi sloggers all over, barb here been busy over the weekend so im trying to catch up with you all.
big um, keith, . you are a truely great guy, ill be looking for your advice when my 3 year old laura and i have our 1st fight, im told it ll be over what time she has to come home.... we"ll see.
i think it is all about being happy......because if your not happy you"d be depresed and thats no fun, been there done that, still on the prozac, such is life... but i think there are different levels of happiness...just like good days and bad days, you can still be happy while having a bad day , its like a blip in the wheels of life. i think if we all sit back yes to win the gold medal you would be more than happy of course , but you wouldnt be able to get there unless you youself are happy..... does that make sense.?
now about "jenny long legs"" daddy long legs" " crane flies" or what ever you call them.....what are they all about??????? do they only live 1 day like butterflies??? and why are they only about in sept, you never seem to see them at diffenent times of teh year, or is it that there are millions of them now that we notice .... i hate them , what is there purpose??? chris can you get the slug man on again to see if he knows????
fox the fox......................my question for the fox is.... if the weather carries on the way it is and we have a drout order for a few summers, if the sea surrounding us could be made into fresh water , how long would it last????
guys catch you soon more ironingtoday.
this is my 8 year olds joke...... how do you get 6 donkeys in an fire engine????
2 in the front, 2 in the back and 2 on the top shouting eehaw eehaw.
barb
Gale force winds in Pembroke, got blown accross the works carpark it made me laugh, looked at all the other struggling against the wind and laughed even harder - felt so go to be laughing on the way IN to work
Cate D - I think your point about building up memories is a fab one. My memories are a great source of happiness for me and just sitting remembering good times is a very therapeutic thing to do
Good Morning Mister E, and you're quite right - what a morning.
I'm a London cab driver and like yourself I won't be starting work until about five this afternoon - after I've picked my two daughters up, one from nursery, one from primary, and had a little bit of tea with them. That's what makes me feel alive. That and the bacon sarnie on toasted white bread with red sauce which I'm about to sit down and eat in my back garden.
I picked up an old employee of yours at the weekend, DJ Geoff from Virgin. Nice guy. I was asking him about you and he was very complimentary, and said what a fun and inspiring boss you were to work for.
It made me think about you, and about how we go one of two ways when we get older. We either horde and accumulate, gathering riches and power, or we start to purge, and empty our lives of everything unnecessary.
In your younger life, you were clearly in the first category, building up businesses and you were obviously brilliant at it an inspiration to the people that worked for you. Now you seem to have shed yourself of almost everything but the simple things, and you seem like you have more energy and vitality, and here's that word again "happiness".
I worry about my family, about providing for them, and still tend to be a bit of a hunter-gatherer, and I think it's difficult to shake that mentality if you're still at a point in life where you're worrying about keeping on top of bills/food on the table/roof over the heads. You don't need to think about this because you hit the "rich switch".
I'd love to know what the secret is for those of us that haven't!
Now though, a crossword and this sandwich!
Blog on, Chris, blog on...
Good Morning Chris and all the Fellow Blog Readers!
In my experience, there is no point looking for happiness, happiness finds you. You are right not thinking about it, it is too elusive.
Love and light from Jeannie ;0)
Morning Chris,
Thank you.
I look to be at peace inside and content with life.
Not easy, but then neither is life. Happiness then follows for me.
The problem is that to achieve inner peace sometimes we may have to compromise some other ambition or ideal.
Have a good day
Supadel.
Your comments regarding happiness, joy & an Olympian are interesting, insofar that I find that many successful people (like Olympians) are not, as you say, happy. In fact is it not their very unhappiness which constantly leads them to drive for the next hurdle (other examples might include Alex Ferguson, Branson etc).
Perhaps happiness is the wrong word here - isn't it contentness we seek? Happiness describes a moment, whereas contentness leans toward a more persistent state of mind? We can't be happy all the time, but contentness - ah yes - contentness - isn't this the second best way of living with our flaws?
Who knows...? Yes, another great day...
Simon
So I 'Listened Again'... Umm not a great answer to the Fox the Fox.... But glad I listened -- Richard from Innocent -- he's got to be the next prime minister!! Happy again.
Morning Chritopher,
Well, your on top form this morning, wish it was sunny with me its really wet . On the plus side its great going for a walk in the rain....
Happiness I asked myself the other week if I was happy and to be truthful I wasn't, was feed up with my job, my relationship everything. Spoke to a friend who pointed out the following "i can tell you this your other half loves you and that is more than most people have even some who are married with kids just be happy with what you have in life which is alot if you think about it . enjoy the moments because there tomorrows memory's."
So on that note I'm in a better mood and happy with my lot. As for the job just a means for doing the things you like in life...plus I stop for holidays on Friday!
Cheers
Morning Chris, Morning All.
My job makes me realise how well off I really am. I deal with people who are far less fortunate than myself (either financially or physically). This, in some perverted way makes me feel better about "my lot", and so makes me happy. A friend of mine appears to be searching constantly for "something better in life". To me this is not happiness, and she will never find happiness, as she will always be looking. I think Keiser Chef is right, happiness finds you.
Its lovely and warm and sunny here in East Anglia......
Have a good one.....
Melanie C
I have to disagree that happiness is over-rated. I've been 'searching' for happiness for a long time and only dream of one day feeling completely happy, at ease. Joy is happiness, it can be short term, it can be long term, for instance with athletes mentioned. Happiness and feeling alive are very much interlinked I think, if you're happy, you're more than likely to be feeling 'alive' in life. Isn't feeling completely content and satisfied and fufiled what it's all about in life generally? Feeling happy? I think for most people it is, so I have to disagree that happiness is over-rated. This isn't meant to sound offensive, but Chris you have lots of money, and I imagine not so many worries in life, you seem a happy chappy. I know money doesn't buy happiness, far from it of course, but I imagine it does help in some ways, and many of us worry where our next pay cheque is coming from, how we're going to survive, what we're going to do make ends meet, so feeling happy for me personally can never be over-rated, it's what I'm striving for. I've been through alot of grief with certain things in my life, and I really find it horrifying that someone would say happiness is over-rated, some of us would absolutely love to be happy! It's far too easy for a multi-millionaire to say happiness is over-rated! No offence or anything, as I LOVE the show and think you're one of the best presteners in the history of entertainment.
Chris,
How refreshing to hear that you just had a chat with Ms P. Regardless of the subject... you just had a chat. I think that's great. It's lovely to hear. Warms my heart to know that. Especially with all the trash they feed us in the celeb mags!
Defo agreee that you need to feel 'alive' here, now, today.
Thats all.
Nx
I believe there are things to make you happy, but it is a fleeting moment rather than a lifestyle. I am happy to hear from a friend but the happiness does not last the length of the conversation. I then am entertained, intrigued, bemused (depending on the friend) challenged and so many other things all a lot more interesting that just happy.
Happiness is a cop out. I was asked recently if my hubby makes me happy. I answered no, and I would be disappointed if thats all he did. In my life I see 4 different worlds. There is mine, his, ours and the unknown. These worlds intermingle and he will lead me through his and I lead him through mine, so our world together grows bigger, more complex. We explore the unknown together, hence adding to our world. I want to be educated by him, and to teach him, open his eyes to what makes my world different to his. I want to experience the unusual, the strange the frightening with him, help him through as he helps me. Companionship, contentment, challenge, intrigue, experiences, excitement, exploration, fears, hopes, dreams. This all adds up to so much more than happy. If you read my post yesterday, you know that we are far from 'the happy couple' - but who wants that?
