How do you enjoy life?

Aupmanyav said:

Not very. It has its own fun. That is what old age is for Indians.

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Sad, very sad.

Well, cultural differences. I do not think my wife can leave them for more than a week (we are going to Lucknow for three days (a famous shop - Tunde ke kebabs. Tunda is one who has lost one arm, but kebabs at that shop are supposed to be the best in the land of Nawabs. The shops are managed by his grandsons. I see there are a few managed by the family). Also, in our 50 years of married life, other than a few days, we have hardly been away from each other, sort of glued together.

Aupmanyav said:

Not much enjoyment. Caring for grandchildren is what engages us. Can't even travel, responsibilities. So, Religious Forums is a big help.

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I think I can relate to what you said about RF, at least to an extent. It was significantly helpful to me as well when I was mostly isolated and lonely in Saudi Arabia, and it's still helpful in more than one way. It definitely feels like home--albeit a virtual one.

ADigitalArtist said:

This place is good for this topic.

I have kind of a boring answer, but I'm an extrovert who takes great pleasure in the company of family and friends. So work, bills, etc are mostly a means to an end of spending time with them in a variety of settings and circumstances.

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I am glad this is a good place for it!

I don't think that is a boring answer, because if that is what makes you enjoy life and makes each day meaningful to you, then that is something that is very important. It's wonderful you are so dedicated to them. Thank you for sharing.

Debater Slayer said:

This is an appropriate forum section for your thread.

I see that you registered long ago despite the low post count. Welcome (back) to the forum. I hope you enjoy it.

Regarding your question, if I had to choose one thing over others in terms of making me enjoy life and find it meaningful, I'd go with friendship. I don't like having many friends, so I only have a few close ones (excluding online ones, of whom several are quite close in their own ways too). I'd include family as well if my relationship with them weren't so deeply entangled with fear due to how they'd treat me if they found out about certain things.

Even the small things in friendship sometimes make my day. Just a few days ago a close friend sent me a voice message in the middle of a long conversation. Hearing her laugh despite her experiencing stress made me smile spontaneously--and it's even more pleasant when we talk and have fun face to face.

So, while I enjoy a lot of things, friendship definitely stands out in more than one way.

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It makes me relieved to hear!

Thank you for the welcome back! Yes, it has been quite a while since I was last active. I am thankful for the kindness of people here since my return, so I think I will be enjoying this place.

It is wonderful that you have good people like that in your life who you can talk to and spend time with. So nice! Thank you for sharing!

Nakosis said:

Free will. Being able to do what I want to do. Sometimes it's being able to drink a type of tea I like. Sometimes it's solving a chess problem. Don't always get to do what I want to do. Makes me a bit grumpy.

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I can understand, free will and being able to be free to do things does make life a lot more meaningful. Thanks for sharing!

Deathbydefault said:

The simplicity, I suppose.
Though I can't exactly say I enjoy life, it being calm and quiet makes living that much easier.

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Yes! I agree and can relate.

Vinayaka said:

I enjoy being alone. I grew up in a large family, 4 boys to a bedroom, and a very social father. Then Boss and I raised 5 kids. I taught school for 30 years. I learned it from my mother, who liked to garden alone, do her crafts alone, and was much different than her husband that way. When I taught, the 15 minutes each way in the car was my respite.

So now, in retirement, after so many people, I really enjoy the meditative and reflective aspects of being alone. Landscaping, driving, daily worship called sadhana, woodworking, all that ... but by myself. Boss peeks in on me occasionally.

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I can understand what you mean. I was raised in a large family too. It is good that you enjoy being alone, and it sounds like you have some very nice hobbies too. Thanks for sharing!

Geoff-Allen said:

Interesting thread!

I enjoy the simple things - reading & meditating - if you could call meditation simple

I try 2 remind myself to always be grateful for all the things I do tend 2 take 4 granted. Gratitude is one of the keys 2 a happy life.

Also enjoy yoga and exercise - good for the body & mind!

Enjoy your day!

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Those are all good things! Sometimes simple and little things like that can make each day most worth while, perhaps?

I need to work on gratitude more. Thanks for sharing what you enjoy!

I hope that you enjoy your day too!

Nowhere Man said:

I see life as a privilege in a universal sense as a sapient being.
A lot of bad things have happened with me but most of my personal goals have been met already.

I think it comes down to the simple things. Not complex or difficult.

Like drinking a cup of tea or taking in the fresh air while feeling pretty good. The warmth of the sun on a cold day, hearing pleasant music and letting the mind become immersive.

Not becoming wound up with those things that you can't control. Like a river, floating and traveling with the flow where ever it leads.

Like the song, life has been good to me so far. :0)

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It sounds like you have a very good outlook in your life. Taking in everything, and letting your life flow sounds like a more peaceful existence. Also sounds rather poetic. It seems like a lot of people here are mentioning the simple things, the simple things really are what each day is made up of most I suppose.

