In just one day of living in NYC you may see:
A mass of people swaying awkwardly around a drum corps
A dealer not so subtly offer you drugs
A piano in the middle of the park
A homeless man curled up on a bench for an afternoon nap
A 99¢ pizza place
A ghetto bootie that does not belong to a female
A strap-on on and fake boobs on a manequin
A pigeon flitting fearlessly a foot away from your face
A jazz combo playing Afro Blue on the walkway
A huddle of theater kids dancing inappropriately to the music in the air
A few same-sex couples walking happily together unimpeded
A pair of kids practicing Capoeira on a raised platform
A line at Starbucks wrapping three times around the interior of the store
A little person not sanctioned by the university shouting at passersby as if he were traffic control
A quartet of semi-intoxicated friends (two guys, two girls) converge on a single point in the air to make out. All at once. Like literally four set of lips interacting inclusively.
A Broadway star buying a meal at the same chicken joint as you
A beautiful purple sky created by smog and light pollution
A high skyline blinking with bright lights, the biggest reminder that you're in one of the greatest cities on Earth- a city so steeped in history, so full of energy, so industrial and yet so beautiful.
Enjoying his bite of the Big Apple,
Jamin
Friday, September 16, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Another National Anthem
9/11
A day that will be emblazoned into this generation's brains like the Kennedy assassination and the Atom Bomb dropping were seared into generations previous. A day that changed the character of the past decade. A day in which many were disavowed of the notion that America was eternally and completely "the land of the free": that being here meant you were safe from the outside world. A day we look back on in remembrance, reverence, and caution. Ladies and gentlemen, on a day like today so steeped in history, so pungent with loss, it is important to not let ourselves become stagnant.
Ten years ago, our country suffered a great loss. We lost innocent men and women and symbols of our strength. Now, although these monuments are resurrected, we can never recover our valuable citizenry or the notion that we are somehow unlike everyone else- vulnerable. But instead of being defeated by these wounds, we can let them make us stronger. A loss of innocence doesn't just have to be a calamity: it can awaken you to the totality of life.
So, ten years after that horrible day, I urge you to take a good look at the world around you and the life you lead. While I will never condone the use of terrorism or think a nation deserves to suffer so terribly, the current state of the world and particularly our foreign affairs is a direct result of our nation's own decisions. Whatever you believe politically, I urge you now to not just let 9/11 be a bad memory. I urge you to let it galvanize your deepest potential as a thinker, worker, human being. What you choose to do with your released potential is up to you but that day shadowed some of the very things that made our nation great, and this day can be the turning point in which we recover it. If we want to truly honor those lost, what we can do is choose to uphold the national identity that makes us who we are. We can be strong, resilient, productive, and free.
A day that will be emblazoned into this generation's brains like the Kennedy assassination and the Atom Bomb dropping were seared into generations previous. A day that changed the character of the past decade. A day in which many were disavowed of the notion that America was eternally and completely "the land of the free": that being here meant you were safe from the outside world. A day we look back on in remembrance, reverence, and caution. Ladies and gentlemen, on a day like today so steeped in history, so pungent with loss, it is important to not let ourselves become stagnant.
Ten years ago, our country suffered a great loss. We lost innocent men and women and symbols of our strength. Now, although these monuments are resurrected, we can never recover our valuable citizenry or the notion that we are somehow unlike everyone else- vulnerable. But instead of being defeated by these wounds, we can let them make us stronger. A loss of innocence doesn't just have to be a calamity: it can awaken you to the totality of life.
So, ten years after that horrible day, I urge you to take a good look at the world around you and the life you lead. While I will never condone the use of terrorism or think a nation deserves to suffer so terribly, the current state of the world and particularly our foreign affairs is a direct result of our nation's own decisions. Whatever you believe politically, I urge you now to not just let 9/11 be a bad memory. I urge you to let it galvanize your deepest potential as a thinker, worker, human being. What you choose to do with your released potential is up to you but that day shadowed some of the very things that made our nation great, and this day can be the turning point in which we recover it. If we want to truly honor those lost, what we can do is choose to uphold the national identity that makes us who we are. We can be strong, resilient, productive, and free.