MW, a!
Morning all. Stay cheerful as the barking world rotates around you.
#9 - Em 25. It's better to know, and you'l find that, with luck, you can get a bit more balance now you've been diagnosed. It's the veering from high to low that's the hardest thing. I watched Mr Fry last night with interest. Profound and acute, in a quietly dignified manner, but then what would you expect?
#15 - Prof Plumb. I had it in my head that Ken Dodd was singing about something else entirely. It's like Tom Jones' Help Yourself (albeit nowhere near as good) or any double entendre: it's only possibly about one thing, not two.
Was it yesterday that Chris was mentioning milk? He hasn't got it quite right. Full fat is about 4% fat, but semi-skimmed is 1.7-2%, and skimmed is 0.1%. So it does make a bit of difference.
A happy Wednesday Bloggers and schloggers!
Barb #25 Thanks and great joke :-)
Here is a little story that might just hep you when looking for happiness.
A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see." "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened the ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or
a coffee bean?
Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?
How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
May you all have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
May we all be COFFEE.
Happy days!
Keith
xXx
Hi all
#9 Em yes, saw Bindi Irwin on the news - very emotional for a little girl to give such a lovely speech at her father's funeral.
Guess for me happiness is a very individual thing - contentment is perhaps easier to achieve but there are moments of happiness in that. Is happiness nearer euphoria though? I have no idea! All I can say is that if I feel comfortable with who I am and where my life is at the moment then that could be classed as happy by people.
#1 cheryl - that stew sounds lovely! Home grown veg always tastes better :o)
How profound!!!!
"Happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want" someone wise once once told me. True to a point.
However, "Are you happy?" is a bizarre question, it is using a horribly passive expression to try and get you to give an energetic or invigorated answer!
It's a lazy question!!!!
Happy - do they mean, content or comfortable, not upset, lively, excited etc.?
I vote we outlaw this nondescript, "one word for all uses" word "Happy" and make people ask the question that's REALLY on their mind ;)
Have a Wonderful Wednesday All
Love n licks
Chris do you think Ms P was asking if you were happy because perhaps she is not and you could have some sort of reconcillation ??and it is really you who makes her happy with you zest for life that you seem to have
Big un -your story made me smile. It also made me think, as per your instruction, whether I would like to be one of the following:
1) an over-brightly coloured root vegetable that gets torn from the ground, hacked to pieces and boiled alive?
or
2) something that begins life being rejected by my mother (SQUAWK - GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!!!!!! she cries, and with one push I'm out ). Freedom, I may think, but only for a very short time indeed. Next thing I know I'm being skinned alive before being thrown into boiling water,or perhaps just thrown straight into into boiling water before being cracked open and disembowled, or, worst of all, skinned alive before being thrown into hot oil and fried?
or
3) a shrivelled berry, plucked from a peaceful life in a tropical plantation, which, having been roasted alive is destined to be crushed into a thousand little pieces, have water passed over its remains at high pressure before being unceremoniously tapped into a bin and thrown away?
None of them, I decided, though I take your point about facing adversity with fortitude.
Personally I would quite like to be a dog. Not if I was living in a certain part of the world where they like their dogs barbecued and served on skewers, but a dog of the tail-wagging, ball chasing, grass-chewing, face-licking variety that seems eternally happy and content with its lot, whatever happens.
J McC
no aswers just a question
Did Ms P ask you if you were happy to test the water?
Is she happy?
Does she believe that she has made you unhappy and feels guilty?
Has she changed her mind from waht it was when you split?
Does she regret the breakup?
I could go on but I think this will do.
Nick C
Mr Evans
May I draw your attention to an article by Nick Hornby here:
His outlook is very similar to yours: upbeat, life is short etc.
Thanks for being so inspiring every day.
Steve State
www.stevestate.blogspot.com
I think happiness is something that is produced as a by-product of living a good life. Being fulfilled, caring for others and having them care for you is the only route we should strive to take. What could be better than to be able to tell someone that you love them, every day, and to know that they believe you and feel the same way about you?
This can be achieved. Purity of heart is the key. I read something recently that made me think. When Al Pacino was preparing for his role as the real life New York policeman Frank Serpico, he went to meet the man himself. Serpico had risked his life by not taking bribes in a corruption-riddled NYPD in the early 1970s. Pacino asked him why he didn't just go along with the others and take the money, rather than run the risk of being murdered by his colleagues.
Serpico replied that he couldn't bring himself to listen to and enjoy the beauty and purity in a piece of his favourite music, knowing that he had betrayed himself and everything he held dear.
Love and integrity, then happiness.
Hi,
My first time in a Blog (if thats correct) but I keep thinking about the comments you made last week and the romantic fiction - why it appeals to women and not men, what is it we get out of it, we don't really believe that Superman is going to fly down and whisk us off, but we like to escape into a dream world really?
And from this links into your happy question what makes us happy, I now believe that only me as a person can make me happy and no one else is responsible for my self, its up to me to surround myself with happy things and people (we are all entitled to a down day) but not to let other people drag you into feeling blue, if I want to sit and look at a butterfly and smile about it, if I want to read a soppy book, or if I want to go out with friends then its my choice.
Its also up to me to make sure that I'm happy in my work place or if its becoming monotonous then only I can make sure my recreation time is productive. I think we as a culture are blaming other people to much for our misery and also STRESS - this is aword thats used far to much and its not needed if we stop and think are we actually Dis stressed or are we just having a bad time but it is temproary then it helps.
I've since been on a date since your romantic fiction comments and where in the past I've held certain ideals this time I tried not to let prejudices stand in the poor chaps way and of so he doesn't look like john travolta he is a genuinly great guy so thank you for making me think how I perceive 'Romance' and the real world.
A simple pleasure I have is driving home from work listening to your show and laughing so by the time I get home I'm in a good mood if I wasn't when I left work so Thank you.
Keep up the good work (very corny but hey)
Andrea
Afternoon all
Happiness? Well I met and fell madly in love with my husband 7 years ago, I was ecstatic obviously happy everyone, even the kitchen table could see I was happy, smile on my face 24/7, back to feeling 17! Seven years on I don鈥檛 just love my hubby I am still 鈥榠n love鈥 with him, he is working in Bristol this week and will be back on Friday night, I will get butterflies in my tummy when I go to pick him up from the station and I hate it when he鈥檚 not here. We have a complicated life with 6 kids between us, ex partners who unfortunately we don鈥檛 have the same relationship with as Mr Chris does with Ms P, ill parents, full time demanding jobs all the normal things that life throws at us consequently I don鈥檛 go round with a smile on my face all the time as I did seven years ago, ask am I happy 鈥 undoubtedly.
X
No...no...no... they just had a bit of a chat, thats all. Or so it seems. You can't go back. You enjoy each other, learn lessons from one and if it doesn't work you move on.
Nx
Hi Em 25 (9)
Sorry to hear you have bi polar. Both my Mum, Gran and Uncle are/were bi polar and I thought I would share with you my experiences - although everyones expereinces are different. As a teenager it was quite difficult as my mum and gran both had episodes back to back or similtanously. Both were in hospital for months and my mum has spent over a year there at times. I am outspoken and became strong at an early age, I questions the health care professionals, am very demanding, check the drugs (LITHIUM is the only one that works I've found from expereience, but has side effects). My son who is 12 and visited a lot of hospitals is compassionate and always sticks up for the under dog. He also questions teachers and tells people when he thinks they are wrong.
