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Thread: Happiness in Small Packages | This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 · NEXT» |
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted May 25, 2009 07:06 AM |
bonus applied by pandora on 25 Jun 2009. |
Edited by Corribus at 15:25, 26 May 2009.
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Happiness in Small Packages
It is Springtime here. Today I sat out on my porch with a book, my sun glasses, a glass of iced tea, and the sunlight warming my face.
I was sitting there, listening to the sounds of children playing in the swimming pool across the street (filled and opened on Friday), their laughter and splashing reminding me of the first days of summer when I was a kid. I actually put my book down at one point, sat back, closed my eyes, and just listened to it. The smell of barbecue and woodsmoke from someone grilling two houses down tickled my nose.
And I realized that happiness in small packages is what really makes life worth living. These are the things that you associate with a particular time of year, or a particular time of your life. I like big screen TVs and fancy cars as much as the next guy, but these are just objects which pass the time; they can entertain, but do they really make us happy?
After I sat and listened to the music of children at play, I decided to go for a bike ride. I live in a residential (suburban) area now and though I sometimes miss the hustle and bustle of urban neighborhoods, there is something refreshing about the sound of lawnmowers and churchbells that you just can't hear over the ubiquitous growling of car engines that drown out everything else in the city. I don't think that's something I could have appreciated 5, 10 years ago.
The air smells fresher out here, too. At one point I stopped just to breathe in the fresh spring air, and all I could smell was that wonderful ambrosia of freshly cut grass and lilac that can only characterize mid Spring. My neighbors when I was a kid had a huge lilac tree/bush in their yard, and I only realize now how much that smell used to define the nearing of summer vacation when I was a child.
Sadly I somehow got a flat tire and had to walk my bike two miles back home. But strangely I didn't mind. I was happy to be outside under the expansive blue sky and wispy clouds, soaking up Spring.
Anyway, I was motivated to post this little slice of life because when I got back this afternoon I just got to thinking about how we often get so preoccupied with the empty pleasures that are provided by material OBJECTS that we don't often stop and savor the little things that bring just a moment of true happiness. In my last job, I had to walk quite a distance to get from where I parked to the building where I worked, and I loathed that job so much that sometimes I felt like I was marching to the scaffold each morning. On the way there, there was this rose bush that had these little pink blossoms, and in the late spring when it bloomed I would pause each day, pick the biggest, most healthy blossom I could find, stick my nose right in it, and inhale the intoxicating fragrance. And somehow, even if only for a few minutes, all my troubles and job-related issues would just melt away. My wife was sort of embarassed by it and I would joke that I was just "Stopping to smell the roses." She would laugh, but in a 'you're such a dork' sort of way. Yeah, maybe I am. But I'll always remember the smell of those roses, and how happy they made me.
This thread is dedicated to the little things that make you truly filled with a love of life.
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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Azagal
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Smooth Snake
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posted May 25, 2009 08:20 AM |
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Heehe yeah you're right, eventhough I can't really share your sense of "nostalgia" at the tender age of 19 but you're most certainly right, the little things in life are somewhat underapreciated, atleast until one realizes them again by chance (similar to your first example).
To the little things in life.
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"All I can see is what's in front of me. And all I can do is keep moving forward" - The Heir Wielder of Names, Seeker of Thrones, King of Swords, Breaker of Infinities, Wheel Smashing Lord
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Mytical
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Chaos seeking Harmony
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posted May 25, 2009 08:25 AM |
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For me when I was young it was always the pond in my back yard. Sure we would have to travel a bit to get to it, but just sitting on the bank watching the water, skipping stones. Even when frozen, the pond was always there. Whenever my troubles would pile up, or I'd have a bad day all of it would melt away sitting on it's banks.
Flowers are nice too, I prefer the purple ones, but each their own. Oh and honeysuckle..god I miss the days of smelling honeysuckles.
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Message received.
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kipshasz
Undefeatable Hero
Elvin's Darkside
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posted May 25, 2009 09:05 AM |
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When I was young... Oh, happy, happy days(if I ignore my parents' divorce and some other stuff)
taking a stroll in the woods, or just relaxation with a fishing pole.
Making bows or rafts...
Or taking a nap in the meadows(I still do that )
or on a hay stack.
Growing in the countryside was awesome. No city kid could ever understand this.
Excelent post Corribus. You are tempting me to get out of my workplace and get away from the rushing and noise.
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"Kip is the Gavin McInnes of HC" - Salamandre
"Ashan to the Trashcan", "I got PTSD from H7. " - LizardWarrior
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winterfate
Supreme Hero
Water-marked Champion!