Thanks for sharing!

sunrise123 said:

The most joy I get in life is from helping others and focusing on the divine within.

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It is great to hear that you find joy in helping others. I need to learn this more.

psychoslice said:

Life for me is great, I am always doing something, I have taken up many hobbies, my latest is tattooing, I think young and feel young, yes life is great.

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psychoslice said:

Myself and others that I have meet that seem to enjoy life to its fullest are those who almost lost their life, I myself have been raped as a young man, I have had my life threatened with a knife to my neck, I have been shot, and I have had cancer. Of course at the time when these things happened to me I wasn't that happy, but over the years I realized that life is wonderful, I never really knew how much it was so special, until I almost lost it. This is the only life we will ever have, if you stuff it up then you miss out on all the joys that you could have experienced while here. Reincarnation is a cop out in my way of thinking, its an excuse for those who never had lived their life to it fullest, its an excuse that you can make up for it in another life......it ain't going to happen......yes this is it, make the best out of it, happy living to you all.

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Wow, it sounds like you have been through so much. The fact that you have come to enjoy life and find so much fulfillment now in spite of everything that happened to you in the past is very very encouraging to hear. I hope that someday I can feel the same as you. I am so glad that you enjoy your life. Thank you very much for sharing all this!

Saint Frankenstein said:

Music.

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Yes! Music is such a wonderful thing. I wish I could just dissolve into it sometimes.

Iron Wizard said:

Listening to music, writing music, playing guitar, relating to the gods, thinking about philosophy, politics, and religion, being in solitude with thoughts, reading about European history, eating, working out, and last but not least, sleeping.

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Wow, you write your own music? Do you do this with guitar? It sounds like you have some very nice hobbies. Thank you for sharing.

Terese said:

I enjoy life by being content with it

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Ahh, contentment. That is good.

hadrianus said:

I had my hair cut yesterday I look fresher now and think of having a piercing on my eye brow; these simple things make me enjoy my life.

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There is always something so nice about haircuts. Yes, the simple things are so important.

Patience said:

I need to work on gratitude more. Thanks for sharing what you enjoy!

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Yes - it is a key to happiness.

Try searching for Tiny Buddha gratitude for a few suggestions!

Cheers!

Patience said:

I've been thinking about this question a lot lately, so I wanted to ask, what makes you enjoy life and makes each day most meaningful for you?

I hope I posted this in an okay area, still haven't been around much, so getting used to the forum.

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That's a great question- in that it makes you think about it- family goes without saying, beyond that any combination of nature and physical exercise is up there, how would you answer it?

Geoff-Allen said:

Yes - it is a key to happiness.

Try searching for Tiny Buddha gratitude for a few suggestions!

Cheers!

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Thanks for the recommendation.

Guy Threepwood said:

That's a great question- in that it makes you think about it- family goes without saying, beyond that any combination of nature and physical exercise is up there, how would you answer it?

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Glad you like the question. Yeah, those things are all definitely important.

How would I answer it? Hmm, well, honestly this is a really tough question for me, one that I need to learn more myself. I suppose it would depend on the day. I'm not sure that I can answer my own question properly. Lately I struggle to find meaning, and each day feels like a burden, and empty. Like everything turns from colorful to colorless. I often am so amazed how others can find so much joy and meaning in each day and work so hard to pursue their goals, which I really wish that I could be like that too. I know we live in such a beautiful world, so many sights, scents, tastes, and such, but I just can't seem to enjoy it like I used to, it wears me out. I force myself to spend time outside and do things, but it all feels kind of empty to me. But some days are better. On good days, sunshine, music and ballet dancing make me feel alive and free. Also, knowing that I have done something to help someone else and know that I made them smile, sometimes that helps too, sometimes.

I feel that if you have to find something in life to make your life worth while, then you will never be happy, you should be happy already. The mind body organism is a pleasure sponge, and it will soak up pleasure, its what keeps it alive and so called happy. Again, if you need to find something to make yourself happy then you are only faking your life, you are not truly happy at all. Happiness is a neuron-chemical reaction and nothing else, if you don't stimulate those chemicals then you wont experience what we can happiness, sorry to be a party popper.

psychoslice said:

I feel that if you have to find something in life to make your life worth while, then you will never be happy, you should be happy already. The mind body organism is a pleasure sponge, and it will soak up pleasure, its what keeps it alive and so called happy. Again, if you need to find something to make yourself happy then you are only faking your life, you are not truly happy at all. Happiness is a neuron-chemical reaction and nothing else, if you don't stimulate those chemicals then you wont experience what we can happiness, sorry to be a party popper.

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Yeah, I understand what you mean, and no worries. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, I appreciate that. I'll remember your advice.

Patience said:

Yeah, I understand what you mean, and no worries. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, I appreciate that. I'll remember your advice.

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But always remember its only my way. it works for me, and you have to find your way, I hope you do. xx

psychoslice said:

But always remember its only my way. it works for me, and you have to find your way, I hope you do. xx

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Thank you!

