I think I may be going mad....

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I think I may be going mad....

by tylluanpenry @ Monday, 08. Sep, 2008 – 17:59:42

It began this morning when a team of trolls turned up to work on Mrs Anubis Evans' boundary wall. This has been going on intermittently for several months, taking up the pavement, spewing out mud, stones and weeds into the road, and generally making a dirty great mess for anyone passing nearby. Worse, it looks exactly the same as the old wall, so I can't imagine why on earth she thought it would be a good idea in the first place.

But why trolls? Well, maybe I've been watching too much Beowulf (both film versions, the one where Hrothgar is Welsh and the one where Beowulf is Glaswegian.

The other thing that makes me wonder at my own sanity is this little article, tucked away in the pages of the Daily ~~Diatribe~~ Mail. Here is a link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1053362/The-How-Happy-classes-coming-school-near-you.html

but basically all it says is that some bright sparks have come up with the idea of classes to teach children how to be happy.

Utter tosh! What makes one person happy isn't necessarily what pleases another. Besides, much of it is common sense. My own suggestions for a happy life include:
Having some responsibility (to stop you thinking only of yourself.)
Eating when you're hungry (rather than constant scoffing)
Keeping busy (boredom can make you wretched)
Educating yourself long after you've left school
Taking time to appreciate the natural world.

Now - because I'm sure this list isn't exhaustive - what would your suggestions be?
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28 Comments to I think I may be going mad....

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- kevinwilson ^Pro
- Monday, 08. Sep, 2008 @ 18:02:44
i think having someone or something to love is a good way of being happy, too.
- - tylluanpenry
  - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 08:54:50
  Very true - I second that!
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- loiswakeman
- http://lois.co.uk
- Monday, 08. Sep, 2008 @ 18:06:14
And learning how to be bored gracefully - now so many children are ferried from event to event without any time to just "be". Plenty of boredom in later life, so best to get used to it when young.
- - tylluanpenry
  - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 08:55:54
  Yes, good point - we do our children no favours by making them believe that life is a laugh a minute. Being bored helps us enjoy the good things in life when they come along!
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- QueeneMab
- Monday, 08. Sep, 2008 @ 18:45:24
BOL

Anubis Evans, excellent Alias. Erm, it is an alias isn't it?

X
- - tylluanpenry
  - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 08:56:56
  It is an alias, you're right.... but we are full of them in my part of the world. Mrs Anubis Evans, Mr Sarcophagus Jones, Mog the Brick....
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- wendlane
- http://www.moondustandangels.co.uk
- Monday, 08. Sep, 2008 @ 19:28:16
I think knowing that there is at least one person who loves you can help- good parenting, but ultimately happiness is a choice not a given so perhaps they can coach children in skills to cope with some of lifes more difficult moments? I don't know -some people are just naturally miserable and others who perhaps have had a really bad time are just cheerful -but what is happiness anyway? You can't be happy all the time...can you?
- - tylluanpenry
  - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 08:58:34
  I don't think I'd like to be happy all the time... it can be quite hellish when people insist on telling jokes ALL the time!
  
  I often thing the whole idea of the 'pursuit of happiness' is a no-brainer. You can't pursue happiness. The more you chase it, the more it eludes you.
  
  Happiness is more a state of mind!
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- catzycradle
- Monday, 08. Sep, 2008 @ 19:37:39
Wendlane has said it all for me.. You can't be happy all the time, but it does become a matter of choice for some. It would be good if we could all learn and experience those skills needed to get through life and all the painful stuff. Even if we feel sad, it's all about learning and spiritual growth, and finding new ways to cope on this planet, which isn't easy at times!
- - tylluanpenry
  - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 08:59:54
  Learning and spiritual growth are SO important, even though we may not be actively aware of it, it's going on all the time.
  
  I think the idea of teaching someone to be happy is really putting the cart before the horse. Teaching people to appreciate things might be a better way to approach it!
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- menhir
- http://www.myword.blog.co.uk
- Monday, 08. Sep, 2008 @ 21:15:35
I wonder which American theory this came from - I wouldn't necessarily call the Americans a happy nation...

Teaching kids to be happy, is this a euphemism for training them in positive thinking, if so, that's different and might well be worth thinking about, just so long as it does not lead to constant unrealistic gush, which even in their heart of hearts, the gushers doesn't truly believe.

I am reminded of "I whistle a happy tune, then no-one will know that I am afraid..." This is something that could be a well learned exercise.
- - tylluanpenry
  - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 09:01:58
  Very interesting point, Menhir. Positive thinking is a useful skill, although it doesn't necessarily make a person happy, it at least can help when the going gets tough.
  