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posted May 25, 2009 09:10 AM |
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Definitely my friends.
I could argue that they saved my life this semester. Thank God for those people who won't give up on you even when you give up on yourself!
They're my rays of sunlight when everything seems dark.
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If you supposedly care about someone, then don't push them out of your life. Acting like you're not doing it doesn't exempt you from what I just said. - Winterfate
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted May 25, 2009 03:57 PM |
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Edited by Corribus at 15:57, 25 May 2009.
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Another small happiness I have is the rain. One thing I love is to listen to the sound of a thunderstorm. Where I live now I have a small porch and a sliding door, so I can leave the door open when it rains and not worry about water coming in the window, and I love it - the way the rain sounds when it hits the pavement, the sound of the wind and distant rumble of thunder, that unique smell of the air.
You know, I used to think that being an "old person" must be so boring. I would always wonder why it appeared they would just spend almost a whole day sitting outside doing nothing. What a waste of time! But now I'm beginning to see that it's not a waste of time at all.
Anyway, I think a lot of this sort of appreciation comes with age. Yeah I know I'm starting to sound like an old fogey, but I think a lot of the reason "the little things" bring us happiness is because we connect them with memory. Like Mytical mentioned a pond or honeysuckle - yeah I still love the smell of honeysuckle. The same can be said with music - isn't it funny how you will hear an old song on the radio and you'll just stop and listen to it with happiness, not because it's a great song but because it reminds you of a particular time in your life.
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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winterfate
Supreme Hero
Water-marked Champion!
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posted May 26, 2009 12:09 AM |
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Quote: not because it's a great song but because it reminds you of a particular time in your life.
I know the feeling.
Does that mean I'm getting old?
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If you supposedly care about someone, then don't push them out of your life. Acting like you're not doing it doesn't exempt you from what I just said. - Winterfate
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted May 26, 2009 01:37 AM |
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Quote: Does that mean I'm getting old?
Probably, but don't sweat it. We're all getting old, one day at a time.
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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Celfious
Promising
Legendary Hero
From earth
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posted May 26, 2009 03:29 AM |
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kind of reminds me how much we have that would be worth all the money in the entire world a few hundred years ago, and back further into history..
Fridge, TV. Car. Phone..
You get the jest.. I know what you mean though about materials not being the only thing to inspire happiness.
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What are you up to
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william
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
LummoxLewis
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posted May 26, 2009 04:33 AM |
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Quote: isn't it funny how you will hear an old song on the radio and you'll just stop and listen to it with happiness, not because it's a great song but because it reminds you of a particular time in your life.
I get that all the time because I have so many songs and I listen to a lot and when I find a particular song that I recognise from my own childhood, I'll just sit there and listen to it with happiness because it reminds me of a good childhood.
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~Ticking away the moments that
make up a dull day, Fritter and
waste the hours in an off-hand
way~
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Mytical
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Chaos seeking Harmony
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posted May 26, 2009 05:49 AM |
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Corribus, I absolutely love listening and watching it rain. I could sit for hours, doing nothing else, and be totally content. Sitting on my porch, gentling swinging. Thunderstorms are great also, I especially love when there is lightning (white is my favorite but it is rare). Heh, I sometimes still play in the rain, though I tend up having to take cold medicine after .
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Message received.
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william
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
LummoxLewis
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posted May 26, 2009 07:58 AM |
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I also like the rain. I find it soothing when I can hear it outside when I'm trying to sleep. I don't like thunderstorms only because a blackout usually occurs and that sucks for a geek like myself.
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~Ticking away the moments that
make up a dull day, Fritter and
waste the hours in an off-hand
way~
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Shares
Supreme Hero
I am. Thusly I am.
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posted May 26, 2009 08:35 AM |
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Edited by Shares at 08:36, 26 May 2009.
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Couple of days ago:
After eating about seven crisp breads with a lot of butter, I just love the taste of crisp in the morning, I already felt good. It was four twenty in the morning and I boiled some water and made a cup of tea. I put on my shoes and went out the door, the cold ait hit my face and all of my body shivered for a moment as I closed the door and walked down the road. I continued for about a hundred yards and I was already freezing, but when I took a mouthful of tea I shivered again as the warmth spread through my cold body and it burned my mouth before I swallowed. Stood there for a while and drank my tea as I waited. I ran out of tea in just a couple of minutes and by then it was already cold. I could see the sky constantly changing and yet it stayed the same. Suddenly the clouds changed colour from red to yellow to white in a matter of second and I saw the sun move up, slowly. The rays hit my face and warmed my body that was now even colder, I couldn't feel my fingers nor my feet. I stayed for a few more minutes and listened to the crows. Always liked crows. And ducks. Nice birds really. I picked up my empty cup from the ground and walked home, and got my shaking body in bed. Falling happily asleep after warming myself for an hour.
