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Winning the sack race and happiness

(c) with permission from O.

I watched my 7 year old win a sack race. And more surprisingly “the javelin.”


I’ve written several times and what we seem to know about “happiness”.


The importance of experience over items. They live longer in our memory and give more enjoyment.  (I had to stop the urge to video the experience but live it!)


The importance of purpose / meaning / connections / community  for fulfilment / eudaemonia / contentedness-happiness over transactional immediate satisfaction (but that lack of immediate basic satisfaction eg persistent hunger, if it can’t meet a hurdle is still a problem).


The recognition of challenges / failures / mistakes as part of the human condition but from that learning / improvement / fulfilment can come.


So I’m glad I took a break from saving the world  - being on the work cog - to be connected. You should too.


As eudaemonia / happiness —> success not the the other way round.

https://www.thendobetter.com/blog/meaning-happiness

https://www.thendobetter.com/blog/2018/9/20/power-of-small-connections 


Current highlights:

Listening to legendary theatre agent, Mel Kenyon. 

Some writing tips and thoughts from Zadie Smith

How to live a life, well lived. Thoughts from a dying man. On play and playing games.

A provoking read on how to raise a feminist child.

Some popular posts:  the commencement address;  by NassimTaleb (Black Swan author, risk management philosopher),  Neil Gaiman on making wonderful, fabulous, brilliant mistakes;  JK Rowling on the benefits of failure.  Charlie Munger on always inverting;  Sheryl Sandberg on grief, resilience and gratitude.