[bigdavephoto]

Thanks bossa and Rupert for the words of encourgment.

I knew that trying to sell some prints would not be easy because I don't have a name and I'm not expecting to make lots of money doing it.

Another problem I have is I don't have a clue as to how make a website to show my pictures. I bought some software to make one, but it's not as easy as thay make it sound.

Right now is also a two edge sword. I have the time to go where I would want to go to take pictures but I don't have the money to travel to where I want to go. When I get the money to be able to travel, I'll be stuck in a another dead end job. Nothing like a great catch 22 to make my life worthwhile. It's just frustrating.

[bigdavephoto]

Sorry about the double post.

bossa, I would love to come to Australia. It would be nice to be able to go to someplace I havn't been to to take some pictures.

I'll add it to my list of places to go.

[VisualDarkness]

I can't really call myself happy and it's been that way for so long (or have I ever been anything else?) that I don't even remember anything other. I feel like I'm devolving and growing more and more tired. I'm getting to afraid to commit to things and people, simply as I can't coop with failures anymore. My biggest problem though is that I'm exceptional at hiding it and people around me usually see me as easy going and always smiling. So I never really ventilate things and people around me don't even suspect that something is wrong.

I'm in my friggin 20's and should live my life but instead I'm just surviving and struggle to even do even the most basic things. I am living off people without really giving anything back but I'm too lost in life to turn things around.

[daacon]

I truley hope things will turn around for those of you that are not happy. I think we all have had some rather undesirable situations we have had to deal with, be it our fault or not. There are no words or advice I can offer to alleviate or fix that. I can offer I have been in some of those situations and survived. What got me out of some of those unhapy times was some choices I made , some hard work and I do not underestimate this factor LUCK..

Am I happy? Interesting question. I worry about things - I will not bore you with the details, general life things (but I am not consumed by these worries) I have been fortunate enough to travel a bit and, for example watching someone fish in the ocean from the shore for protein to sustain their family that day while living in a 10x10 wooden shack at least to me puts some of my worries in perspective.

So overall I am happy. I really want for nothing (check that I want for a shitload of things , I really need nothing in the survival sense ). I could be happier sure, and it's not like I sing Ka Sara Sara every morning while blowing soap bubbles running through fields of daisies.

As I get closer to the end than the beginning of my life I try and be happy because in a relative blink of an eye I'll be gone.

[mikemike]

I am immensely happy.

[Rupert]

I am finding this all very interesting, the honesty from some is appreciated. I think I see a little of myself in almost every post here, at least I can relate to every one in some manner.
I'm pretty happy most of the time, despite the world being both very ugly and fantastically beautiful all at the same time. I try to see more of the beauty and less of the ugly.....sometimes it works......sometimes not.

I'm not preaching, I'm no preacher...that would be Otis.......but I do find a curious thing in my life that always lifts my spirit enormously. When I am down in the dumps I look for someone to help...maybe a visit to that Nursing Home to visit those less fortunate, maybe a little financial help to someone struggling, maybe just a day of kind words to everyone I come across, even those that don't seem to deserve it.....maybe they are suffering some great calamity in their life I can't know of?

Otis wanted to take the podium and say a few words (more like a million!) but because you are my friends, I denied him! You can thank me if you like!

[IMG] [/IMG]

Best Regards!

[stormtech]

Happy - that's a tough one to answer, but basically "yes". But, I seem to have to make it happen.

Not to drag a whole pity story out, life for my wife and myself has been kind of "unfair" the past couple years.

My wife has been in constant severe pain for over 5 years with a permanently damaged sciatic nerve. I don't know how she does it, but she doesn't complain at all. Yes, the medication helps, but if it were me I think I'd be drunk everyday just to try to get away from it. Is she happy?.....not really....but she copes somehow and does her best to not drag me down with it.

On top of that, after many attempts, she has no income whatsoever - denied for any kind of disability, so all of a sudden 5 years ago we are a one income family.

Me, I love my job which I believe is so important in being generally happy. But, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis last year and that has put a stop to all my hobbies and activities. I am very fortunate that I can keep working since all I do is sit in an easy chair and hold a steering wheel all day! This all is what has brought me back to my photography - something I can do to be somewhat creative and not make me hurt - this alone has made me so happy!

So, life isn't fair in my household - lack of income and both of us in constant pain. But....we make ourselves happy somehow. It's not worth it to worry and or bitch about our situation. You have to make the best of the hand dealt you in life. Though we are not in the best of shape physically or financially, I always think that there are many folks way worse off than we are.

So to sum it up - yes I am happy, but I have to make that happen. I refuse to be unhappy!

[Rupert]

So, life isn't fair in my household

I often think this may be the first step in finding some degree of happiness....realizing that life isn't fair......not just in your household or mine, but in any household. I feel for Mrs Rupert often, she has what I refer to as the 'Perfect World Syndrome" where everything goes smooth and there is fairness and justice for all. Just doesn't happen, and the sooner a person can realize this and adapt, the sooner they can concentrate on the things that do bring happiness.

[Ratmagiclady]

Hee, Rupert. That's actually a very captionable Otis picture. Don't see the little ones around today.

But, anyway, I think life not being fair means that fairness part is kind of on *us,* y'know?