So all in all not a bad thing and nothing to be frightened of. Good luck.
#BigUn thankyou so much for the carrot/egg/coffee story!
Its changed my world today!! Vegetables seem to frequent this blog often but have never carried such a heart warming purpose!
(except perhaps if they're been in a hot curry)
Thank you Mr E.
You make my days even brighter, I'm glad I'm around the world in the same lifetime as you! You are a constant that was sorely missed when you were 'imbetween' air waves. I appreciate my daily dose all the more now.
What are your thoughts on drinking sambucca in the sauna?
I love this lunch time lull we get on the blog, it gives me chance to read yesterdays that I missed out on!
And on that Note ...... Peels @ 72 yesterday, (if you're reading today)
I had something a bit like that happen to me, I waited to my blokie had gone to the bar and then asked the mate
"blokie said something about me getting you some money for How much was it and I can get it out of tthe bank tomorrow"
Sneaky but it worked !
Bonjone Mr E and bloggers
when people say to me are you allright i say not to bad but i'm quite happy not overlay joyous but i think if i get though my job interview next week then i will be happier.
so your probably right mr e.
it's good to see your getting on at least
right a quick joke
what's the difference between a Hormone and a vitamin?
you can't hear a vitamin!!!(ha! ha!)
shlogging off
Hugs to Chris and all,
I think happiness has a lot to do with optimism. I nearly always believe that things will turn out well. I don't think I was born that way. I think that I have created this reality for myself because my childhood was so awful.
(Quote: The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.) I believe this with all my heart!
I have a 2 year old son and although I know he will go forward in this life independently, he really does make me very happy. I hope I can encourage him to be optimistic about life. Because it really is rather good : )
Love Lx
What a great blog and so well timed with the amazing documentary on 大象传媒2 about Steven Fry. I found that programme so moving, honest and strangely uplifting. I was amazed to hear people saying they would not get rid of the illness as it makes them who they are.
I hate the question "Are you happy?" I think being contended and feeling at peace is good enough for me. At times I feel happiness; when my daugther gives me this huge hug and tells I am precious, when I have completed a whole load of ironing or at the end of lovely meal, but this is often shortlived and is not something we should strive towards all the time. I get crippling depression every few weeks and although it is no picnic, I really appreicate the small things and make time to sing loudly whilst walking with my toddler and splash in the puddles with her.
When I was walking home with my daughter and she was yelling and making such a fuss, I made myself look upwards and saw how big the sky was and my child's yelling seemed so small compared to the vastness of the sky. When things are getting you down, try looking upwards - it helps me.
I love this blog and how the comments take on a life of their own. The carrot, egg and coffee story was just brilliant.
Happy Hump Day to everyone.
Sambucca in the sauna? re Claire @ 52
Don't think it should be advised - Saunas extract the moisture from you, it's hot, you sweat thus become dehydrated (it's why you always weight less after a sauna but when you've drunk a glass of water you put it all back on again) Alcohol has dehydrating properties as all of us who have woken up with a mouth that has the same moisture content of the Sahara desert.
Combining the 2 could only have disatrous effects - That's my hypothesis, feel free to experiment and report back on your findings!
:o) Jo
PS I don't think you could get the sambucca to light anyway due to all the moisture in the air!
multi- tasking, being happy, being thin before christmas whats it all about then?. I want to feel the whole range of emotions and i guess what MRs p was asking was for reassurance that you are ok?
HAppy is a mediocre emotion, but feeling fulfilled and that you are working towards your goals wether they be simple things like cooking a healthy meal for your family or running your own business, thats what makes us feel good, contented and ok. But when we have achieved those goals we may feel exstatic, high satisfied, pleased etc. Only to find in the future we are working towards another goal- I love to perform on stage (not professionaly -if only!) but i feel frustrated nervous, excited, high, low sometimes when rehearsals are not going well. After first night i am so high i cant sleep, the morning after the last night i am down and depressed thats its all over, but i know that i am doing what i love and that makes me much more than happy!
Becks #53 - thanks for that, sneaky but could just work! Either that or I try to hang around them both so they HAVE to hand over the money in front of me. I love my boyf (well, fiance, but that sounds poncy!) to bits and so dont want to make him squirm, but this little discovery of his white lie has shaken me up a bit, I must say. Ah well, I am sure he knows that its wrong to lie and he can carry the guilt around with him for it (or is that just wishful, female thinking?!!)
Happiness to me is when out walking with my two sons (13 & 12 years old)and the confidence they have to ask and tell me anything. I feel more like a best mate than a middle aged Dad. All the hard work on discipline, education, nursing sickness and loads of sleepness nights are worthwhile at times like these. It's not exstasy or euphoria it's a contentment that all is going well.
They say you cannot choose your family but can choose your friends.
I would choose these two as both every time.
Happy today after going blackberry picking with my kids and then baking my first blackberry and apple pie Yum!!
Hello Christoph and fellow bloggers on a sunny Wednesday afternoon here in Norfolk....
Very thought provoking again today Chris, Happiness - I do agree that happines is often something that makes you feel alive, and sometimes only for a short time but if it is that good it will stay with you forever and ever and make you smile or cry whenever you recall it....and often it can be the smallest of things that make you happy, a big hug from someone you love, cats sprawled out snoring, a smile and hello from a complete stranger, a warm sunny day with no work, and listening to your favourite song full blast all work well.
Reading the blog daily makes you laugh and cry in equal measure and takes longer each day, but I cannot get by without it, but wouldn't give it up without a fight....
Chris and fellow bloggers - you are all wonderful - and lets keep smiling cos its nearly thirsty Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!
Luv to all
Mayhem
xx
Hi Chris,
Just going to tell you this really brilliant joke, its from my own wonderful little blog and I think you shouls say it on your show tonight when I am on my commute back home.
A man came home from work one day to find his wife sitting on the front porch with her bags packed. He asked her where she was going and she replied "I'm going to Las Vegas."
He questioned her as to why she was going and she told him "I just found out that I can make $400.00 a night doing what I give you for free".
He pondered that then went into the house and packed his bags and returned to the porch and with his wife. She said "And just where do you think you're going?"
"I'm going too!!" he replied.
"Why?" She asked.
"I want to see how you are going to live on $800.00 a year"!
I agree, happiness can't be defined easily although it is easy to know when you're unhappy, so I suppose, if you're not unhappy then you must be happy.
Hi Chris
Have just read the blog for the first time today and thought I would give it a go and post an entry.
Happiness??
Children x 2, husband, work etc. I have never asked myself am I happy. I am not unhappy. Work is OK, children seem happy and are healthy, husband of 20 years not sure - I will ask him. Busy lives do not allow us the time to reflect on our state of mind but your entry has certainly made me think. I am very very content and appreciate how lucky I am in life, I have my health, children and husband.
I know what unhappiness is and am certainly not that today. Here in Norwich the sky is blue and the sun is shining. Keep up the good work and I will definately read your blog regularly from now on.
Mandy
A blonde, a brunettte and a red head were on the run from the police. The police were on their heels as they approached a farm. They dived into separate hiding places.
The police approached the stables where the brunette was hiding. NEIGH NEIGH went the brunette and the police moved on thinking it was just a horse in there.
They approached the kennel where the red head was hiding. WOOF WOOF went the red head, and the police moved on.
