BlueHeronDruid wrote: 

If kurtster really wants to have a serious discussion, this sort of indicates where he needs to start.  What does he mean by happiness?  What do most people understand "happiness" to be? 

Is happiness the state of having a certain level of endorphins or dopamine, serotonin, or oxytocin in your brain?

Am I happy if I don't feel euphoric?

Am I happy if I have an absence of  anxiety and stress in my life?

Is complacency happiness?  Sometimes being complacent might not be the most desirable mental state, especially if it is keeping me from perceiving something potentially harmful or dangerous.  If the so-called war on happiness involves taking on dangerous compacency, sign me up, soldier.

 kurtster wrote: 
And a weight lifted off my shoulders. An ordinary moment that I will never forget.

 hippiechick wrote: 
Are not Buddhist priests extremely well accomplished with life skills and recognized for their achievements by reaching the level of priest ?  While they may not take pride in their levels of accomplishment, it is a profound source of their inner peace, is it not ?

 buzz wrote: 
Hey mister that's her story.

 hippiechick wrote: 
In relation to the title of this thread, how's that working out for you?

 hippiechick wrote: 
What makes you think you know my realm of understanding?

If your happiness depends on what somebody else does, I guess you do have a problem.

~ Richard Bach

 buzz wrote: 
This is beyond your realm of understanding. There is no need for accomplishment. You are not what you do, you are who you are. 

Studying Buddhist concepts or reading Eckhart Tolle would help you understand these ideas better.

 kurtster wrote: 
ego

 ErikX wrote: 

We still have a long way to go before we get to this part of the discussion.

We're still defining the devolutionary phase of this discussion.

Patience.

 oldslabsides wrote: 

 
nobody here want to know about that 

 
 
That's life, that's what people say. 
You're riding high in April, 
Shot down in May. 
But I know I'm gonna change their tune, 
When I'm right back on top in June. 

That's life, funny as it seems. 
Some people get their kicks, 
Steppin' on dreams
But I just can't let it get me down, 
Cause this big old world keeps spinnin' around. 

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, 
A poet, a pawn and a king. 
I've been up and down and over and out 
But I know one thing: 
Each time I find myself flat on my face, 
I pick myself up and get back in the race. 

That's life, I can't deny it, 
I thought of quitting, 
But my heart just won't buy it. 
Cause if I didn't think it was worth a try, 
I'd have to roll myself up in a big ball and die.
 
 
 
 

 buzz wrote: 
what do you know of my wood?

 oldslabsides wrote: 
Classic buzz kill.

 BlueHeronDruid wrote: 

  Pretty cool, sounds like a moment of some serious sweet lucidity.

 kurtster wrote: 
You do realize that some were born on 3rd base and others never get a chance to even bat dont you? This is especially true in America where the wealth gap is at an all-time high.

Its like having a one mile race where some people (like the 1%)  get a 3 lap head start. 

 oldslabsides wrote: 
your story

 buzz wrote: 
party pooper

 hippiechick wrote: 
If people were to simply accept what is, there would be no accomplishment, either on a societal level or on a on personal level

 hippiechick wrote: 
How about the recognition of being self sufficient and independently able to survive on your own abilities and skills ?  That to me would bring about a lifetime of happiness.