Are you happy with your life? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

08/18/2009 05:49:40 PM · #1

Originally posted by farfel53:

Originally posted by SteveJ:
Happy? Of course I'm happy. Had cancer 4 years ago, all clear so far. motherlee had cancer last year, so far all clear. We have 4 grown kids and 11 grandchildren. I have a Nikon and the boss gets hers as soon as they are available, it's all paid for.

Just found out from Nikon that I am now a member of The Professional User Scheme.

Yep, I'm happy!!

I can identify - when your life is threatened (cancer), you tend to start to see the important things a bit more clearly.
I am a 9 year cancer survivor, and I'd have to say the sweet is even sweeter.

Yep. I don't care about the mundane daily things anymore. We do what we want to do, no matter how daft it seems. If we want to sit on a freezing beach eating icecream, we do it. Work gets in the way of what we want to do, but we still have to have a wage coming in, but if I was offered a job that paid less, but suited my ideas of the life I want, then so be it. People get too tied up with material gains, instead of living their lives the way they want to.

mgsmith53

Pentax K-R

Pentax DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL

08/18/2009 05:32:37 PM · #2

Originally posted by SteveJ:

Happy? Of course I'm happy. Had cancer 4 years ago, all clear so far. motherlee had cancer last year, so far all clear. We have 4 grown kids and 11 grandchildren. I have a Nikon and the boss gets hers as soon as they are available, it's all paid for.

Just found out from Nikon that I am now a member of The Professional User Scheme.

Yep, I'm happy!!

I can identify - when your life is threatened (cancer), you tend to start to see the important things a bit more clearly.
I am a 9 year cancer survivor, and I'd have to say the sweet is even sweeter.

SteveJ

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

08/18/2009 05:02:31 PM · #3

Happy? Of course I'm happy. Had cancer 4 years ago, all clear so far.

motherlee had cancer last year, so far all clear. We have 4 grown kids and 11 grandchildren. I have a Nikon and the boss gets hers as soon as they are available, it's all paid for.

Just found out from Nikon that I am now a member of The Professional User Scheme.

Yep, I'm happy!!

leaf

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/18/2009 04:58:37 PM · #4

I think a job that i love is a big part of enjoying life. being a self employed photographer is great and I don't think i could ever go back to working for someone again. Having the freedom to decide my day and work how I want creates a 0 stress job that is very fun. the down side - i could handle being around more people in an average day... perhaps i need to work in a collective or something.

merchillio

Nikon D80

08/18/2009 03:50:41 PM · #5

Originally posted by farfel53:

It doesn't make sense at all. But as He says, "you will find me when you seek with all your heart." "...to the world, foolishness, but to them that believe, it is the power of salvation..."

I am still uncertain as to how to reconcile what I believe personally to be absolutes as to the nature and person of God, and how to accept that somebody elses absolutes can be diametrically opposed...

Originally posted by NikonJeb:

Yeah, you can take some book that your particular sect has as its gospel, but then it only works by denying the existence of the God that the guy on the other side of the world has. That whole concept of "My God's righter than yours" goes against eveything that I understand God to be......and for me, part of what is the Great Mystery is that perhaps God is Black, a Woman, and speaks languages I don't understand.

The great thing (and probably the GREATEST thing) about Him/Her/It, is that my absolute truth can ben the exact opposite of someone else's absolute truth, and yet, ther is absolutely no reason at all why we can't be both right at the same time.

I don't remember, bu someone once said "If I were God, I'd be really pissed at people each other in my name when all I ever asked was for them to love each other"

As for the original question, yes I'm happy. Of course I'd be more happy without my loaded student credit margin, but hey, I wanted to party and live like a king while working minimum wages, now I have to pay.

If you ask what make me happy specificaly today: I just received my Photographer bussiness cards (with a picture of my sexy best friend on it) and they are SENSATIONNAL! Can't wait to start handing them to people all over the place.

slickchik

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

08/18/2009 03:45:39 PM · #6

I have a wonderful husband but my life is causing me tremendous agony and grief.