They approached the barn where the blonde had chosen her hiding place. POTATOES POTATOES went the blonde.
Afternoon Chris,
This is my first step into the world of Blog....wish me luck.
Happiness? Hmmmmm.... In my book its just like beauty...it's in the eye of the beholder.
I think it's about what works for you...just coz you are married with 4 kids, good job, flash car etc makes some happy for others that would be a nightmare.
Casing point.... a few years ago I went to a Christening. The mother of the child is younger than me and we grew up together. When we had a moment to ourselves she asked me when my hubby and I would be hearing the patter of tiny feet.
I told her that wasn't going to happen as I couldn't have children.
She was HORRIFIED! I mean tears in her eyes, clutching my arm looking distraught. She said "how are you coping?".
I said I was over the bl**dy moon with the fact!!!!!
Right there and then if she had had her way I would have been removed to a secure padded area for my own safety.
Happiness to her was having a huge brood and she couldn't understand why it wasn't mine.
Happiness to me is waking up with my great hubby. Having a top day at work (getting round the M25 without sitting in a queue!!) and enjoying the little things that come my way. Nothing like good food and a good bottle of wine!
No matter what anyone says....you are the one who decides what makes YOU happy and only YOU can define happiness...just because you don't conform doesn't make you odd.....in my book it makes you special and unique.
Great weather eh! x
Are you happy? should that not be, are you content?
Happiness seems linked to laughing and a emotional 'high'. whereas contentment is closer to what is in your heart.
If Ms P asked 'are you content?' would your thoughts have been different? I think I could look, metaphoriaclly, into my heart and know that I was content and acknowledge things which make me either more or less content.
Perhaps the emotional extremes either side of content could be joy or sadness.
Are things always as they seem?
Sandy began a job as a primary school assistant but she was eager to
help out wherever she was needed. One day during recess she noticed a
girl standing by herself on one side of a playing field while the rest
of the kids enjoyed a game of soccer at the other.
Sandy approached and asked if she was all right. The girl said she was.
A little while later, however, Sandy noticed the girl was in the same
spot, and still by herself.
Approaching again, Sandy offered, "Would you like me to be your friend?"
The girl hesitated, and then said, "Okay," looking at the woman
suspiciously.
Feeling she was making progress, Sandy then asked, "Why are you standing
here all alone?"
"Because," the little girl said with great exasperation....."I'm the goalie!"
Keith
x
Hello Chris,
That's a nice meaty one! Seems like you've opened up another massive symposium as per your very first blog! Firstly love, now happiness. Maybe faith or truth next?!! x
Here's what I think.........I believe that I exist in a state of happiness as I have done since birth and being the 'child' that I still am I soon let someone know if I become unhappy and the ensuing comfort/cuddles/support/chocolate usually serves to return me to my happy state. I also believe that this is a lot to do with being 'engaed' in life. Stimulated. In my case I like to do things I haven't done before: meet new people go to new places and eat new food. (I was once a serial blind dater. I always chose a restaurant I'd never been to but had been recommended to. Then if the company was disappointing at least the food wouldn't be. As it happens I met some really nice men and had some good evenings out. x)
I see my happiness as a jar of beans. Joy is when the jar overflows. I like my jar to be full but sometime the beans get used up or stolen. I get my beans from people mostly but anything with a life force can top me up (sunsets, bunnies, flowers, music). Ironically the people that give you the most beans can also be the biggest bean thieves. Beware. I am pretty sure about what makes me unhappy but find it harder to think of what makes me happy as I am already happy if that makes sense. It would be like asking me to stand up when I am already standing.
"Are you happy?" Who would ask that question of me? I can't think of anybody. I would indeed find it very odd if somebody did. Maybe a therapist. The question itself certainly implies that you may not be 'happy' and I expect that Ms P has good reason to think that you may not be having been (in part at least) responsible for your day to day happiness for so long. xx
Love, happiness and a bit of joy,
Debs xxxx
P.S. Might we be seeing Chris and Billie Christmas cards in Woolies again this year?
OH YES YOU DID!!!!
A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's office and says
that her body hurts wherever she touches it. Impossible says the doctor.
Show me.
The redhead takes her finger, pushes on her left breast and screams, and then she pushes her elbow and screams in even more agony.
She pushes her knee and screams; likewise she pushes her ankle and screams.
Everywhere she touches makes her scream. The doctor says, You're not really a redhead, are you?
Well, no she says, I'm actually a blonde - I thought so, the doctor says. Your finger is broken.....
Happiness.... comes from within, it is not something you can go out and find. It is how you look at the world - not the way the world treats you, although the two may be directly related i.e. Be an outwardly miserable so and so, and quite likely most people will reflect back at you a similar attitude, which you percieve as making yourself unhappy!
Hey! I'm happy I smile at the world ad it smiles back
Hello dear...& here in Norwich the sun is shining... huge blue sky.. warm breeze... & I can see the Cathedral spire from every window... heaven... I must admit the first thing that went through my brain when I read todays blog was why did Billie P ask you... & if you'd have said no would the converstation have changed & didn't you ask her why she'd asked you... wow! you must have done... I had a few last night with my mate... one of those girlie evenings... Baileys & Jamesons & draughts in the pub... & when I got home I text my ex-man... I couldn't focus well enough to write anything meaningful so just sent Boo!... & the moment I'd done it I just knew it was pathetic...you'd think the older you get the wiser you become... not where the heart is concerned... the first thing I thought of when I woke up was... Oh! f... did I really do that... not a happy bunny but life's too short to worry about it... wow! that feels better... stay cool... & where's Dot... she was an original blogger... ciao ciao... love you dearly.
Christof,
It makes my heart happy that you and Ms P, the Ex-Mrs E are still good friends. What a lovely pair you made.
My life is good, and I get more happy each day as I watch my kids turn out into lovely young people. I have a job I enjoy, not particularly strenuous, but I've done brain stretching and stress, and it's just not me. Now I work in a nice atmosphere, with good people, and we laugh long and hard. Work gets done, but its a by-product of us meeting together to have a giggle.
I'm finding that the older my kids get, the more time I have with my husband alone again and we're going thru the excitement all over again of finding ourselves together and alone......
Fulfiling Life Is Happy life, Definitely.
Hear You Tonight.
Hel Cruse
Out of the mouths of babes.........
Hazza (aged 10) was fishing with his dad and my other half (in Hazza's words in a school essay - my best mate John aged 53!!).
Very astute as always for Hazza he was listening intently to the 'adults' conversation and their moans and groans about wanting stuff and not being able to afford everything they wanted.
H interupts and states " if you only bought what you needed instead of what you wanted you would have enough money for everything"
Rather clever for a 10 year old I think!
Many more people could be potentially happy if they took his advice.
Bye the way I am v.happy with my 'lot' and feel blessed because of this!
J x
I am LOVING these jokes. I also agree with number 62: "Reading the blog daily makes you laugh and cry in equal measure and takes longer each day, but I cannot get by without it, but wouldn't give it up without a fight...."
Can't believe how much wisdom has come out of this discussion. Who would have thought it? I feel really moved by this discussion, so thanks everyone.