Monday, September 5, 2011
NYC!!! I'm HERE
If you can find me, I'M HEEEEEEEEEERE!!! Hello friends, family, neighbors, random people in Malaysia (Yes, I do have an international following, albeit a small one)! I haven't written all summer, but I will blog about it soon. Today, I just want to share with you my first week at NYU! It has been so fun. It feels like I've lived two months in a week. I don't remember exactly what happened when so this timeline may be inaccurate. Whatever. I just want to tell you what happened. Here we go!
Sunday- The original move in day was postponed due to the hurricane. Instead, my mom, grandma and I hauled up in our hotel watching movies. We did manage to snap some photos of deserted intersections and closed-down shops, but because the city was still in flux, it was a mostly uneventful day.
Monday- Move in! Lugging all my possessions around makes me want to run away to a Buddhist temple and give up on materialism. Just kidding, but it was still a challenge to move 4 suitcases up to the 14th floor and then aid my room mate, Nick, accomplish the same feat. After traversing 14 flights with luggage, we decided it was not unreasonable to climb them without at least once a day as an exercise in fitness and wellness.
After getting unpacked and making one last convenience item trip to Bed Bath & Beyond, I met up with some friends for the evening. A few hours of aimless trekking later we ran a gauntlet of Welcome Week High Fives from the student staff into the Skirball Center for Performing to catch Hypnotist Michael C. Anthony. Given the spontaneity, I had no idea what to expect. What I got was the most I've ever laughed in the space of an hour ever in my life. Highlights: People dropping to the floor in a dreary sleep upon contact with the hypnotist, a row of men experiencing the miracle of birth (or rather the pain of it), the extermination of the number six, sexy poses on a beach, the hero who saved his fellow hypnotics from a snake belt, a boy who cried a little too much and a sassy Bobby rechristened Cha-Cha. Hysterical? Yes. Real? Steph doubts it. Who cares? No one really as long as people embarrass themselves.
Wednesday- The freshmen had vocal diagnostics to pair us with voice teachers and get the faculty familiar with us. Unfortunately we were not allowed to watch each other so later in the week a reasonable amount of facebook video-stalking ensued.
Thursday- Throughout the morning we met with the program head to receive the results of our diagnostic. Besides getting our voice teacher assignments, us classmates bonded in the hall. It was the first time some of us had seen each other outside of facebook so naturally we freaked out at the sight of real people. Not really what happened, but you get the idea. Later that night we had a mixer with the ENTIRE program and I happily found them to be just as friendly and awesome as my class. The cast of Sweet Smell of Success even performed a preview for us to give us a taste of exactly the kind of work we'd be doing here. After the formal mixer it was off to a party where the socializing continued more freely but with less air-conditioning. I guess, if you can make friends with someone in a crowded room hemorrhaging with sweat, you can make friends anywhere.
Friday- My room mate, Nick, and I went to a jazz restaurant to hear some live music and eat some very overpriced salad. After, some friends convened in Steph and Nik's room for hours of rambunctious laughter. It wasn't this night but I know we capped our late-night-conversation time at 5:00 am at some point.
Saturday- Movie night at Kaylee's! A revolving door of attendants watched Little Miss Sunshine and were then privy to a private concert courtesy of Nik and Steph, two very fierce singer/songwriter performers. It's nice to hear random music in Washington Square Park, but it's even better to hear your friends.
Sunday- While riding with Steph on the subway up to the theater district, I spotted Andrew Ranells from the Book of Mormon. Exciting but bound to happen in this city. We get off and run into the Brazil Day festival. This creates a decent amount of road obstacles which delay us from arriving at the Catch Me If You Can box office to attempt student rush. Shrugging it off, we play the Book of Mormon lottery. I WIN!!! Steph texts fellow program buds reporting the news. Among the responses were "F***er!!!!", "F*** You!!!", and "I hate you!!". We eat at a grocery store. We see Book of Mormon. We laugh. A lot. Lanz makes me briefly ponder the odd coincidence that I saw Andrew Rannells the same day I won Book of Mormon tickets. We have a discourse on the inalienability of human rights, female mutilation and moral obligations in a global community. We meet up with some friends, John, Juliet, Nik, Brian, and "Room mate" legally named Nick. (Not to be confused with my room mate Nick. This Nick is John's room mate.) We eat at a diner. Steph and Nik unsuccessfully attempt to get Netflix to work. We bask in the glow of the day anyway.
