Tag: happiness

Happiness

~ Clarissa ~ 27 Comments

I spoke to my sister, checked my blog, poured myself a glass of port, looked in on N. who is playing a video game in the study, looked at the pile of books I still have to read, and realized that I am the happiest person in the universe.

This has been a very hard-won instance of happiness for me. I can’t tell you, guys, how much work it took to get here. I always knew that the only normal state for a human being is that of unadulterated bliss, and now I finally have it.

Now I have a question that I’m very much afraid to ask. How is having children of one’s own likely to add to or detract from this state of bliss.

Tolstoy on Joy

~ Clarissa ~ 12 Comments

The meaning of life, its goal is joy. Feel joyous as you look at the sky, the sun, the stars, the grass, the trees, the animals, the people. And make sure that nothing spoils this joy. If the joy disappears, this means you made a mistake somewhere. You need to look for this mistake and correct it.

  – Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy is not one of my favorite writers but this statement is impossible to disagree with. Many people accept misery or, in the best of cases, lack of any strong emotions about their existence as the normal state of affairs while exultant joy and happiness are seen as rare aberrations. It shouldn’t be that way, though. If we possess the capacity to feel intensely happy, then this skill should be put to use as often as possible.