Theresa
Hey Mr E
I love the Happiness blog today .. that is so true and the search for it can be soooo draining ....used to rate my happiness out of 10 - dont worry about it now .. im happy today and thats all the matters right now .....given up putting too much thought into it too .. it just happens ..what a great sunny september day ......x
maybe this can all be viewed a different way. I think its bloody marvellous that billie took the time out to ask chris if he was happy. how many of us have decent conversations these days, and get out of ourown arses for long enough to wonder if someone elses life is working out for them. And how flattering to chris that she also asked him for advice. She must really value his opinion and really trust him.
em25x
chris listen to this wonderful song Insight by Depeche Mode off there ULTRA lp.
This is an insight
Into my life
This is a strange flight
I'm taking
My true will
Carries me along
This is a soul dance
Embracing me
This is the first chance
To put things right
Moving on
Guided by the light
And the spirit of love
Is rising within me
Talking to you now
Telling you clearly
The fire still burns
Wisdom of ages
Rush over me
Heighten my senses
Enlighten me
Lead me on
Eternally
And the spirit of love
Is rising within me
Talking to you now
Telling you clearly
The fire still burns
I'm talking to you now
The fire still burns
Whatever you do now
The world still turns
m l gore
Afternoon Christophe...
I think happiness is a bit like love in that respect. When you tell someone you love them you mean so much more than just one thing. Love has run up and slapped me in the face, and it's also crept up on me so slowly, I barely realised it was there. Happiness does the same thing to me. You can have your wild slap in the face euphoric moments of thinking life really doesn't get any better; but then you'll have your moments of clarity where you sit back and take stock and realise that, right now, you've got everything you need. Every one around you is happy and healthy, you have a roof over your head, grub in your belly and are doing something you enjoy. It doesn't take any more than that. Life is just that simple sometimes.
Of course in my case I'll probably wake up tomorrow and remember that I've got to get my batterd old car through it's MOT, I'm totally skint and have less than a week to finish a PhD thesis that's already wildly overdue. But that's all just things. I'm still happy because I realise how lucky I am to be in posistion to be winge-ing about things like that.
Anyway. That's quite enough faff for an afternoon.
T'ra
Fraudham x
P.S. How are you getting on with all these book reccomendations you were given?
Re Linda #73, did he text back? Or was he too scared from the text-ghost making him jump by shouting Boo? Don't feel worried! Who cares?!We all do silly things while drunk and eventually we learn from them all!
I have always considered 'Happiness' to be a fleeting, temporary emotion. An emotion that can change on a dime and without warning: break your favorite dish; lover decides to leave you; pet dies, etc.
But Contentment...that is the stuff. Where deep down, I know my purpose, my role, my connection with those around me. When I can go to bed each night saying, "That is the best I could do..." To be fully alive is to experience the spectrum of emotion: yes, happiness, but also grief, anger, etc. Seeking to be only happy is, in my opinion not only fruitless, but counter-intuitive to the fuller life. A content life.
Have a great Wednesday! Today is my birthday...So rather than wish me a Happy Birthday...you can wish me a Contented Birthday! ;-)
Amanda
Chris,
You realise you could save yourself a mountain of time evryday - instead of writing you own blog, you could cut and paste comments from all of us who read yours - Some are quite lengthy and merit the value of coming from your own fsir keyboard (or appear to anyway) The problem with this proposal is of course, where would the happiness be for you in not getting your dailys thoughts pixelated?
Perhaps we should ask Ken Dodd about happiness.
Cheers
Paudi
Chris, bloggers and schloggers,
Wow!! - what a wonderful collection of postings (as always).......
There is so much energy and sentiment going into this blog - so inspiring.
The happiness one is a 'tricky' one - mainly, in my opinion, because we have all had our own personal, unique journeys - even those of us that have experienced similar life events, will have handled them and been effected by them according to our own disposition etc.
I wanted to share this little saying with you:
'I slept and dreamed that life was joy,
I awoke and saw that life was duty,
I acted, and behold: duty was joy.
...and I also thought that the following piece of writing is a lovely way of looking at one of the special achievements of this blog....
'We can as individuals do so little to help the sad and suffering in the world, the lonely, bereaved, imprisoned, sick, despised, exiled, the cold and the hungry etc.
Yet we can reach out to those within our knowledge, with courtesy and kindness.
Treating them with the respect that they deserve. Honouring their courage. Listening to their stories.
For every kindness spreads in a shining circle: See how good people everywhere set rings of light moving, rings that lock and interlock.'
Thanks guys and gals
Gaby
x
It has so far been a glorious day (bit windy thou, ol' hurricane George is still flapping about a bit it seems!)
The great weather is a sign of good things to come this evening at the opening gala of the 2nd annual Brasilian (yep, i spelt it with an 'S') film festival, for which I phoned and politely asked as a member of the advertising industry if i can be added to the guest list! So that's where i'll be arriving just as your show is coming off air. Give the somethingfrombrasil.org people a little big up if you would be so kind chrissy De bo ! Tonight it's happening at the Mile End Rd venue, in conjunction with the riverside studios.. which is also hosting the festival, so opening gala, followed by a screening and then what we all want to hear.. AFTER PARTY!! Now i'm pretty sure Brasilians know how to throw an after party.. can't wait for it and your show will be a nice pre-party! Loving the show and the team.
ps.. Ozzico Vamusto is my made up adopted Brasilian name for tonight, my real name is Oz Mustafa.. but what'cha think of the pseudonym?
WOW - yet again Chris your so right. You need to feel ALIVE and happiness is just a by product of that. People waste so much time trying to be happy (myself included) rather that just enjoying the moment and the life we have been given.
Your BLOGS make me sit up, listen and SMELL THE ROSES. Rather than just letting life pass me by.
Thanks a MILLION.
Love Flo xx
Life is what you make it Chris, and if you make it the way you want it ...........then surely, you must be happy? Love the show, Mandy of Derbyshire
Keith
Re my missive on happiness posted a short while ago; you may have noticed that any mention of the pig was conspicuous by it's absence!!!
Gaby
x
ps apologies if another version of this posting appears - I had a technological problem when I refreshed the page
well I never! I've just had a little peep round the rest of the radio website bit for the 大象传媒 while I was waiting for more bloggs, and thought hey what the heck lets take a look at Chris M's blog on the Radio 1 site.
Well you appear to be giving him a 6 pack of whoop ass on the entries which I think proves my argument I have with hubby 1 or 2???? (which to listen to.)
However I did notice Dr McC's Assistant on there, so I have a question Dr McC, is it you in disguise or do you keep returning to the radio to find it re- tuned, OR is it a case of Ravel gets the choice AM and you PM?
Chris
if you have time to read all these comments, then, you either have too much time on your hands, or you employ a really nice secretary..?
be good and know I enjoy the show. The format is great
Alan
ps, more Flash and the Pan please haha
Em 25 (#9) - I saw that prog about depression too, in fact I was just raving about it to some people here at work. My heart went out to that poor lady at the end who was just so low and lonely. I am so pleased that people are finally coming out in the open and talking about something that affects so many of us. i was diagnosed with depression 2 years ago and it was such a RELIEF to know that I wasn't going mad, it wasn't my fault, I wasn't just being a miserable, weird person!! My little pills are the best thing that ever happened to me, I finally feel normal now and life stays on a relatively even keel. I am very open about my depression and my medication - I was lucky to have a doctor who made me understand that it is SUCH a common illness, and nothing to be ashamed of, that I decided from the beginning to tell people as and when it comes up. I've never had a bad response (to my face anyway) - in fact so many people who I thought I knew well have also 'come out' and admitted to me that they are, or have been, on medication etc etc.