This brings me to today where I went to a BBQ secretly organized by a Christian group on campus. Word of advice, if you're trying to recruit people for anything don't make them angry by walking them to a distant location at lunchtime when they're expecting food and make them wait for 2 hours only to receive pizza instead. As payback I filled out my survey with an alias but gave them enough real information to try and hunt down a nonexistent Jarome Speizer for a while. After that, I skyped with my parents, then my good friend Liz and shared it all with you!
This week has been so amazing. You know it must have been because normally I would try to think of a spicier word than amazing to describe my feelings. I've met some wonderful people, had great conversations, experienced a little of the city, and got super pumped for beginning actual classes.
The Adventure Will Continue,
Jamin
Sunday- The original move in day was postponed due to the hurricane. Instead, my mom, grandma and I hauled up in our hotel watching movies. We did manage to snap some photos of deserted intersections and closed-down shops, but because the city was still in flux, it was a mostly uneventful day.
Monday- Move in! Lugging all my possessions around makes me want to run away to a Buddhist temple and give up on materialism. Just kidding, but it was still a challenge to move 4 suitcases up to the 14th floor and then aid my room mate, Nick, accomplish the same feat. After traversing 14 flights with luggage, we decided it was not unreasonable to climb them without at least once a day as an exercise in fitness and wellness.
After getting unpacked and making one last convenience item trip to Bed Bath & Beyond, I met up with some friends for the evening. A few hours of aimless trekking later we ran a gauntlet of Welcome Week High Fives from the student staff into the Skirball Center for Performing to catch Hypnotist Michael C. Anthony. Given the spontaneity, I had no idea what to expect. What I got was the most I've ever laughed in the space of an hour ever in my life. Highlights: People dropping to the floor in a dreary sleep upon contact with the hypnotist, a row of men experiencing the miracle of birth (or rather the pain of it), the extermination of the number six, sexy poses on a beach, the hero who saved his fellow hypnotics from a snake belt, a boy who cried a little too much and a sassy Bobby rechristened Cha-Cha. Hysterical? Yes. Real? Steph doubts it. Who cares? No one really as long as people embarrass themselves.
Wednesday- The freshmen had vocal diagnostics to pair us with voice teachers and get the faculty familiar with us. Unfortunately we were not allowed to watch each other so later in the week a reasonable amount of facebook video-stalking ensued.
Thursday- Throughout the morning we met with the program head to receive the results of our diagnostic. Besides getting our voice teacher assignments, us classmates bonded in the hall. It was the first time some of us had seen each other outside of facebook so naturally we freaked out at the sight of real people. Not really what happened, but you get the idea. Later that night we had a mixer with the ENTIRE program and I happily found them to be just as friendly and awesome as my class. The cast of Sweet Smell of Success even performed a preview for us to give us a taste of exactly the kind of work we'd be doing here. After the formal mixer it was off to a party where the socializing continued more freely but with less air-conditioning. I guess, if you can make friends with someone in a crowded room hemorrhaging with sweat, you can make friends anywhere.
Friday- My room mate, Nick, and I went to a jazz restaurant to hear some live music and eat some very overpriced salad. After, some friends convened in Steph and Nik's room for hours of rambunctious laughter. It wasn't this night but I know we capped our late-night-conversation time at 5:00 am at some point.
Saturday- Movie night at Kaylee's! A revolving door of attendants watched Little Miss Sunshine and were then privy to a private concert courtesy of Nik and Steph, two very fierce singer/songwriter performers. It's nice to hear random music in Washington Square Park, but it's even better to hear your friends.
Sunday- While riding with Steph on the subway up to the theater district, I spotted Andrew Ranells from the Book of Mormon. Exciting but bound to happen in this city. We get off and run into the Brazil Day festival. This creates a decent amount of road obstacles which delay us from arriving at the Catch Me If You Can box office to attempt student rush. Shrugging it off, we play the Book of Mormon lottery. I WIN!!! Steph texts fellow program buds reporting the news. Among the responses were "F***er!!!!", "F*** You!!!", and "I hate you!!". We eat at a grocery store. We see Book of Mormon. We laugh. A lot. Lanz makes me briefly ponder the odd coincidence that I saw Andrew Rannells the same day I won Book of Mormon tickets. We have a discourse on the inalienability of human rights, female mutilation and moral obligations in a global community. We meet up with some friends, John, Juliet, Nik, Brian, and "Room mate" legally named Nick. (Not to be confused with my room mate Nick. This Nick is John's room mate.) We eat at a diner. Steph and Nik unsuccessfully attempt to get Netflix to work. We bask in the glow of the day anyway.
This brings me to today where I went to a BBQ secretly organized by a Christian group on campus. Word of advice, if you're trying to recruit people for anything don't make them angry by walking them to a distant location at lunchtime when they're expecting food and make them wait for 2 hours only to receive pizza instead. As payback I filled out my survey with an alias but gave them enough real information to try and hunt down a nonexistent Jarome Speizer for a while. After that, I skyped with my parents, then my good friend Liz and shared it all with you!
This week has been so amazing. You know it must have been because normally I would try to think of a spicier word than amazing to describe my feelings. I've met some wonderful people, had great conversations, experienced a little of the city, and got super pumped for beginning actual classes.
The Adventure Will Continue,
Jamin
Friday, June 10, 2011
Adultolescence
Today, according to U.S. law, I am an adult. A few days ago I was hired at a grocery store but couldn't sign some paperwork because I was underage. So today, I went in to officially become an employee and sign away a few liberties while I was at it. As most people feel at this age, I feel a vague sense of psychological renewal but mostly an ambiguous blot of development. My new boss told me that I could now sign the papers because I am "of my own mind". So, today is as good as any to impart to you my thoughts on the transition to adulthood.
In regards to my boss' comment (which was meant jokingly not demeaningly), mentally I feel exactly the same. Obviously. It's only been a few hours since my last conscious interaction with the world. It's not like I was suddenly thrown out on the street, forced to find an apprenticeship or else beg for food and lodging. My day today and the next few months will be the same as they always have been.
The truth is, being an adult to me is more than assuming the major responsibilities that naturally come with continued life. Everyone has to pay taxes, most people have to work for a living and anyone can make a baby. For a lot of people the responsibiltiies of finance and childcare are simply thrust upon them. For these kinds of people, life is lived rather begrdugingly. No, despite my aunt's retort "you'll change your mind when you start paying taxes!" adulthood for me is more than workforce subservience and childrearing.
My criteria for an adult are temperament and ethical duty. I believe an adult is someone who has a realistic sense of their place in the world, aspirationally and relationally. They should know about how achievable their ideal self actually is and who is emotionally important to them. If you are assured of these two things, you should be able to take life in stride. My second criterion means you should uphold a moral code of conduct. This is to preserve your own integrity and happiness and that of your greater community. For my personal ethic, I think this conduct should include a continued accrument of knowledge and active participation in the government. These tasks prevent stagnation, keeping you a relevant and involved citizen. After all, if you sympathize with my aunt and paying into the government constitutes being an adult, you might as well actually use your right to vote which I consider the main privilege of adult life.
None of this will happen over night. I think most people are ill-groomed to perform the duties I consider quintessential to maturity. Most of the people I encounter are in a state of prolonged adolescence, still trying to fill self esteem needs. Particularly in America this is a sociological trend. Our culture promotes infantilism so products are cross generational and consumerism can flourish. In addition, our improved quality of life has created a general sense of entitlement. Not to mention the failings of our education system which is supposed to create an intellectually vibrant citizenry but currently has less influence on our intellectual interests than youtube.