  But teaching people to be happy.... well, as you say, unrealistic gush is all too often the result. And the saddest aspect of this is that when the going does get tough (and it will, it will) the unrealistic gush just doesn't past muster and crumbles.
  - - menhir
    - http://www.myword.blog.co.uk
    - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 10:21:51
    You are so right Tylluan. Holding on to some level of realism is important otherwise, you produce a nation of deluded individuals with no other coping strategies.
    - - tylluanpenry
      - Monday, 15. Sep, 2008 @ 09:04:26
      Very true!
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- miramaze
- Monday, 08. Sep, 2008 @ 22:11:50
Surely happiness comes from within and has to be allowed , not something that can be taught.

Gratitude for what you have in life promotes and encourages happiness. Finding appreciation joy and beauty in all things leads to happiness too,

Sometimes these schemes seem so artificial , so synthetic . " You are laughing , but are you happy ? "

X

X
- - tylluanpenry
  - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 09:03:47
  Yes, I agree that these schemes do seem artificial... gratitude and appreciation might be more useful skills. I remember when I was young we were always taught that there were many many people much worse off than ourselves. It became a benchmark that stopped us looking sideways and envying others. Instead we were encouraged to look for ways to improve the lives of those around us.
  - - miramaze
    - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 09:10:01
    Yes ! 'Look for ways to improve the lives of those around us' There is so much joy in giving and being of service .Random acts of kindness is another concept that brings great joy
    
    X
    - - tylluanpenry
      - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 10:32:18
      I agree - I don't mean we should become doormats, letting other people's wishes always take precedence over our own, but sometimes it's good for the character to realise that the world really doesn't revolve around our wants, our needs, and to consider others and help them.
      
      Unfortunately society seems to encourage the 'me me me' approach nowadays. Perhaps it always did.
      - miramaze
        
        Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 13:23:23
        
        I think the "me me " approach is misunderstood.
        
        Tp honour your Self and be Self-ish is good , but giving in to the ego is another matter.
        
        XX
        
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        tylluanpenry
        
        Monday, 15. Sep, 2008 @ 09:05:08
        
        Yes, that's what I meant too!
        
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- lostjohnny
- http://lostjohnnyparadox.blog.co.uk
- Monday, 08. Sep, 2008 @ 23:55:04
sleep when you are tired!
- - tylluanpenry
  - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 09:04:23
  Excellent advice - Mr Penry is always saying that people don't sleep enough, and the world would be a better place if we did!
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- skip2468
- Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 09:00:01
Congratulations for a very good list that succinctly emphasises the the inmportant basics of human behaviour.

One or two further selections from the Ten Commandments might be worth considering.
- - tylluanpenry
  - Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 09:06:14
  I often think that covetousness can be a greater problem than people realise... partly because it makes us look sideways instead of focusing on the task in hand. And of course there's a horribly thin line between thinking 'I'd like one of those too' to thinking 'Why should that person have that and I don't?'
  Jealousy is crueller than the grave.
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- lunadraconis
- Tuesday, 09. Sep, 2008 @ 21:06:21
I am intrigued to know EXACTLY how they are going to accomplish this 'happy lesson'. They should probably start with a DEFINITION! Will they be tempering this state of ecstasy with one of sadness, so that they can appreciate the difference? More importantly, will they show them how to DEAL with both emotions? Good and bad, can't have one without the other. Personally, I think this is a BAD idea for allegedly GOOD reasons. 'They' should not do this as frankly I think it's a bit scary!!
- - tylluanpenry
  - Monday, 15. Sep, 2008 @ 09:06:26
  I suspect too, that good intentions won't be enough to raise this idea to anything workable. We need balance in our lives, yes, but to achieve this (and appreciate it) we have to experience ups and downs too!
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- Sherrie (Visitor)
- http://www.sherrie.wordpress.com
- Thursday, 11. Sep, 2008 @ 16:38:09
I just wrote a blog on the 5 Keys to Love and Happiness. There is a lot of research being done around the world that supports the fact that people are just not happy as much as they used to be. The schools are trying to change that.

In my opinion, it all goes back to positive self esteem and success. If one is busy and successful at one's various interests in life, then a person is generally quite happy!

Hugs to you my dear green woman!
- - tylluanpenry
  - Monday, 15. Sep, 2008 @ 09:08:53
  Thanks for visiting my blog and posting here. I must admit I've known a number of materially 'successful' people who have been actually quite miserable in certain areas of their lives. I think that life requires effort in order to appreciate it properly.
  
  Please do feel free to return again to visit here!
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