I'm rambling, but just wanted to send you lots of support really. I'm a single parent and my life with my child (and my life in general) has been SO much better since my depression has been managed. Best of luck to you, and to everyone else who's in our boat!
Cath
xxxx
ha.
I love it when people quote song lyrics! Do they actually mean the same thing to more than one person.
I remember being with a boyfriend who was a bit stressed one night and begging "mr Kerr" to advise him. Now I'm not sure, but I'm not thinking that "New Gold Dream" was really life advice. I'm really not that sure what it was about, nice tune tho - and then of course when Jim didn't come up with the goods, he started asking Boy George. Well, that was my queue to exit. What the hell kind of life guidance are you going to get from I'll Tumble 4 Ya?
Ha - Memories. They make me happy too.
Hel Cruse
Hiya Christoph and all
Mmm it is all quite thought provoking the old happiness thing isn't it.
Well I had one of my happiest days yesterday.....
I saw not 1, not 2 but 3 Kingfishers whilst out walking with my dog Otto yesterday - I wonder if Bill Oddy can beat that.
I then ended the day seeing Mr Williams at the MK Bowl - what a showman.
Anyway I'm now going to make my ol' man some bread pudding so I hope that makes him happy.
Lets hope the sun keeps shining
SJxx
Gaby.
Ha, ha you may have left the pig out but this post proves you can not stop thinking about it!! :-)))))
Every time I read one of your posts I will know you know, how worrying for me! :-)
Keith
x
Attn Becks #89
What the.......
I just saw the post. It's clearly from an impostor for the following reasons
1) They spelt the name wrong. I am a Mc not a Mac
2) I don't have a personal assistant. Ravel is my senior research assistant. It could be from Denise I suppose, but she is a receptionist rather than PA, and never listens to Chris Moyles anyway, mainly because she can't get up early enough.
Thanks for the alert. I'll keep monitoring the situation. It may be a one off by a secret admirer ;-)
Joe
hi honey
got to be quick working tonight - just had to boot eleri's daughter off her computer so that i can read your blog chris and send a quick message.
unfortunately no time to read the fellow bloggers messages.
i also do not like it when people say 'are you happy' - i always say don't know!
i am happy when all is well with work and people close to me - that is what makes me happy - then there is lots of other things like me reading your blog - that makes me happy, buying wine and food!
hope you are well - will miss the show from 6 - 7 as at work so can u put in your blog what u did!
u have had lots of messages today -
hopefully i can borrow this pc again tomorrow for a catch up!
think you are lovely
juxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello Peels #81... no he hasn't... didn't expect him to... but that's cool... he'll only get in touch when he's ready... he likes to hibernate...
hi chris
really enjoying having your company on my way home from work.
re happiness i get the feeling fron listening to you that you like me are content.
that seems to be the real litmus test of life.
i recently remarried,changed my job and took up golf.like the beth nielson chapman song i can truly say that "all i have is all i need"
hope you feel the same way
cheers
steve
Good God Evans only you could complicate such a basic emotion as happiness - I understand that we are a sum of the different parts of our life and these are what we need to change to be more content in our skins - happy is not a bad word - only to people who have thought about it in too much detail
I really enjoy the blog - thanks for taking the time
Beth x
ps Lots of love and luck to em 25 who sounds cool - I watch mr fry too last night and have a history of mental illness in my family - so i found the programe excellent althought concerning x
today i decided against a breakfast - on the account that my stomach felt a bit fragile. instead i chopped a wonderfully red tomato in thinish slices (about 2-3 mm thick) in it was the most delicious taste.
isn't it funny how in roughly 29 years of tomato consumption, i'd never expected such a sensation?
i likened it to a satisfying pump or beltch whose memory stays with you, as you sit there smiling to loved ones... in a similar vein the tomato experience of september the 20th 2006 will be fondly remembered
Chris, those are fantastic thoughts on happiness. I sent this off to a sick friend who's in need of a lift, and your words were like medicine to her.
I'm also trying to sell her on the benefits of green tea, but it's a start!
Love the shlog...there is now a more intimate context to drivetime...it's now truly a 2-way show. (Did that make sense? Hope it did.)
Cheers...
Hi all,
Long time listener first time blogger.
Finally decided to post after having followed Mr E's musing's for several weeks and, reading the posts from you good people.
Happiness for me is a side effect of contented soul. When I've read a good book, when I've done a long walk, when I've succeeded at work, when I've shared a decent bottle of wine with someone special. Only then does my soul feel contented and only then can I truly smile inside and out.
I assume as the years go on and my life changes with children and a wife, what makes my soul content will change. For now though I'm content and happy with the way things are.
Perhaps I'll make this a regular thing. Enjoying your posts greatly.
Keep up the good work,
Paul
Hi Chris,
Excellent to have you on the radio, been listening for some time now, and it's all looking good over there ! I am a first time schlogger and enjoying everyones comments.
Happiness - Life is a rollercoaster with huge ups and downs but I feel really happy and do my very best to feel like this all the time. If something is making you unhappy, nervous or stressed, do something about it, it won't change by itself and live your life by that moto in the "Dead Poets' Society" CARPE DIEM [Seize the Day], take control and you will feel happy with yourself that you have done everything possible to be that good person !!
Good work Chris and enjoying the Fun !!
Cheers
Steve
Looking forward to hearing Matt Neal in the sports locker. I saw him in my local curry house (Spice Fusion) just after he won the BTCC, but my girlfriend wouldn't let me go over to congratulate him. Could you please rectify that now and give him my best? Reckon he's got this year's title in the bag too. Way to go Matt!
Hi Chrissy
I really look forward to reading the blog everyday now, I am now an addict with a week long habit.
Do you know, I started a long philosophical debate on this entry about happiness and it just rambled on without coming to any real conclusion.
I had a rubbish afternoon at work and for the last few days have been forgetting to smell the grass, and feel the warmth of the sun and the magic in the world.
Your blog and your show have cheered me up and bought those things back into perspective and I am now happier than I was an hour ago. Right now thats all I want to say about happiness!
I think its lovely that Ms P. asked you as that means she cares, whatever her reason for asking.
Off to do more packing for the house now - loving the show tonight
Love love love
xxx
Hi, new bogger here
Chris, you have made me think today.
I am happy that the sun shone today, that my son ate all his dinner, that my washing dried and my husband came home safe and sound.
BUT, I have a dullness inside me, I dont have a happy spirit. I think you are right real happiness is fulfillment and Im not fulfilled!
Thanks for making me think - I need to seek out my true happiness.
Much love.
Christine xx
Hi Chris...
It is me again... The man trying to raise money for charity.
Well ..taking about being happy and wine and the lust for life. These are matters that I have a lot to talk about... But not now.
GOZ - Dave Gosling is going to help me achieve my objectives.... This years Children In Need will, I hope, be a real boomer... a BOOM BOOM boomer..
For I too am a Golfer ... BOOM BOOM to some.... Tin Cup to others. Dave is a real golfer. In fact Dave is a Fellow of the PGA. So great is Dave I think that he deserves to be one of your resident experts. So..... I have set him up his own Blog... "The GOZ Blog".
David is the Chairman of YMG - Young Masters Golf. The best junior golf program in the game.
I am pleased to say that Golf is moving into schools. No better man than David to place it there.
So.. Being topical .. lets focus on the Ryder Cup ... I am sure that Dave will enjoy becoming one of you sloggers.
BramiT
P.S. Don't forget your drivetime network I don't get much chance to listen. I am sure that Dave will keep me informed about your resident experts.