So, I will journey into the adult world and try to set the example I want to see. It won't be easy. Like I said, your hangups of 18 years won't go away over night. You're still essentially the person you were when you go to college. It's just a change of setting and responsibility. However, every day I will strive to be someone who expects more from himself than he does from the world.
Yours Truly,
Jamin
In regards to my boss' comment (which was meant jokingly not demeaningly), mentally I feel exactly the same. Obviously. It's only been a few hours since my last conscious interaction with the world. It's not like I was suddenly thrown out on the street, forced to find an apprenticeship or else beg for food and lodging. My day today and the next few months will be the same as they always have been.
The truth is, being an adult to me is more than assuming the major responsibilities that naturally come with continued life. Everyone has to pay taxes, most people have to work for a living and anyone can make a baby. For a lot of people the responsibiltiies of finance and childcare are simply thrust upon them. For these kinds of people, life is lived rather begrdugingly. No, despite my aunt's retort "you'll change your mind when you start paying taxes!" adulthood for me is more than workforce subservience and childrearing.
My criteria for an adult are temperament and ethical duty. I believe an adult is someone who has a realistic sense of their place in the world, aspirationally and relationally. They should know about how achievable their ideal self actually is and who is emotionally important to them. If you are assured of these two things, you should be able to take life in stride. My second criterion means you should uphold a moral code of conduct. This is to preserve your own integrity and happiness and that of your greater community. For my personal ethic, I think this conduct should include a continued accrument of knowledge and active participation in the government. These tasks prevent stagnation, keeping you a relevant and involved citizen. After all, if you sympathize with my aunt and paying into the government constitutes being an adult, you might as well actually use your right to vote which I consider the main privilege of adult life.
None of this will happen over night. I think most people are ill-groomed to perform the duties I consider quintessential to maturity. Most of the people I encounter are in a state of prolonged adolescence, still trying to fill self esteem needs. Particularly in America this is a sociological trend. Our culture promotes infantilism so products are cross generational and consumerism can flourish. In addition, our improved quality of life has created a general sense of entitlement. Not to mention the failings of our education system which is supposed to create an intellectually vibrant citizenry but currently has less influence on our intellectual interests than youtube.
So, I will journey into the adult world and try to set the example I want to see. It won't be easy. Like I said, your hangups of 18 years won't go away over night. You're still essentially the person you were when you go to college. It's just a change of setting and responsibility. However, every day I will strive to be someone who expects more from himself than he does from the world.
Yours Truly,
Jamin
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The World Has Ended...
Well, we're all still here. I wonder how the people who believed in the rapture are feeling right now. Probably full of existential angst. Or maybe forsaken because God didn't take them up to heaven with him. As many thorough readers of the Bible have pointed out, only God is supposed to know when the end of days is to happen. If you're like me, you think humanity is going to be its own extinction through one environmentally induced disaster or another. Along with us will die all notions of divinity. But it was nice to dream!
So now that you've survived an apocalypse, I hope you enjoy what remains of your life with a sweetened sense of purpose. For tips on wellness in my previous post, click here
Happy end times!
Jamin
So now that you've survived an apocalypse, I hope you enjoy what remains of your life with a sweetened sense of purpose. For tips on wellness in my previous post, click here
Happy end times!
Jamin
Monday, May 16, 2011
Terrorism...My Conversation Filler
Today I leave you with a really dry explanation of terrorism and various problems with defining and pinpointing it as a national threat. I've been wanting to post for a while now but couldn't think of anything so today you just get a republished paper from one of my politcal science classes. Lucky you.