(You know, Visual, from the sound of things, it's possible you might be needing a little chemical help, from diet, supplements, or meds: nothing seeming rewarding is often a shortage of dopamine, seratonin, stuff like that. It also helps to just try doing some things that still are rewarding to you, even just walking around, but the not feeling rewarded by actions you're usually interested tends to be a good indication there's something chemical going on: I get that as kind of a secondary thing with some of my physical problems, myself. Always dubious at best trying to 'diagnose' over the Net, but it might be worth checking out. One thing I've found out from studying my own health problems is how much all this stuff is connected chemically to begin with. )

Anyway, hang in there, everyone.

[Rupert]

Otis says his woods are full of Magic Mushrooms......maybe it is what keeps him on the up side of life....I've never seen Otis down, he says he "just doesn't believe in it"!

Regards!....feeling better today Ratlady?

[outsider]

I was going to post a long rambling entry...you know my big mouth...but you can make your reply as long or as short as you desire.
I seem to see a ton of unhappy people everywhere I look, real world or cyber.......how about you? What do you see, what do you feel?
Just curious, maybe it is in my mind, but I don't think so?

Regards!

This is a good observation and a great post Rupert. I don't think your eyes are fooling you. I see the same thing. A staggering amount of people (maybe 50% or more, who knows) are just not happy, never satisfied or content for any meaningful amount of time. This seems much more prevalent than even 15 years ago. I think it has a lot to do with technology, commercialism, consumerism and the average persons inability to think independently. Technology: Most people are too reliant/addicted to their gadgets. Cell phones, ipods, ipads, GPS devices, games, apps, this and that. People are never alone, never bored. Never challenged by the natural waves of life. This kills creativity. When they get bored, like sheep, they wait for the next big gadget to keep them stimulated for another few weeks. Ever notice that people seem restless, nervous or just plain unhappy when they don't have their cell phone in hand? It's soothing for one to be able to walk and drive with their head between their legs texting about trivial things. Perhaps this is a contributing factor to failed relationships. There's few reasons to miss your loved one since you've been texting all day. Americans are unhappy, because they've allowed themselves to be "had" by commercialism and trends. They don't know what true happiness is. Which to me, is accepting yourself as you are, in the face of the unrelentingly powerful influences of western society. These days are different. People never stop. Never take time to reflect, meditate, think about their day, their faults, mistakes or things they could be improving in their lives. It's go, go, go. Sleep and continue the rat race tomorrow. Sad that people have NO idea why they're so miserable. They think running harder, buying more will make things better when it's only strengthening the viscious cycle.

[Ratmagiclady]

Otis says his woods are full of Magic Mushrooms......maybe it is what keeps him on the up side of life....I've never seen Otis down, he says he "just doesn't believe in it"!

Regards!....feeling better today Ratlady?

Eh, somewhat, actually thought I might end up in the ER last night, but managed to make the save. I got some much-needed sleep, (My back and hips went out last week and it's been hard to sleep,) used my emergency red meat reserve today, and, well, I'm about where I was. Looks like I'll more or less make it.

Squirrels were hiding all day, but we had the robin-invasion that means Spring's coming indeed.


And I dunno, Outsider: I think the tech addiction thing is just another symptom of the same old problems for many: similar complaints existed before even home computers got big.

[mtansley]

Am I happy? Not at the moment, no.

Out of work for two years, no one wants to hire a 52 year old IT person.
Employment benefits have now ended, living on savings.

I was happy 3 years ago when my wife's epilepsy had finally been ended by brain surgery. Left hippocampus removed.

Unfortunately, several months ago, it came back. Last week her seizure dislocated her right shoulder, when it slammed back into her shoulder joint, it broke the shoulder ball, so she had to have replacement surgery and will be out of action of many weeks.

The only good news is that due to our socialized medical system, (no, this is NOT a political comment, just a statement) my only fees were for parking at the hospital and some pain killing drugs. Oh, and I do have to pay $45 for the ambulance ride to the hospital for her. At least although we are both unemployed, our emergency medical needs are covered.

And to make it worse, I haven't seen ANY squirrels today. (There, see? I'm trying to smile)

I'm happy when I can get out and take some photos and forget about life for awhile.

[Rupert]

Outsider....I saw some very valid points in your observations, there is no doubt for me that we are living in strange times that seem to have robbed us of our natural identity and replaced it with materialism. The younger generation is not even aware that there was once a world where kids played down by the creek all day or in the park and ball fields.......screaming not to stay inside on a video game or cell phone, but to get outside with the other kids. None of us, myself included, seem to be immune to the desires of the flesh and mind........which are now more about the latest and greatest high tech device or material thing we crave than about liquor and women! I'm wondering if this will all self-correct in time, or if we are heading into times with an entirely different race of people dedicated mostly to themselves alone?

Ratlady....Well, you sound better anyhow. You're a survivor.....I know you.

Mtansley....& a few others I see here.......I wish I had some answers, I wish I could wave a magic wand, I wish things were different in your life. I don't have answers....mostly just questions. Even in this world of materialism and self worship, there are those that care.....I care and many others here and elsewhere care. Just what that is worth is debatable...but I always take caring over not caring. I've been richly blessed in my older years......and if I look at just why, it does indeed go back to the fact that when it was time to care for someone else...I did...and those have rewarded me greatly. But caring is not about money...it is simply about caring with you heart. Maybe for some in real pain and suffering, it is the best we can offer?

Regards

[magkelly]

Honestly I'm pretty numb most of the time. There's been way too much going on of late here at home for "happy" to be a pertinent descriptive adjective. I'm surviving, but I'm not really happy, no. But then again I don't really expect to be all the time. I have my up moments but my life is always a struggle. Keeping my balance, dealing with whatever I have to, not being depressed over what can't be changed, that's usually good enough.