the ultimate thanks-giving

"I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure."

When the poetic neurologist Oliver Sacks learned that he was dying, he wrote something almost unbearably beautiful about the measure of living — the ultimate thanks-giving:

https://mailchi.mp/themarginalian/oliver-sacks-gratitude

"A lot of hooey"--?

Happy Thanksgiving. 

“The kind of happy I was that day at the Vet when "Hawk" Dawson actually doffed his red "C" cap to me, and everyone cheered and practically convulsed into tears - you can't patent that. It was one shining moment of glory that was instantly gone. Whereas life, real life, is different and can't even be appraised as simply "happy", but only in terms of "Yes, I'll take it all, thanks" or "No, I believe I won't." Happy, as my poor father used to say, is a lot of hooey. Happy is a circus clown, a sitcom, a greeting card. Life, though, life's about something sterner. But also something better. A lot better. Believe me.”― Richard Ford, The Lay of the Land

Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

  

What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it's fame and money, you're not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you're mistaken. As the director of 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. In this talk, he shares three important lessons learned from the study as well as some practical, old-as-the-hills wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life.

Problematic

Is becoming happier a selfish thing to do?

I sometimes hear from my students that they think pursuing happiness is a selfish act. The evidence actually suggests that people who self-report being happier are more prosocial and nicer to other people, not more selfish.

This is the feel-good do-good phenomenon: when people are in a good mood, they tend to help other people. You've probably seen this in your own life, where you've held the door open for someone because you were in a good mood...

Laurie Santos

https://www.threads.net/@lauriesantosofficial/post/DCrEaoksdCE?xmt=AQGztSZaqh_ip7FzpQgzaFgEfETsiMlOOWPwIwgwKZ6RwQ

Can Reading Make You Happier?

 https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/can-reading-make-you-happier?utm_source=threads&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tny&utm_social-type=owned

Bhutan has made happiness a national priority. So why are so many citizens leaving the country? - CBS News

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bhutan-happiness-national-priority-60-minutes-transcript/

Yeah, sure

Matt Haig

 From Reasons To Stay Alive: