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?

[Lindy Asimus]

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

Could be. Boy, that's a big kind of boredom that makes depression look like a good thing to do next! ;-)

[jesse Bunch]

Not really, in my own (strictly) analysis, boredom is a chronic disease (note the word, dis...ease) of intelligent people who are in jobs that are below their proper stimulus level. When that factor is combined with a plethora of demands the mind scuttles away from them and one finds oneself virtually incapable of doing anything useful. The level of demand rises exponentially as nothing is accomplished until self worth flies out the window and TAA DAH! Depression.
Jesse
PS It can also occur when one is problem solving mode to prevent previous action.

[Lindy Asimus]

My mother always told me "only stupid people get bored". So of course, I never was to allow myself that luxury ;-) I suspect some of what you describe is more to do with a way of living that is designed to satisfy someone/s other than oneself, and that is a sure path to depression. The energy to expend to move out from such a position though, is sometimes deemed too much bother, and maintaining the status - the easy route - is often preferred. Usually this makes nobody happy.

[jesse Bunch]

Of course, what you say is true. In answer to your mother I have a remarkable ability to find new directions to deal with. However I would argue that in the field of art, particularly with one as ambitious as I am (really WANT to contribute to human knowledge in the area {a really unlikely to be fulfilled goal}), that many activities are by necessity required to support the effort (it certainly doesn't pay), not to mention, most of us have to mow lawns, do something about the wash and feed the damned cats in addition to more fulfilling goals. If one forgoes monetary compensation adequate to hiring help, with the goal of keeping the better portion of one's mind for activities that really interest one (if nobody else) one gets stuck with the boring. And that the nature of the search I am on has inherently no road maps and many blind alleys to deal with. I consider boredom as a very useful tool to point out that I'm headed in the wrong direction, need more time to find the true solution, and a clear indication that I am occupying my mind with distractors to avoid necessary action.
Did I mention the loveliness of my basal scales? (:-)
Jesse

[Lindy Asimus]

True there are practical issues that get in the way (perhaps) of Following One's Bliss. Oh, the perils of living in Mundania! We definitely need a better system than the current one of working too much , or too little on the basic "job thang". Like, what's with having to squeeze one's Real Job in Life to the crevices of time and energy that are 'left over'.

Did I tell you I am very partial to reptiles.