Christophe and fellow bloggers,
deep...and like most deep stuff should be taken with a healthy bit of humour unless you are serious in which case go to a good friend or psychiatrist.
In my opinion wanting to be happy is not pointless BUT waiting to be happy is. 'Happiness over rated and exhausting drain'...hm....when you are in a dark place and feel pretty shit you dont think 'I would like to be content or where is my joy' you think ' if only I had that....thing,job,money, person i would be happy'. Ergo, 'Happy' can be the light at the end of a tunnel...it gets you started, becoming content is where you get thru experience. I think you have to go the distance and discover whats out there for you. Happiness can be a million little 'hits' in a day. Smile from your postman. Tea in the morning from your partner, good behaviour on the morning walk with your dog who normaly tries to monster other dogs..cream cake, choc, sunshine. Rain if you've got new wellies!
There are just some superb comments in the blog tonight, I must go back and read the blog from the topic of love. You guys make me smile and yep...I am happy right now.
In general I am also content with my lot.
Chris Kirman (100)..but did it make you happy?
Cheryl (1), I love stew, did you do suet dumplings?
Jennie (2) sometimes those people who ask if you are happy are troubled souls, they just want to agitate you.....its a real 'jellyfish' comment. (description of jellyfish comment as in Bridget Jones...said with a smile meant with a sting!).
Keith AKA bigun,,,,I will aspire to coffee, thank you.
Mayhem (62) what is Thirsty Thursday please, do yuu have a girlie night out on a Thurs?
Em M (9) I'm private too...I agree with you.
Lotsalove, heres to Thirsty Thursday.....gotcha thinking cap on yet Chris? x
Fascinating blog responses today, I've loved reading them all and - as someone said (sorry can't remember where you were now!) the blog is full of laughter and tears. It's incredible that we can all feel free to come together and 'chat' to each other about it. What everyone is going through and facing each day... well it just makes you realise that there's so much more out there in the world than what you might realise. Good luck Em25.
On my way home from work this afternoon, I was peddling on my bike and snaking along the quiet roads of campus (bit like the bike on the Orange mobile phone advert) and then I ticked along past my old Primary School that I left in the year it celebrated 50 years of being a Primary school. Well you could have knocked me off my bike with a feather, it's now celebrating 75years! Happy Birthday Middleton Primary! All the trees in the playground are covered with little flapping things like cards etc to celebrate the school's birthday. I felt really happy at that. I remembered the story we wrote about a bear who lived in the big tree on the school grounds (not so huge now I'm that grown up) and to see all the little children who were just new to the school rushing up to the tree to see if they could see the bear... that still makes me happy and smile to this day. I handed Lord Middleton a celebratory bookmark and was meant to say something inspirational to him that I'd practised so long... when I met him I just looked at him in awe and said "oh here's a bookmark for you to use... when you read or something! I hope you like it!" Got it totally wrapped around my neck but the man was lovely and smiled and genuinely thanked me! :) Happy memories.
At the traffic lights waiting to cross onto my road, I got bored of looking down and did as one of the bloggers suggested... I looked up. The sky was blue with lovely puffballs of cotton wool clouds. Of course when I see clouds I start to imagine shapes in them, and there was this little series of clouds that looked like chicks or ducklings following their mother along! It seemed as though they were popping out from a cloud making machine and then gliding along the sky for me to watch... of course the lights chnaged and the cars who were waiting for the dopey cyclist were wondering what to do! I quickly peddled on.
That was my smell the roses type of moment on the journey home! :) Just thought I'd share it with you and apologise to any of the drivers who were waiting for the daydreaming girl to start peddling!
Lots of love to you all
Clare
xxxxxx
ps
there's only ONE Dr McCrumble!
and yes, where is Dot!?!? I've been thinking she's been awfully quiet! Hope she's ok!
Hello there fellow shloggsters
I think happiness means different things to each and every one of us.
Happiness to me is
seeing my kids face light up on Christmas day when Santa's been.....
seeing my 10 month old daughter crawl for the first time today......
when they want a cuddle for no reason at all......
and when they go to sleep at night and I get peace and quite for the evening. (Even better when hubbie is on backshift and I get the whole house to myself like tonight.)
My happiness changes from day to day....and greatly depends on my hormone levels.
My husband says I suffer from PMT - Permanent Menstual Tension (and I've probably spelt that wrong).
My birthday tomorrow so I'll be happy, unless the Other Half has forgotten then I'll not be happy - I'll be pretty piddled off.
I agree with others - was Ms P asking you because she is actually unhappy?
Nicola
Chris - do you still keep in touch with Holly & Jon from your old breakfast show?
I did see a tv programme with Danny commenting that you and had a falling out and don't speak- is this also true?
It's hard to keep in touch I know, especially after what is nearly 10 years - just intersted
cheers
Nick
Ooer - I'm a blog virgin, be gentle with me.
Mr E your blog today is quite profound. Sorry but I can't describe happiness either - I'd rather just Be than think about it.
Mind you, we have an annual lecture at the University of Birmingham called Happiness and we invite all sorts of people to give us their definition of happiness - some are entertaining and some are deathly boring! Still the lectures are free and were named in honour of some geezer called Baggs who made is money in America which obviously made him really happy so he remembered his old University in his will and left us a load of dosh to have an annual happiness lecture.
Really enjoy reading your blog when I have time and listening to your show on the way home from work. I hate Fridays because you won't accept requests via email and I cannot send texts when driving to London still I enjoy the music nevertheless.
Keep up the good work.
Ciao
xx
Hi Chris and all
Sorry to miss you today, but have been poorly having had a bad allergic reaction to my friend's mother in law's dog - it went for me too which was a bit scary, but he's old with heart failure, so we have to give him some allowances.
Anyway, have got my computer back home, so I though I'd spin this off before going back to bed.
Looking forward to reading all of todays stuff tomorrow...can't wait, and I'm not even gonna have a sneak preview...gonna leave it as a treat!
buenos noches
hasta manana
love
hazel
x
PS thank you Myra and Big 'un for your love and thoughts yesterday (did have a quick look there... xxx)
that joke you do get don't you !
anyway just watching oceans eleven again as theres not a lot on the box
hasta luego
hasta manana
y buenos noches senors y senorinas
sleep well all
Mr. E you have hit the nail on the head.
I'm looking to buy my first house and I think I've found the one I want to buy. It needs a bit of work and I'm only 90% sure about the location, but I can't afford to be too choosy.
As it is I'll have to borrow heavily from my parents just to get anything in my town, and at this price I'll have to act quickly or it'll be snapped up by someone else.
I'm about to embark no a life of debt and responsibility. I wouldn't say I was Happy, but I feel a surge of energy inside me and more alive than your average Wednesday.
Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Parker
Hey something good HAS come out of global warming then - let me quickly nip outside and spray some more hairspray into the atmosphere!
Ross Hemsworth
Late at it today people and have just read over the bloggs, schloggs, prose and drivvel of the day.
It would have been interesting to see a few more replies on what was a superb piece of television broadcast on 大象传媒2 last night. Maybe it was a little too dull for some but I bet it was bloody scary to all of you who thought you were normal, healthy well adjusted people..Eh?
Presuming some of you watched it....
Em25 (#8) I too was watching Mr Fry last night and was well impressed with the whole thing. It's good to see that we are not alone. The man is a star by coming clean about his illness.