Simms

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

08/18/2009 03:12:01 PM · #7

Originally posted by ralph:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by FireBird:
Bah. Happy, flappy. I have yet to hear from the undiputed king of happiness at DPC.

Speak! Guru of happiness!

The secret to my happiness:
1. Whiskey
2. Vagina
3. Pizza
4. Boobs

what ?! no beer?

He trumped the beer with the whiskey.

ralph

Nikon Z9

08/18/2009 02:43:53 PM · #8

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by FireBird:
Bah. Happy, flappy. I have yet to hear from the undiputed king of happiness at DPC.

Speak! Guru of happiness!

The secret to my happiness:
1. Whiskey
2. Vagina
3. Pizza
4. Boobs

what ?! no beer?

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

08/18/2009 02:19:27 PM · #9

Originally posted by FireBird:

Bah. Happy, flappy. I have yet to hear from the undiputed king of happiness at DPC.

Speak! Guru of happiness!

The secret to my happiness:
1. Whiskey
2. Vagina
3. Pizza
4. Boobs

aplomb76

Canon EOS-1D Mark IIn

Pentax DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL

08/18/2009 01:18:17 PM · #10

I start my new job tomorrow. I'll be so happy to have a paycheck again!

mgsmith53

Pentax K-R

08/18/2009 12:39:09 PM · #11

Jeb - I think you make that very fine distinction between "religion" that attempts to gather converts, and "God" who reaches out to his creation in love, quite nicely.

It doesn't make sense at all. But as He says, "you will find me when you seek with all your heart." "...to the world, foolishness, but to them that believe, it is the power of salvation..."

I am still uncertain as to how to reconcile what I believe personally to be absolutes as to the nature and person of God, and how to accept that somebody elses absolutes can be diametrically opposed...but after so many years and so many fruitless disagreements, I am learning, and am trying not to argue and stomp toes.

What makes me really happy is to know that I am loved and accepted and forgiven, by One, if not by any others at all. Some argue that self-acceptance is all that is needed. I struggled with that for half my life, and always came up short of even just my own ideals. Only when I saw myself as He saw me, and accepted His judgement did I begin to realize freedom and happiness.

Natural disasters are just part of nature. God doesn't cause them. There is suffering, but there is also tender care and compassion, and stretched out hands.

Darkness and evil is just the absence of light. He allows us our will, and sometimes it's just sin and depravity that comes out. Light is seen more clearly in contrast with darkness.

My wife makes me happy. We're not perfect, but we still generally click after 30 years. My son makes me proud. I am good at my job, and help turn the wheels of commerce in my community...better on Tuesday than on Monday HA!

Blue sky or rain, birds and flowers. Puzzles and problems to solve. Beauty all around.

And photography makes me happy, a lot. My own stuff may not do it for challenges some times, but by and large I like a lot of it, and lots of other people around me like it, too. Smiles and enjoyment by others makes photographs better.

Per yesterdays answer, no, I'm not "always" happy. But generally speaking, "Ain't Life Grand??!!"

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

08/18/2009 08:10:33 AM · #12

Originally posted by Simms:

Originally posted by smellyfish1002:

It is a difficult concept to understand if you have not experienced it. God is not a crutch, nor an excuse for bad things happening. My wife and I have worked extremely hard to have the successes we have had in our lives. We don't sit around watching tv, waiting for God to drop success or failure in our laps. We think, and we try, and we accomplish, and we live. What I am trying to explain is the freedom from fear and anxiety and stress from having a faith that is bigger than ourselves, bigger than our accomplishments, bigger than our failures, bigger than our goals and dreams... I don't know how to explain it other than this...

Man says "Show me and I will believe."
God says "Believe and I will show you."

Take a leap of faith and God will show you great things. Don't take that leap of faith and you will see someone else's faith as a weakness or a crutch. I'm ok with that, but I wish other's could experience what I have... Either way, thanks for participating in the conversation. Exchanging ideas is a good thing, but please do not see my faith as a crutch. It is far from that.

I don't see my faith as a weakness, nor as a crutch in any derogatory sense, but it's realistic, and not difficult, to understand why faith is perceived as such.