There are a few problems with defining terrorism. In the vernacular it has become misconstrued by emotional ties to recent terrorist activity. A more objective definition of terrorism is: a method by which nongovernmental actors use violence to achieve political ends by inspiring fear of further violence. Even excluding popular input, this definition raises issues. The first issue is recognizing that terrorism is a method not a political ideology. A clear distinction can be made when examining who employs terrorism. Terrorism can be used by groups anywhere, "For example, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) bombed innocent civilians in British cities to raise the cost of British control of Northern Ireland. Al Qaeda commits its attacks in order to raise the cost of various policies it opposes" (D'Anieri 228). It is clear terrorism is a method because it transcends nationalities; however that doesn't mean there's not a particular type of international player that uses it. The second issue with defining it is distinguishing terrorists’ actions from other uses of violence. D'Anieri states that "it is important not only what is done and to whom, but by whom it is done" (228). States are not considered "terrorists" if they bomb another country because "only states can use force legitimately, in the generally accepted view" (D'Anieri 229). The reason for this is that states are supposed to govern public matters and have deterrents like public welfare and values. Terrorists are private players taking part in public matters and cannot be deterred the same way.
While there are many theorized causes to terrorism, none of them can be definitively proven. One explanation for terrorism is rational choice theory, in which the terrorist is left with no other option and terrorism is the only rational way to achieve their desired end. However, Islamic extremist groups that employ terrorism to establish a region-wide Islamic government don't fit this criterion. D'Anieri states "it does not appear useful in achieving positive goods such as control of a territory or of a government" (232). Poverty is offered as another explanation because poverty stricken people may be more willing to adopt extreme beliefs and a desire to overthrow the current system. There is, however, no direct link between the two since "a significant number of terrorists come from relatively wealthy backgrounds" (D'Anieri 233). This includes Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden who came from a family of millionaires. Finally, some think Islam is the source of terrorism because of beliefs like jihad, or holy war, which are used to justify terrorist actions. This is a really faulty explanation for a few reasons. One, jihad is not a widespread belief. Two, other extremists have used religious justification for their actions. For example "Hindu hardliners in India and Jewish extremists in Israel make similar claims, as did Christian Crusaders for centuries" (D'Anieri 234). Lastly, "much terrorism throughout history has not been religiously motivated" (D'Anieri 234). It was only recently that Islam came to the forefront. Other extremist actions throughout history have been fueled by nationalism and whatever was popular at the time. There is really no clear cause of terrorism yet.
For next time, would you rather have an essay on how to dissect literature or Osama Bin Laden? I was thinking the latter but I'm pretty sure we're all tired of hearing about his death the possible political significance of it.
Blah,
Jamin
There are a few problems with defining terrorism. In the vernacular it has become misconstrued by emotional ties to recent terrorist activity. A more objective definition of terrorism is: a method by which nongovernmental actors use violence to achieve political ends by inspiring fear of further violence. Even excluding popular input, this definition raises issues. The first issue is recognizing that terrorism is a method not a political ideology. A clear distinction can be made when examining who employs terrorism. Terrorism can be used by groups anywhere, "For example, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) bombed innocent civilians in British cities to raise the cost of British control of Northern Ireland. Al Qaeda commits its attacks in order to raise the cost of various policies it opposes" (D'Anieri 228). It is clear terrorism is a method because it transcends nationalities; however that doesn't mean there's not a particular type of international player that uses it. The second issue with defining it is distinguishing terrorists’ actions from other uses of violence. D'Anieri states that "it is important not only what is done and to whom, but by whom it is done" (228). States are not considered "terrorists" if they bomb another country because "only states can use force legitimately, in the generally accepted view" (D'Anieri 229). The reason for this is that states are supposed to govern public matters and have deterrents like public welfare and values. Terrorists are private players taking part in public matters and cannot be deterred the same way.
