When did happiness become a commodity? When was just “being” enough?
Finding happiness was created over 200 years ago. It is created with capitalism in mind. A marketing tool.
Finding happiness keeps you in that eternal loop of consumerism that never stops. Happiness is in the sky, water, trees, flowers, dirt and grass. Happiness is in all of nature. It’s free.
Finding happiness is in the love you feel for another human or creature.
It’s free.
Finding happiness is tasting food that you cooked. It’s free.
How did finding happiness become so costly?
Finding happiness now creates anxiety and a cycle of consumption and discontentment. This is sold as happiness.
Happiness itself is a state of mind and being that transcends material wealth, status, validation or possessions.
The Tao Te Ching is a classical Chinese text attributed to Laozi (Lao Tzu) a philosopher believed to have lived in the 6th century BCE. It’s a fundamental text in Taoism, exploring themes such as nature, balance, and the Tao (the Way). The text consists of 81 short chapters or verses, each offering wisdom and guidance on living in harmony with the Tao.
Laozi is considered the founder of Taoism and is revered for his teachings on the Tao.
I particularly find Stephen Mitchell’s transition to be the best for me. Straightforward and to the point without any of the fringe (decorative borders) found in other translations.
I feel dogs that are properly trained, make the best pets. They are always happy to see us and will fight to the death to protect us. Great companions.
I feel humans make the worst pets. Even properly trained. They’re very unpredictable and opinionated and many change opinions like shoes.
When confronted with a dire circumstance, how do you react?
It is a dream of course.
Do you run and hide until you see an opening for an escape?
It is a dream of course.
Your every movement slowing down, muscles cramping to a crawl, as you navigate over the busy wet street trying to avoid oncoming traffic, unresponsive, screaming in silence. Will you wake before the termination?
It is a dream of course.
Or do you gather yourself together in order to fight back with the sweat of rapid eye movement?
Instinctively performing on a subconscious canvas of dreamscapes, until the awakening.
The impulse that incorporates into your consciousness of awokeness.
How have you adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic?
By not taking life’s freedoms for granted.
Cherishing the simple pleasures in life.
A leisurely promenade, a conversation at a sidewalk cafe, a long hug, smiling back at an infectious smile, watching the sunsets on the beach, hanging with friends and laughing from the belly and most of all freedom to move to and from.
When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?
The only thing I can remember from that time was I loved playing with my toy, Big Jim. Later he would have a Kung-Fu grip. Maybe I wanted to be like him. My parents were able to get me many of his accessories and even the Big Jim Camper.
Comic books came soon after and I wanted to be the Hulk.
Then came the Happy Days television show and I wanted to be the Fonz.
My piano teacher asked me for a nickname, I said Hulk. A little later I changed it to Fonz. He would call me Fonzo.
Technology which is constantly changing, includes everything from the wheel and pulley to complex systems like computers, smartphones, military intelligence and weapons, artificial intelligence and nanotechnology.
Technology can make a job easier or difficult.
Technology can speed up all processes of life while make people lazy.
Technology also creates shortcuts, complacency and allows ignorance to blossom.
When work becomes easier due to technology, bosses want more productivity out of their workers.
When technology fails, people lose ability to function because their resilience has been diminished by it.
Technology interferes with natural organic ecosystems.
Technology has significant ethical implications, both positive and negative. In the wrong hands, most organisms could face extinction leading to catastrophic consequences.
Technology creates a new language encouraging a digital divide element.
Technology gets me to my job faster.
Technology has changed my jobs in a way that without it, I would have to relearn my job.