We had to read an interview called "The Einstein of Happiness" for homework, then answer some questions on it. Honestly, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Patricia Freeman interviewed a man named Allen Parducci, who basically studies happiness. I thought it was interesting because it shows happiness from a couple different viewpoints and tells you different ways on how to be generally happier. The one that caught my attention the most was about a woman died of cancer in her mid-thirties, and she was the happiest person he had ever met. It was like "a party every night", she didn't let her disease slow her down and she was still able to enjoy the rest of her life. Another thing that caught my attention was how Parducci talked about people he knows who won the lottery, but the money didn't make them any happier. It was the complete opposite of what one might think, because people think if they have more money they will have a happier life, but this was certainly not the case. I'm the kind of person who puts no meaning on money. I mean, only to get the things I really need, but other than that it's not really an object. I'd rather live in a little run down apartment with someone I absolutely adore than live in a gigantic house with lots of expensive toys. I mean, if you had all that stuff you'd never see the person you love. What's the point? Also, I vowed a long time ago that I would never take a job that requires me to work long, terrible hours that keep me away from home. If I'm making enough money to support whatever I need, then that's good enough for me.
One thing Parducci said that makes people unhappy is something I'm very guilty of doing: having a "when this happens I'll be happy" attitude. I'm really bad for that, and I'm always stuck in the future. "When I go away to university, then I'll be happy" "If I get a high mark on this essay, then I'll be happy". I always do this, and I hate that it's such a habit. The trick to real happiness is to "stop and smell the roses". You know, focus on the little things in life. I'm trying to do this more and more every day instead of sticking to my old "if, then" attitude. Appreciating what you have instead of focusing on what you don't is the key to a happy life.
"I think some people are just born to be happy." - Allen Parducci
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