Posted by raisinb on May 16, 2008, at 12:28:25
In reply to Re: This may be as good as it gets (Too long) » Dinah, posted by Happyflower on May 16, 2008, at 12:10:53
Hi Dinah,
I think it sounds as if you're in a wonderful place. I hear you wondering if you should be happier, as happy as others (however happy that may be? and who knows?). But I don't know that anyone is "happy" all the time, and I think striving for that is false. We all have random moments of transcendent joy, and we all fall into despair occasionally. But both positive and negative emotions pass; they aren't states of being.
What you are describing is a level of self-knowledge and comfort with yourself that goes far beyond an emotion like happiness, and I think that's ultimately so much more important.
According to E.M. Forster, "Most of life is so dull that there is nothing to be said about it. There are periods in the most thrilling day during which nothing happens, and though we continue to exclaim, 'I do enjoy myself,' or 'I am horrified,' we are insincere--'As far as I feel anything, it is enjoyment, horror'--it's no more than that, really." Another line I like is, "Adventures do occur, but not punctually."
I don't know if that relates, but I thought of these passages when I was reading your post.
poster:raisinb
thread:829446
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080508/msgs/829465.html