Do you enjoy life

Candyshell

Candyshell wrote: »

I never said there wasn't more to life, in fact the very question I'm asking is whether life would be worth it assuming those conditions.

In living in China, I've known some families who have lived through abject poverty. No support services of any kind for them, and their lives are truly difficult. Most don't live past the age of 30-40, and can't expect their children to have lives any better than them.

And yet, they make do with what life has thrown to them. Happiness is more than wealth. It's something that tends to be forgotten once countries become richer. They forget the joys of close communities, the importance of family, etc. It's a hard life, but in many ways, they appreciate what they have more than most who live much "easier" lives.

Candyshell

[Deleted User] wrote: »

In living in China, I've known some families who have lived through abject poverty. No support services of any kind for them, and their lives are truly difficult. Most don't live past the age of 30-40, and can't expect their children to have lives any better than them.

And yet, they make do with what life has thrown to them. Happiness is more than wealth. It's something that tends to be forgotten once countries become richer. They forget the joys of close communities, the importance of family, etc. It's a hard life, but in many ways, they appreciate what they have more than most who live much "easier" lives.

Ok, that's a good point but I never said any different.

From the studies I've read tribes people are among the happiest in the world. I think a significant percentage of first world people don't enjoy life. They live with a vague sense of waiting to start living or waiting for when they enjoy life. But it never comes.

notsoyoungwan

Pretzeluck wrote: »

Sorry but saying that you do not fear death sounds dishonest therefore I have dismissed the rest of your post. Everyone is afraid of death at one point or other.

Speak for yourself, please. Death holds no fear for me- why would it? I believe that after death there is nothing, which is not threatening to me. I’m not one of those people who fear dying and not leaving a mark on the world, I don’t have any desire to have children so I can live on in any way, that really doesn’t concern me.

There are existences and illnesses that I fear, such as motor neurone disease, Huntington’s disease, dementia, disabling stroke, severe head injury etc- death would be preferable to those for me.

Nothingness is not something I fear.

Sycamore Tree

A walk around a large graveyard is always good to give you a reality check. Our lives are fleeting and we need to make the most of it but not take it too seriously.

Sycamore Tree

I also believe there is nothing after death.

notsoyoungwan

Candyshell wrote: »

I never said there wasn't more to life, in fact the very question I'm asking is whether life would be worth it assuming those conditions.

And I’m saying that no, I don’t believe that’s a risk I’d like to take. I could be born in the first world, perfectly healthy and end up murdered, or in a horrendous situation for any variety of reasons, use your imagination to think of a few.

So in your hypothetical scenario, if I could choose I would err on the side of caution, think of the risks and all potential scenarios etc and decide that for me, one go on the planet is enough.

You’ll possibly come back and move the goalposts now in your attempt to prove that those who wouldn’t choose to live again are therefore not happy with life, and if you do I won’t bother engaging any further with you. I’m enjoying my life too much to waste some of it indulging a stranger on the internet!

Candyshell

notsoyoungwan wrote: »

And I’m saying that no, I don’t believe that’s a risk I’d like to take. I could be born in the first world, perfectly healthy and end up murdered, or in a horrendous situation for any variety of reasons, use your imagination to think of a few.

So in your hypothetical scenario, if I could choose I would err on the side of caution, think of the risks and all potential scenarios etc and decide that for me, one go on the planet is enough.

You’ll possibly come back and move the goalposts now in your attempt to prove that those who wouldn’t choose to live again are therefore not happy with life, and if you do I won’t bother engaging any further with you. I’m enjoying my life too much to waste some of it indulging a stranger on the internet!

Ok enjoy your one go on the planet, sounds risky though

Roger Hassenforder

Pretzeluck wrote: »

Sorry but saying that you do not fear death sounds dishonest therefore I have dismissed the rest of your post. Everyone is afraid of death at one point or other.

Were you afraid before you were born?

hank scorpio89

Can't say I do myself.Had a ****e life so far parents are dead don't have a great relationship with family.All of my friends have good jobs and are moving on in life kids houses etc.Never been in a real relationship no job and I'm basically an alcoholic.I should probably stop drinking but yeno ...I don't want to! its basically my only joy 😕.I also have no desire to make life better and I'm too much of a wimp to top myself.So no I don't enjoy it if I could snap my fingers and dissappear I would.

EltonJohn69

I think if I drank less I would be happier

Feisar

Are we not designed to chuck spears at mammoths, live in caves and die at 30?

I don't think our minds can handle our comparatively easy life.

sbsquarepants

EltonJohn69 wrote: »

I think if I drank less I would be happier

Give it a try so, see how it goes?

I used to drink like a fish and consume an awful lot of drugs, I wasn't an alco or an addict, more of a party animal, but the problem with me was I was like that plan b song "I always stay too long, long enough for something to go wrong"

Slowly it dawned on me that I wasn't really enjoying myself too much anymore and I'd probably be happier if I stopped......so I did......and I was.

If you feel like you'd be better off drinking less, you'd be better off drinking less - don't argue with yourself, go home, you're drunk:D

Candyshell

Feisar wrote: »

Are we not designed to chuck spears at mammoths, live in caves and die at 30?

I don't think our minds can handle our comparatively easy life.

In ways it's easier, in other ways it's more difficult. Yes we have easy access to food, medicine and shelter but we work 40 hours plus a week, and that's before housework.

From what I've read, hunter gatherers only worked a few hours per day and rested or socialised for the rest of the day. The worries about planning and the future were not there like today, they were much more focused on today and the present moment. Depression or other related mental illnesses were almost unheard of.

