Money And Happiness

[Lindy Asimus]

A man wants to earn money in order to be happy, and his whole effort and best of a life are devoted to earning that money. Happiness is forgotten; the means are taken for the end. - Albert Camus

Money and happiness, seem to be associated. They appear, hand-in-hand, in so many articles and the like that it is almost without question, that they share some affinity, one for the other.

What do you think?

[James M Booth]

.
Neither money nor happiness are easily defined - depends on who you talk with.

"Money" could be anything someone else will take in trade ...

... and happiness is like "balance" - "finding" it is losing it.

Having "enough" of either is what makes all the difference, eh ?
.

[Lindy Asimus]

Actually I would disagree with you on that James.

If the back will take it, I'll b happy to call it money.
Now I agree, there are all kinds of "currency" -
a tender smile might be the only trade you need to agree
to give something to the right person. That's not legal
tender that will necessarily buy you anything in a different
context.

Few things are easily defined to the satisfaction of Everybody.

Still, we persist...

[Lindy Asimus]

Lots of confusion around the term. Note the American position on the Pursuit of Happiness, which seems to confirm what you say above - one may pursue it to one's heart's content. Finding it seems to be the objective, and is in many ways a lead-in to a wild goose chase.

Pleasures happen, good things happen, shitty things happen, and all the while I rather think that one's level of happiness is quite outside of all that.

[jesse Bunch]

Research has shown that people with severe physical problems or death's approach show exactly the same variety in happiness as people who have no such problems. I think happiness is often confused with pleasure which is quite another thing entirely. I have turned away from money on a number of occasions because I am driven by my desire for autonomy in my art. I've made what seems to many to be foolish choices allowing "opportunities" (not just monetarily) to slip away. My "epiphany" of a while back has helped me to see clearly why many of my choices were actually inevitable. I have as far as I know never expected happiness to be a goal, I don't like pain, but am aware that active growth and pursuit of one's inner drives are often uncomfortable to the point of actual pain (emotional or physical). I think my sense of "happiness" is in direct relationship with my acceptance of the inevitability of pain. It is also a by-product of my other activities. Not of much importance. Money is of importance in the same sense as fueling one's body. Sometimes one has the urge to pig out but too intensive indulgence results in imbalance. Hell, I'm just babbling.
Jesse

[Lindy Asimus]

Hell, I'm happy just seeing you here, Jesse!

[jesse Bunch]

Me too, still stuck in a mess of stuff but will appear off and on. Did you get around to trying the cake?
Jesse

[Lindy Asimus]

Not yet, I'm saving it for a special occasion. But I guess "Monday" would be a good enough excuse huh? ;-)

[jesse Bunch]

You didn't know that Monday is the "celebrate the chocolate" day of the week? Am working away (spottily) at my epiphany stuff. I like it! Nobody else knows how to respond, but so what! Also working on a massively composed picture for my ex-dealer (incredibly interwoven and complex, sort of like a visual free form crossword puzzle) Fun. And summer is never my best time. Cool!

[Lindy Asimus]

I want to see!

[jesse Bunch]

The complex picture is NOT of my "heretical realism"stuff. The subject is angels by request not by preference, but am having a technical blast with the interweaving structure based on an offbeat composition. It's not a particularly good picture. Yet.
Maybe Never.
As soon as I figure out my new digital camera and how to get the pictures on the computer I will send you some of my head scratchers. They are not complex but most people find them sufficiently irritating. I am, as you know am a technological dinosaur! It may be a wait because of all the dyings and stuff, not to mention that my mother-in-law is leaving for Columbia soon.
Whee!
Jesse

[Lindy Asimus]

Can't find the right place to respond to your last, so will use this "reply to" option.

You are not remotely dinosaurish - and I look forward to seeing those head scratchers!

[jesse Bunch]

AaaH! I have always thought there was something alluringly reptilian about me. Maybe it's the iridescent scales, maybe the toes.
By the by, it strikes me as distinctly possible that boredom is the early warning sign of impending depression.
Jesse