10 Things You Think Will Make You Happy – But Won't (Repost!)

I found this article this morning while perusing msn.com and having my morning coffee at work.
Each of the ten points below really resonated with me.  I believe that the best things in life are the simplest pleasures.  I'm amazed about how much people care about stuff, I find people will more easily ask you a question about shopping than a heartfelt, "How are you?"

actual article

Avoid the impulses below, says scholar-healer Matthieu Ricard, and you'll be primed for lifelong happiness.
(non bold by me!)

1. Becoming rich, powerful and famous. (powerful and famous- ehh, no thanks.  to own a great house to have all your family gather, I have to daydream about that!)

2. Treating the universe as if it were a mail-order catalog by expecting it to gratify our every desire. (It's true, roll up your sleeves and get to work- nothing worth it comes easy)

3. Yearning for the "freedom" to achieve every last wish. This is not freedom, but being the slave of your own thoughts. 

4. Seeking too much pleasure. Pleasurable sensations soon become dull, and often become unpleasant.
(this is true, there is a Coldstone that DELIVERS right near me- I need to blog that, but it's unappealing to me now)

5. Maliciously taking revenge on someone who has hurt you. By doing so, you become like them and poison your own mind.  (move forward, don't dwell- let the happy experiences set you free)

6. Assuming that any one thing will make you happy. Such predictions usually don't turn out to be true.

7. Expecting all praise and no criticism. Without criticism, you won't progress. (I've gotten better at receiving criticism, but I could get better- its a great skill to have to just be open on ways to self improve).

8. To vanquish all your enemies. Animosity never brings happiness.  (very true, people make mistake and time changes people- forgiveness brings happiness)

9. To never face adversity. Refraining from doing so will make you weak and vulnerable. (I can't comment on this because growing up in New York City- I face adversity just commuting and you can't become a hermit because the rent is so high)

10. Expending all your effort on taking care of yourself alone. Altruism and compassion are the roots of genuine happiness. (Giving will make you happy, I feel the best about myself on days that  helped, that I went out of my way to be a good daughter, neighbor, direction giver, listener, caretaker...)

Editor's Note: Former geneticist Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk, humanitarian and international bestselling author. His new book, Why Meditate: Working with Thoughts and Emotions, was just published by Hay House. Visit him on the web at matthieuricard.org.

Anatomy of Mermaids

I loved mermaids as a child.  My mermaid obsession was only furthered by Splash, which played constantly on TV in the late 1980's and of course the The Little Mermaid.  Mermaids just have an ethereal and secretive quality that I love.  They also seem to have the same anatomy...with the exception of femurs, gracilis muscles and all of my tarsals, metatarsals and phalanges (and oh.. 3 foot long hair) I'm sort of a mermaid too.

My grandmother took me to see this movie when I was in eighth grade, a movie about an Irish folklore where people shed their skins and become people.  If this is on netflix and its a snowy/rainy day, you should watch it.