It's irrational, doesn't make sense, and in all too many cases, where it's shoved down your throat as the answer to anything and everything either inexplicable or uncomfortable, it *IS* a crutch. I struggled with faith and God for many years until I understood that it's a very personal matter. You cannot explain it to me, and you certainly cannot demonstrate to me how it works for the simple reason that until I have my own epiphany, reason, life altering exoperience, and/or awakening, it simply doesn't wash. Ultimately, the leap of faith has to be made by you, as a matter of choice, because if you cannot reconcile the whole threadbare nature of the idea within your own heart, it ain't gonna happen. And how can that be preached to someone else?

Yeah, you can take some book that your particular sect has as its gospel, but then it only works by denying the existence of the God that the guy on the other side of the world has. That whole concept of "My God's righter than yours" goes against eveything that I understand God to be......and for me, part of what is the Great Mystery is that perhaps God is Black, a Woman, and speaks languages I don't understand.

I just don't have the arrogance to assume that God is mine, and that She fits into any particular slot just because some guy with a bad haircut and a salon tan screams at me from the TV set......and I damn sure don't believe that my sending that guy a check is going to secure my salvation.

I have trouble dealing with Simm's bad shit.....I don't really like to think that God is responsible for the earthquake in China.....but I also think that we make our own beds, bad shit DOES happen, and ultimately, I'm responsible for my own happiness.

I do blame God for the good and beautiful shit that goes right in my life, because I don't necessarily think that the human animal is justified in the great things that are bestowed upon it, and I just try to wrap my head around the idea that bad shit happens for a reason.....and that maybe I'm not important enough in the big picture to get a direct memo to explain it.

That's where faith comes in for me......I don't know why there are disasters, but they sure do make me awfully grateful for the amazing things like this......

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

08/18/2009 07:03:58 AM · #13

Originally posted by stultsphoto:

When I was in college I took out a lot of student loans and I had a really good time. I then started selling cars. At first it was a part time job to just make extra money then after my first sell I was like wow why would I do anything else. First deal made me $800 and only took me about an hour to ride around in a new mustang conv. I started moving up the ladder and I became a manager. $100,000+ a year in a small town and I was on top of the world. I worked all the time at a job that I really enjoyed. I always wanted to do photography, travel and have a family. Then it happened I met a wonderful girl and she did the unthinkable.....she took me to Church! Wow! I can never thank her enough. I met Jesus and let him take over my life. We got married and life just got better! I changed jobs to another dealership that worked less hours and paid a lot less. I went from 100k+ to less than half that and my life changed. I get to spend more time with my wife, church, family and friends. I get to travel, do photography, and enjoy life. I get to do this all because of Christ....no other reason! He makes all of this possible. He's allowed the mistakes I made in my life to be fixed. I've gone back to school and recieved an assiciate's degree in business and I'm working on a bachlor's degree. To some this makes no sense. What does any of this have with God? It makes me understand that with faith I steped out from a great paying job to a less paying job and with His help prospered even more. With less He makes more. Happy is not a word worthy enough to expain how Christ can change your life!

Um....

I do not mean to take anything away from your faith, but your account really sounds like a sensible shift in priorities.

You left a high pay, high demand life, for a quieter more family oriented life when you met the woman who is now your wife.

A wise and sensible course of events.

Where's the epiphany in that?

geinafets

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/18/2009 02:44:32 AM · #14

ellamay

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

08/18/2009 12:22:28 AM · #15

Whenever I thing of "happy" as a goal for life, I wonder if that is the right goal.
Love often means doing the sacrificial thing, not usually producing happiness
(staying in a marriage vs. getting out, doing things with the kids when rather be doing anything else)
Justice usually means doing the right thing vs. the easy thing
( fighting status quo, standing up for beliefs, often being ridiculed for them)
Not usually meaning happiness per se.... often has caused people to be fired, or jailed, or even killed

Why do we always need to"feel good"? Isn't that what makes addictions?