While there are many theorized causes to terrorism, none of them can be definitively proven. One explanation for terrorism is rational choice theory, in which the terrorist is left with no other option and terrorism is the only rational way to achieve their desired end. However, Islamic extremist groups that employ terrorism to establish a region-wide Islamic government don't fit this criterion. D'Anieri states "it does not appear useful in achieving positive goods such as control of a territory or of a government" (232). Poverty is offered as another explanation because poverty stricken people may be more willing to adopt extreme beliefs and a desire to overthrow the current system. There is, however, no direct link between the two since "a significant number of terrorists come from relatively wealthy backgrounds" (D'Anieri 233). This includes Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden who came from a family of millionaires. Finally, some think Islam is the source of terrorism because of beliefs like jihad, or holy war, which are used to justify terrorist actions. This is a really faulty explanation for a few reasons. One, jihad is not a widespread belief. Two, other extremists have used religious justification for their actions. For example "Hindu hardliners in India and Jewish extremists in Israel make similar claims, as did Christian Crusaders for centuries" (D'Anieri 234). Lastly, "much terrorism throughout history has not been religiously motivated" (D'Anieri 234). It was only recently that Islam came to the forefront. Other extremist actions throughout history have been fueled by nationalism and whatever was popular at the time. There is really no clear cause of terrorism yet.
For next time, would you rather have an essay on how to dissect literature or Osama Bin Laden? I was thinking the latter but I'm pretty sure we're all tired of hearing about his death the possible political significance of it.
Blah,
Jamin
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Goodness Flows From You Like A Fountain
Today my friends I wish to celebrate the goodness of life.
Sometimes, you just have so much to be thankful for you can't help but walk around with an aura of sickening glee. But it's not an unusual frequency of those rare times that make a happy person. After all, you can't really count on things working out in your favor. The goodness of your life isn't measured in the blessings you receive, but rather in the happiness you find in yourself and the life you have.
So make a resolution today, and tomorrow, and the next day to just be happy. Smiling often helps. Your body doesn't know the difference between fake stimulants and real ones. That's how Mormonism works I think...they smile so much and watch so many joyous, Disneyfied-version-of-reality movies that they can't help but be happy! More seriously, most of them have a daily practice of grateful revelling, whether it be at seminary, church, youth group, or family night. This simple daily reminder of what's important to them as people, I think, makes all the difference in the world.
If it helps you, make a "daily bible". It doesn't have to be fancy- just a list of things that make you warm inside and thankful you have a life at all. Most people don't achieve their life's ambitions or amass great wealth or have an unnaturally cheery disposition. And even if someone does get granted all the things that are supposed to make them happy, the happiness is then contingent on the continued prescence of those things.
As they say, "do something for yourself", but don't go out and indulge in that chocolate cake you've been craving all week. Instead, let your brain give your body a chemical uplift. Meditate on why you like living. Bring purpose to your life. Give YOURSELF happiness. The most beautiful thing is you get to decide for yourself. All the pain and ambiguity in the world is there so you can make something personally meaningful out of it...which may just be a chocolate cake at the end of the week.
Happily Yours,
Jamin
Sometimes, you just have so much to be thankful for you can't help but walk around with an aura of sickening glee. But it's not an unusual frequency of those rare times that make a happy person. After all, you can't really count on things working out in your favor. The goodness of your life isn't measured in the blessings you receive, but rather in the happiness you find in yourself and the life you have.
So make a resolution today, and tomorrow, and the next day to just be happy. Smiling often helps. Your body doesn't know the difference between fake stimulants and real ones. That's how Mormonism works I think...they smile so much and watch so many joyous, Disneyfied-version-of-reality movies that they can't help but be happy! More seriously, most of them have a daily practice of grateful revelling, whether it be at seminary, church, youth group, or family night. This simple daily reminder of what's important to them as people, I think, makes all the difference in the world.
If it helps you, make a "daily bible". It doesn't have to be fancy- just a list of things that make you warm inside and thankful you have a life at all. Most people don't achieve their life's ambitions or amass great wealth or have an unnaturally cheery disposition. And even if someone does get granted all the things that are supposed to make them happy, the happiness is then contingent on the continued prescence of those things.
As they say, "do something for yourself", but don't go out and indulge in that chocolate cake you've been craving all week. Instead, let your brain give your body a chemical uplift. Meditate on why you like living. Bring purpose to your life. Give YOURSELF happiness. The most beautiful thing is you get to decide for yourself. All the pain and ambiguity in the world is there so you can make something personally meaningful out of it...which may just be a chocolate cake at the end of the week.
Happily Yours,
Jamin
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