Yes, happyness makes life worth living. Enjoy your lives to the fullest and try to live it without regrets, or die trying. That's how feel and I would gladly die to preserve the happyness. When I see some one enjoying pure happyness or joy, I feel their joy too. Sadly I almost only see children feeling like this and it makes me believe that somethings wrong with our society that robs the grown-ups of their joy. Growing up is nothing about giving up your child-at-heart or your blanket, it's realizing you don't have to.
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted May 26, 2009 03:22 PM |
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Edited by Corribus at 15:22, 26 May 2009.
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@mytical
Quote: Corribus, I absolutely love listening and watching it rain. I could sit for hours, doing nothing else, and be totally content. Sitting on my porch, gentling swinging. Thunderstorms are great also, I especially love when there is lightning (white is my favorite but it is rare). Heh, I sometimes still play in the rain, though I tend up having to take cold medicine after .
I love walking in the rain!
There was one time (high schoolish age) I bought one of those nature CDs that just have nature sounds on them. I picked a thunderstorm one. I used to listen to that CD every night when I went to bed - I listened to it so much it got to the point that I knew when the thunder crashes were going to come, so I had to go buy a new one just to vary it up a little bit. Still have those CDs... I should listen to them again.
@shares
Part of the problem is that once you become adult aged there's just no time to take a moment and enjoy the little things. Between school or work, housework, buying groceries, cooking meals, paying bills, going to the gym, etc., almost the whole day is consumed. With what little time is left you just kind of want to relax and watch TV or something. And when you have a kid it gets even harder! With all that going on, who thinks to go outside and watch the fireflies!?
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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blizzardboy
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Nerf Herder
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posted May 26, 2009 06:14 PM |
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I feel you brother.
Fireflies. That's one of those things that I love. It's so beautiful when it's twilight in a forested area and there's fireflies blinking all over the place. It's so magical.
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"Folks, I don't trust children. They're here to replace us."
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted May 26, 2009 06:21 PM |
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I never cared much for cars and TVs. I don't like cars at all and TV is boring as hell
Aside from a computer, I really don't enjoy having zillions of expensive toys and next to no time to use them because I keep working and working while not being really aware of the time and passing life ~~
When it comes to little things that make me happy.. let's see
- biking through fields, well, you know, the type of fields where you don't hear damned car engines and you can actually see the horizon
- Sunrise, sunsets, stars. Since I live in the very center of a huge city, I rarely can see them (and seeing stars is impossible due to amount of illumination at night), maybe that's why I like them so much
- Sitting outside listening to all kinds of music (especially Final Fantasy music) in some peaceful place before the evening, when the sun is near setting and gives that fun orange glow everywhere.. my favorite moment of each day
- Sitting at home with a cup of hot tea and a good book, movie or game during a thunderstorm.
- Hiking when it's completely dark. Obviously doesn't work where I live (this city never sleeps and is very bright at night), but when I'm in a rural area, it's cool.
to name a few.
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted May 26, 2009 06:50 PM |
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Quote: Fireflies. That's one of those things that I love. It's so beautiful when it's twilight in a forested area and there's fireflies blinking all over the place. It's so magical.
Yeah, I'm ashamed to admit that when I see them, I still run and catch them.
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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Shares
Supreme Hero
I am. Thusly I am.
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posted May 26, 2009 07:02 PM |
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I've never seen fireflies. I don't think there are any in Sweden
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Aculias
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Pretty Boy Angel Sacraficer
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posted May 27, 2009 03:40 AM |
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Sorry you little guys.
I got no small package to talk about
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Dreaming of a Better World
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Mytical
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Chaos seeking Harmony
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posted May 27, 2009 06:39 AM |
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You know it would be wonderful to sit out on the beach and watch the sun go down. Listening to the sound of the waves, and just relaxing a little. Once the stars come out and the fireflies start dancing, start a little campfire. Cook some marshmellos, listen to some music from when you were young. After you do that for awhile, get caught in a rain (which also puts out the campfire ) head in the house, start a fire in the fireplace to warm up, grab a blanket, some coco and snuggle up to somebody you love. Now that...that would be a good day.
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Message received.
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