Patience said:

Thanks for the recommendation.


Glad you like the question. Yeah, those things are all definitely important.

How would I answer it? Hmm, well, honestly this is a really tough question for me, one that I need to learn more myself. I suppose it would depend on the day. I'm not sure that I can answer my own question properly. Lately I struggle to find meaning, and each day feels like a burden, and empty. Like everything turns from colorful to colorless. I often am so amazed how others can find so much joy and meaning in each day and work so hard to pursue their goals, which I really wish that I could be like that too. I know we live in such a beautiful world, so many sights, scents, tastes, and such, but I just can't seem to enjoy it like I used to, it wears me out. I force myself to spend time outside and do things, but it all feels kind of empty to me. But some days are better. On good days, sunshine, music and ballet dancing make me feel alive and free. Also, knowing that I have done something to help someone else and know that I made them smile, sometimes that helps too, sometimes.

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Yes, tough question, as 'slice' said, it's different for everybody, but I find some sort of outdoors exercise/ sport is a good way to maybe shut your mind off, and enjoy the surroundings without 'trying' to. Then the physical tiredness helps me sleep and in turn gives me more energy- but I should practice what I preach way more often!

Guy Threepwood said:

Yes, tough question, as 'slice' said, it's different for everybody, but I find some sort of outdoors exercise/ sport is a good way to maybe shut your mind off, and enjoy the surroundings without 'trying' to. Then the physical tiredness helps me sleep and in turn gives me more energy- but I should practice what I preach way more often!

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Definitely. Same here! haha

I hope that it is okay that I bump this up, I know it has been a long time since I have been active, and when I was last active here I was at a really low point in my life and was seeking advice and trying to find meaning, since I had been broken spiritually and didn't know what to believe or think at the time. I just wanted to stop by here again to say thank you to those of you who were encouraging to me and took the time to listen. It really meant a lot to me. I'm at a much better place in my life now. I've learned to dance and sing with life and appreciate all the little things, and I have learned to forgive myself.

psychoslice said:

But always remember its only my way. it works for me, and you have to find your way, I hope you do. xx

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I know that you posted this over a year ago, and it doesn't look like you have been active in a while, though I really wanted to say thank you! I never forgot your advice and have found my footing and let myself be free. I find it interesting that a year ago you told me, "if you need to find something to make yourself happy then you are only faking your life", because I finally came to realize after that that I had been living a false self for so long and I started trying to unlearn everything that I had learned to believe about the world and myself. I'm in such a better place now because of it and the world has become a beautiful place to me, and I am really thankful for that and I want to say that I really appreciate everything that you said and taking the time to listen.

Patience said:

I've been thinking about this question a lot lately, so I wanted to ask, what makes you enjoy life and makes each day most meaningful for you?

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The realisation that I was born with more than my share of blessings, for which I am very grateful, for having a lovely mother and a mostly happy childhood, for being born in a relatively prosperous and free country, for having had many good friends throughout my life, for having achieved so many things, and lastly, for being in the best place mentally than I ever could have imagined, so as to be grateful for each new day - even if life could be better. All the good and bad seem to have balanced out - which is perhaps appropriate for a Libra (No, I don't believe in astrology).

I have never had any religious beliefs and of course I try to respect the beliefs of others, for whom religion often means so much, but for myself, I would hope that others could be just as fulfilled in life without such beliefs, as many are, and where perhaps less conflict might then ensue.

Patience said:

I've been thinking about this question a lot lately, so I wanted to ask, what makes you enjoy life and makes each day most meaningful for you?

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Doing things I enjoy and reflecting/meditating on God's presence in me and in everything. Not having hassles.

Patience said:

I've been thinking about this question a lot lately, so I wanted to ask, what makes you enjoy life and makes each day most meaningful for you?

I hope I posted this in an okay area, still haven't been around much, so getting used to the forum.

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What is most meaningful to me is living life and attempting to always interpret life's events through my relationship with God. Everyday is an adventure and my heart is always called into action by some random challenge! A lot of times I fail these challenges but the times I do succeed I am so happy and glad I had the chance to grow.

Who knows when the exact moments come but there are moments when feelings of pure ecstasy are given through experiencing someone's art. I know that Bach and Beethoven can trigger those moments for many other than myself. Terrence Malick, A.G. Inarritu, and Woody Allen among many other directors really have the power to turn something loose in my mind. Woody Allen especially. Of course there is Dostoevsky. I can not think of his work without my heart beginning to pound in my chest. Kierkegaard, my dearest friend. How can it be believed that men like that actually die? Will they not always live in on the heart's of men? I am getting carried away...

I know some people may not enjoy the work of some of those men as much as I do but I truly consider myself the luckiest of all men to be able to be so touched. If anyone would like to discuss their works feel free to message me. Except for Beethoven and Bach. Those feelings are private! Take care.