I think I would rather live for principles and gain satisfaction in that vs. living to feel good/happy...

just a thought or two

stultsphoto

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/18/2009 12:11:48 AM · #16

smellyfish1002

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

08/17/2009 11:32:58 PM · #17

Originally posted by Simms:

smellyfish1002

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

08/17/2009 11:30:52 PM · #18

Message edited by author 2009-08-17 23:31:28.

jotaga

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/17/2009 06:32:40 PM · #19

I have some dark periods of sadness... and also some shiny periods of happiness... I know that is just a state of mind...

BTW: Some quotes to think about:

ALBERT SCHWEITZER:
Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.

ALBERT CAMUS:
You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.

ANNE FRANK:
We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.

ARISTOTLE:
Happiness belongs to the self-sufficient

BERTRAND RUSSELL:
To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.

CARL JUNG:
There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.

DENIS WAITLEY:
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

H.H. THE DALAI LAMA:
The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy.

MARK TWAIN:
Happiness is a Swedish sunset -- it is there for all, but most of us look the other way and lose it.

Carlo21

08/17/2009 06:28:56 PM · #20

Yes.

If so, what makes you happy..?
Family, health, opportunity, the future, a plan that comes together, something funny, having fun, travel, sleeping 7 hours at night, making others laugh, and DPC related stuff - improving my photography each quarter, the update button, taking pics, learning new techniques both in camea and PS. Much more...Life's too short.

JulietNN

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

08/17/2009 06:14:54 PM · #21

I dont think it matters what you find happiness in, whether it be God, bacon, children etc etc

Disagreeing with someone about what makes them happy is not a happy thing.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/17/2009 06:06:13 PM · #22

a thing pf great beauty

We have clocks and telephones, and the bed is made.
We have walls and a window and shoes for the feet to fall into.
We have birthdays and lunch and wives who have husbands.
We have friends and automobiles and a pet.
We have spoons and three wishes we have.

We have what we have and we dream of some thing
We do not yet have, if only we had.
When he have but one wish left, we are
One away from wishing we had something to live or to die for.
We have nothing to crave, and nothing is all.

We have nothing when we can think of something else.
We have something when we can think of nothing less.
We have something when we have it so bad
That we need not ask. We do not need to
Have to become what we are.

Having and caressing and holding a thing of great beauty.
We have what we love what we do with any wonderful thing.
We have measure and words and a place to sleep.
We have what we hold which is a marvellous thing.
And we have this great yearning.

[Zeus Zen, 2001]

Message edited by author 2009-08-17 18:30:14.

overclover

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

08/17/2009 06:04:19 PM · #23

Am I happy with my life? Absolutely! Why? Because I am not a dustbin!

Simms

08/17/2009 05:56:56 PM · #24

Originally posted by MrE:

I agree with smellyfish and what others have said: Life is what you make it and only you can make yourself truly happy. Things, people, events may bring some temporary joy, but you and you alone are responsible for your happiness. Your own thoughts and feelings are what make you who you are. If your thoughts are not positive, then you will not be happy. If your thoughts are positive, then, generally, you will be happy.

I do this activity with my kids pretty early on in the school year, you may want to try it. I do it with them every year and compare them year after year (well, for the 4 I have done it...). It may help you to think about the things in life that can help bring you happiness, make you think of the more positive things in life. I know it's a bit of the opposite of what I said above, but it may help. Draw a self portrait of yourself with one color marker using your non dominant hand. Next to your eyes, write at least three things you love to see, to your nose 3 things you love to smell, mouth-3 things you love to taste, next to your ears, 3 things you love to hear. Next to your heart, three things you love. Next to your hands, 3 things you love to feel. Next to 1 foot, 3 places you have been that you love and next to your other foot, 3 places you'd love to go to that you have or have not been to. The places can be anywhere at all (even home, video store, another state, country, friends, anywhere). 3 is the minimum. You could also just do this as a list, but it's also fun to see how well you draw with the opposite hand. Last year, next to feel, I had one student write pride and happiness. I teach 2nd grade and was quite impressed by this!

Kinda long post, but hope it helps!

OK, tried it - here is mine - note how my favourite smells are tied in with my favourite taste.. I didnt do the heart and feet and I got cramp trying to write with the mouse in MSPaint - I actua;;y feel enlightened now.. THANKS!!

Message edited by author 2009-08-17 17:58:12.

Simms