Warning: This sounds like I am upset and I am really not, I am just wondering and pondering on the fact that we really know very little about what makes us happy. I am truly highly excited about recent events that have occured in my life.
Why does it seem that when we are really happy or celebrating, we strive to be closer to stupidity. When people are really excited they tend to get drunk and then enjoy some of the simplest pleasures, like dancing, singing, eating, rides, and sex. The most pleasure causing thing in our lives as most people think is sex, which is also on of the most animalistic traits left in humans. As humans we have strived for centuries to define ourselves better than animals, on a different level than everything else alive on the planet. When it comes to take time to enjoy life we still only rely on the most simple and animalistic pleasure though eating, drinking, sex, and sleep.
So does that mean in the end we are all truly envious of the simple, easy, and uneducated. We work hard and learn many things so we will have time to wallow in simple pleasures? As our lives have become more complex has it truly brought more meaning to life? We go through our work and our jobs, and we try to feel important, but all we have changed is how we live, where we live, and who we know.
If we are truly smarter and above all the animals on the planet we seem so set to prove we are better than, shouldn't we enjoy doing all of the more complex parts of life they are incapable of enjoying. I never see anyone say wow, that great lets celebrate, but writing a novel together. Lets have a great time and create something as a group. No to celebrate lets rely on primitive pleasures, because they are the only thing we really know make us happy. If you create something, it is also something that can be flawed. It is something that might not stand for what you believe. It might stand for something you believe in but what you believe is wrong. Occasionally as a group we just go out to see the beauties of the world and hike and look in awe of the amazing planet we don't understand, but does even that teach us anything?Or is it just another way to distract ourselves from our tasks?
I am not saying that this isn't what I do as well. I love getting out and enjoying the simple pleasures. When I am celebrating I want to go out with friends and not worry about the world as they say. Why has life become that though, a series of problems to worry about and things to deal with. You educate yourself so that you can become better at doing things. We continually work on so many things, but hardly ask why. Is there a reason?
Perhaps, I am just pondering all of this because today I have a day off. I have nothing I actually HAVE to do right now. So it makes me think what should I do, and either I am doing something, because it will help my future, let me forget about worries, or bring immediate pleasure that means nothing in the long run. If you write a book or create art, maybe that is better because in the long wrong it could change someones thinking, but if we don't even know what we are thinking can that really help.
So what if anything does someone do that is purely for pleasure, that is above the simple pleasures I have mentioned. I enjoy many activities of a higher level, but at the same time, never choose to do those activities just for the sake of the activity. I love to work with computers, but I do it to try to make a positive change in the long run. Since I can't define what is a positive change in the long run am I really helping at all or just making things different. Is that all humanity has really done, converted primitive tasks into more highly complex tasks that just change the way we get things done? Do i still work just for food, shelter, and safety?
One day I am going to wake up, and over 20 years of change, will I really think anything is important or all that different? I some change better than others? Well I guess I will leave the confused ramblings of my mind to you. As I seek a break from thought and worries, by viewing the thoughts worries and beauties of others minds at the movies.
Comments (2)
interesting thoughts....it is strange that we spend our free time pursuing those things that are most basic and simple, while we strive for a job that we enjoy (a complex task usually), so our work makes us happy. i guess it's because we can't be professional drinkers and make money. so maybe hookers and porn stars have it right? i think it's kinda like in the matrix when agent smith says that humans define their world by their suffering. maybe without the stress of work we aren't able to enjoy our lives as much. so maybe by making our lives more complicated and difficult, the simpler things are that much sweeter. that would be a cruel irony.
random thoughts in no particular order...have a good day
scott
Posted by scott | October 20, 2004 7:12 AM
Posted on October 20, 2004 07:12
nice to see you back in action scott. Yes it is interesting to think that humans define their lives through pain and suffering. I talked with someone about that recently.
Posted by dan | October 22, 2004 2:39 PM
Posted on October 22, 2004 14:39