Being bi-polar doesn't mean you will suddenly turn into a psycho hosebeast from hell overnight putting everyone at risk. Like Mr Fry, I too am self medicating and doing fine by it. Being like you I'm a bit down the scale and so hope to be drug free for many years to come (43 at present).
I understand where you are coming from with the drug thing as I have watched people disappear overnight in a haze of drug induced stupor. The easy way for the medical proffesion in the UK to deal with the condition.
Keep your chin up (even in the dark places) and you'll survive.
All the best.......
Col
Well, Chris,
I listen to your show everyday here at work in the US - your sense of the ridiculous seems to be the same as mine - so I could say that I smile when I am listening to you and everyone on the show. If you smile are you happy????
I would be happy if I were back in England but I don't think that will ever happen, so I think I will be glum for the rest of my life and smile everyday when I listen to your show.
Hi Chris and all other schloggers,
Am reading this very late today as have had a manic time at work!
The problem with answering the question ' are you happy?' is that to answer in the affirmative is almost like tempting fate, because in my experience, the second I say aloud that 'I am happy', life throws something awful at me, or I start to feel guilty for feeling that way when others around me are having such a crappy time.
I think it is better to be 'content' rather than happy, as contentment denotes a reasonable state of existence with potential for improvement!
Incidentally Chris, a belated 'thank you' for the recommendation to see Avenue Q. I went to see it Saturday, and for a couple of hours I was in a state of 'extreme contentment' as I giggled my way through a very funny and uplifting show show!
Attn Clare
Just doing a late check of this self-propelling blog-response cum forum chat-room thing and saw you had name checked me twice in one day (assuming there is only one Clare)
Thanks...I like your posts too!
If you send me a picture of the pigeon (taken from underneath) I'll do my best. My email address is on my blog.
J McC
Attn Clare
Better hurry up with that picture. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be free to blog!
yours in trepidation
J McC
Hello Chris & Schloggers,
I agreee with the majority that happiness is moment to moment...but there's much that we can do ourselves to make those moments more frequent.
1. Have a sense of identity and know what you stand for
2. Have a purpose or well defined goal/s that you are highly motivated to achieve
3. Be aware of your feelings, and manage your emotions
We all have choices to make, and we can choose how we want to feel. Try it out, instead of feeling overwhelmed or frustratrated when things get tough, tell yourself that 'it is as it is' and then do whatever it takes to move you to a situation that you would rather have...start with the end in mind.Visualise what you will see, hear and feel and guess what, you will materialise it.
Love Debbie XX
PS Jo # 6, I agree, have your objective stated postively, just think about the outcome and don't include the problem in it.
Good morning
Well I'm up late and thought I'd read and have a check in.
Feeling very sorry here for Richard Hammond and am sending all get well & loving thoughts to him and his family & friends.
Cath - I've read through the posts and have missed/not seen any reference to your interview = really hope it all went well for you.
Dr J McCrumble - oops, police hot on your trail again! You're not having much luck at all, to have one lot of police after you is bad, 2 is awful but 3 is just plain stupid - I think you need a very good lawyer, which as you can guess will cost you big bucks .... the other thing that might put a fly in the ointment of you being able to afford one is - have you given thought to the fact that Dolores may be expecting twins, triplets or even quads! ... hmm, are you happy Joseph?
See you all in the morning
Katie
x
thankyou col! I feel alot more positive today aboutthe whole thing!
So nice to have so much support from strangers!!
em25x
Dr McCrumble!
There is only one Clare who writes such insane things about woodpigeons and staring at clouds whilst the traffic lights change to green and still continues staring at clouds (can't do that today as there aren't any! gorgeous day in Nottingham!!!)
Are you ok?! I've read your blogs here and on your webpage! THREE, I repeat THREE police investigations surrounding you is surely the limit... they do say things come in threes! here's hoping that these three are the only three to cross your path for the rest of your life!
Sadly the pigeons weren't there today so I couldn't photograph their undercarriage and send you a picture.
Here's hoping that we aren't going to have the first Chris Evan's Free the McCrumble One case on the blog!
Lots of love to you and your family and everyone else blogging
Clare
xxxx
I'm only now scraping my jaw off the desk... 3?
Morning bloggers and schloggers
As Chris has not posted yet I thought I would share a little joke with you to start the day off with a smile :-)
Fifty-one years ago, Herman James, a North Carolina mountain man, was drafted by the Army.
On his first day in basic training, the Army issued him a comb.
That afternoon the Army barber sheared off all his hair.
On his second day, the Army issued Herman a toothbrush.
That afternoon the Army dentist yanked seven of his teeth.
On the third day, the Army issued him a jock strap
The Army has been looking for Herman for 51 years.
Happy days
Keith
x
Good morning!!
What a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, makes you feel so much better.
Got up early, put a load of washing in the machine, stacked dishwasher, cleaned the fridge and the loo before I took daughter to school now just waiting to peg out!
As I walked Shan to school this morning I saw a lady strolling down the main road reading a book!! How bizarre, she looked to be in deep concentration I couldn鈥檛 do that could you? Reading should be done when there is nothing else to do, even when your in the middle of a real gripping tale you couldn鈥檛 read and walk ?
Hope all bloggers are as contented as I am today, hubby comes home tomorrow!!!!
On a more sober note my love and thoughts go out to Richard Hammond and his family, I hope him a speedy recovery.
XX
Fellow Bloggers,
Good to read and catch up with everyone and the privelege of sneaking a peak of what everyone is upto and thinking!
In response to the comments re the stephen fry doc on bipolar, I myself have got on with it for the last 5 years and i would like to reassure those in the same boat that it can be managed, and to Em25 and others, you are not alone and there will always be people around to share it with. I was heartened by the various comments and the bravery of some to share, thank you, it inspired me to write and respond!!
A big prayer to Richard Hammond for recovery and one for his family, that they will know peace.
Big up to Chris, good show and keep it going.
mjg
whwen you taik abaut rachard hammond who was in a drag crash he luck to be alive i was bit upseting for is family i feel strong about that crash please dont let him do that again
Dear Mr Chris Evans
Hey! I am a Virgin to your Blogg until today at 48 i am so happy to have read what you wrote on 20/09/06.
I have been thinking about happiness over the last week and what it means to me & most people. I am in the middle of China a place called Chengdu this is my 20th day. Having left my family at home.
( Coventry )
HAPPINESS
Means to me !
Clean Tiolets, A smile, Emailing,a Chat on Skype with me kids,A smell of coffee, Hug, The sound of a English Voice, Me toothbrush, & Listening to your show on the Web Cool!
today just getting a taxi man to understand where i need to go.
I hope this finds People HAPPY!
Teresa
hello we are trying to raise awareness to ely pits that are now looking to be developed by a gentleman that wishes to turn them into another mariner. in doing so he will help thousands of people to loose one of the only nesting sites in britain of the bittern, kingfishers etc it is a local beauty spot and a fantastic way to escape from the ever increasing concrete jungle. i am a builder by trade and it disgusts me to the wanten need to cover al green areas in grey or money making matters. i ahve no connection to this gentleman in any way as i work on restration of old buildings
please at least look at the website
thanks
just had to say how much such a short piece has helped my outlook on life, i waste so much energy tryin to clear my head lookin for clarity, indeed this feeling off happiness and in truth it takes me farther from that goal by taking me out of the moment, away from what i truly enjoy. living.
only thing id add is not to dwell on the past, because that too hinders the enjoyment of life.