Wibbs

Candyshell wrote: »

From what I've read, hunter gatherers only worked a few hours per day and rested or socialised for the rest of the day. The worries about planning and the future were not there like today, they were much more focused on today and the present moment. Depression or other related mental illnesses were almost unheard of.

Seems to be the case with people living hunter gatherer lifestyles today. Mental illnesses like schizophrenia occur at the same rate as anywhere else(that's a condition that is more physical and can be seen in brain scans), but levels of anxiety and depression are far lower. Conditions like social anxiety are almost unknown. And their lives have their own stresses, sometimes terrible ones. Their childhood mortality rates are far higher than in the West for a start. That's what impacts their longevity statistics. Those who make it to adulthood can see 60, 70, even 80 years old. They're not pegging it at 30. They're generally healthier too. Rates of heart disease are significantly lower and type 2 diabetes is almost unknown.

Bitches Be Trypsin

Not right now but hopefully some day things will change.

indioblack

It's about balance - or so the experts say.
Probably where I went wrong!
I'm reminded of the scene in the film, "The Family Way" where the older man, [John Mills], says to the young man, [Hywell Bennett], "Life makes you laugh now - but, one day, it'll make you bloody cry".

Galwayguy35

I sure do, no point being the richest man in the graveyard.

Roger Hassenforder

Prominent_Dawg wrote: »

I’m content.. I have my family, they have their health, as do I.. I like to think I will be as long as I’m lucky enough to have that!

contentedness.. or an absence of want.
I think its the true secret to a happy life.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Generally yes, in between bouts of depression, don't really enjoy it then, kinda the whole deal with that.

But yes I do. I don't know about coming back for another go, but that's more to do with the sense one gets these last few years that we're metaphorically on the last plane out of Saigon :pac:

Austria!

Nah. I'm a naturally happy person, but my life is a joke. No romantic prospects or any genuine goals, so all I can achieve is a job better than most of my peer group so they are jealous, but bizarrely I don't have a good job like that and now I have the guilt of wasting all my potential on top of everything. Would prefer to be dead, but would upset my father if I were so have to keep living.

EltonJohn69

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Give it a try so, see how it goes?

I used to drink like a fish and consume an awful lot of drugs, I wasn't an alco or an addict, more of a party animal, but the problem with me was I was like that plan b song "I always stay too long, long enough for something to go wrong"

Slowly it dawned on me that I wasn't really enjoying myself too much anymore and I'd probably be happier if I stopped......so I did......and I was.

If you feel like you'd be better off drinking less, you'd be better off drinking less - don't argue with yourself, go home, you're drunk:D

The problem is that I feel good when i drink... it washes away all the anxiety... but then the anxiety returns like a big wave of bad energy the next day... and I end up sleeping bizarre hours
Maybe it’s all about moderation.....those first few beers are always the best...

chrissb8

Absolutely loving life right now. Moved away and took a couple of risks in the process. That is, making a long distance relationship a short distance one (same city now). Coming over with no job and then there were a tumultuous 2 months trying to find somewhere to live. All 3 have panned out very well and although I am broke after all the efforts until the next payday I have to say I'm proud of myself. I've been notorious for leaving things last minute and not giving things the attention and time they deserve.

Think alot has changed with me in the last few years in regards to my self awareness and getting to really know myself. Addressing issues of self confidence, learning that not everyone has to like you, not be concerned with what others are doing with their lives and just in general focusing on myself. 

Life can be stressful at times and it can be hard. I'm a big believer that hard times are needed though to make sure the good times are appreciated that much more, plus real growth comes from that sort of thing. I think we could all engage ourselves and life, a bit better in regards to what I've said about knowing yourself etc. at least then you can somewhat steer the ship and find the happiness that everyone craves. Alot of people want it too good. You can have it good just find out what "good" means to you. A semi D house with a family and car. A big bespoke built house with a high flying career. Just examples, but any option one takes has it's own efforts, time expenditure and realistic expectations of success. People need to suit their happiness in to a realistic grounded in reality framework and ask themselves what they really want and what effort they're willing to put in for it.

Candyshell

EltonJohn69 wrote: »

The problem is that I feel good when i drink... it washes away all the anxiety... but then the anxiety returns like a big wave of bad energy the next day... and I end up sleeping bizarre hours
Maybe it’s all about moderation.....those first few beers are always the best...

You should address the underlying anxiety, alcohol makes you feel worse outside of the instant benefit it gives you.

One other thing I'd say, when you feel anxiety or other uncomfortable emotions, don't resist the feelings. That just represses it, which causes problems like addiction or other means of distraction. Accept the anxiety, notice it, feel it's affect on your body. Slow down and focus on your breathing. Accept that it's ok to feel anxiety. When you resist it you feed it energy and make it worse.

sbsquarepants

EltonJohn69 wrote: »

The problem is that I feel good when i drink... it washes away all the anxiety... but then the anxiety returns like a big wave of bad energy the next day... and I end up sleeping bizarre hours
Maybe it’s all about moderation.....those first few beers are always the best...

Moderation is the key to life (so I'm told;)) I still drink most weekends

I was never anxious so I'm not sure what that's even like to be honest, but I reckon you should try something else to alleviate it, alcohol very likely won't help it at all. Try exercise or meditation or something. If you're going to get addicted to something, it might as well be something good for you:D

Save the scoops for having the craic every now and then!