I'm not the right person to ask. But I can't pass up the chance to be pedantic!
What have you learned that could help others?
There is no virtue in misery. There may be some virtue in sacrifice, but really, happiness has value for it's own sake.
Sometimes, it's the process that counts, not the result. Sometimes learning to dance is the point, not performing.
Watching TV is very seldom either a satisfying process or a satisfying result.
How do you decide where your heart is?
Slowly and with many false starts. Usually, it's when I figure out that I've made a dreadful mistake. Sometimes I can correct it. Sometimes I can't.
Given how averse I am to taking risks, and given how I'm much better at listening to my head than my heart, I'm ridiculously lucky to be as happy as I am. I can't claim credit for it.
The fact that I married the guy and had a kid and both are making me happy is a source of constant amazement to me. The fact that I can make my living doing what I'd do for free (and had done for free, since about third grade) is also pretty amazing.
One last point: Don't defer happiness: My boss once told me, "I'm on my second career, I'm 38, and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up." She was, pretty much, my hero and role model. But within a year of saying that, she was murdered. So if you are passionate about something, then it's important enough to start with right now. You might not finish it, but you should start.
no subject
What have you learned that could help others?
There is no virtue in misery. There may be some virtue in sacrifice, but really, happiness has value for it's own sake.
Sometimes, it's the process that counts, not the result. Sometimes learning to dance is the point, not performing.
Watching TV is very seldom either a satisfying process or a satisfying result.
How do you decide where your heart is?
Slowly and with many false starts. Usually, it's when I figure out that I've made a dreadful mistake. Sometimes I can correct it. Sometimes I can't.
Given how averse I am to taking risks, and given how I'm much better at listening to my head than my heart, I'm ridiculously lucky to be as happy as I am. I can't claim credit for it.
The fact that I married the guy and had a kid and both are making me happy is a source of constant amazement to me. The fact that I can make my living doing what I'd do for free (and had done for free, since about third grade) is also pretty amazing.
One last point:
Don't defer happiness: My boss once told me, "I'm on my second career, I'm 38, and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up." She was, pretty much, my hero and role model. But within a year of saying that, she was murdered. So if you are passionate about something, then it's important enough to start with right now. You might not finish it, but you should start.