I've been unusually busy recently. So busy in fact that I didn't even get a chance to look at the Photo Friday website until Monday. The challenge excited me, as the recent aquisistion of a 105 Macro meant that I would have some fresh photos to use for the challenge.
Recently, a great deal of thoughts regarding happiness have been crossing my mind. They were just little ripples on a pond, until one Saturday, then they took on a whole new life of their own.
The day started out as usual, with a jaunt down Deerfoot, collecting my thoughts before going to work. The traffic was light, being a weekend, and very few cars impeded my way as I sped down south. Only a quarter of the way through my voyage, I pulled up behind a Lincon Navigator with a very distinct personalized license plate:
MRHAPPY
The seven letters grabbed me and pretty much dominated my conscious for the entire day. While I paid my dues at the office, I wondered about how this environment impacted my happiness. My discoveries did not play out as I expected. The fact of the matter is that I enjoy being engaged, and subconsciously my mind weaves magic to keep me busy.
Anyone that has met my family already knew this. Mr. Antonik, in fact, referred to my mother as: The Human To-Do List. My aunts and uncles are templates for hard working Canadians. This little nut, did not fall to far from that tree. Despite the fact that my basement still isn't finished, I haven't been sitting idle. In fact, the majority of my time is spent completing some sort of project. Simply put: I am happy when I am busy. There is a limit, however.
Lunch brought about a wad of dough, cheese and tomato paste, and shortly after my list was sorted, my mind wandered back to the thoughts of happiness. By this point, I had realized that I was never going to be one to sit for leisure. My reasoning scurried towards what I was doing at the moment. I do enjoy working with wood, and I love photographic pursuits. Although, I'm also certain that the frequency of these endeavors is what keeps them on my list of desires. I have proof in fact; when I first got my lathe, I worked myself to near insanity creating gifts for Christmas. I worry that if made to rely upon either of my labours of love for a living, that each would soon fall to a much less desirable level.
After fulfilling my duties The Man®, Sonja and I went to Heather and Calvin's to catch up after their visit to South East Asia. Excellent food and polite conversation led us to the slideshow showcasing their viewings in Asia. We saw photos of people living in the jungle, shopping in floating villages, selling drinks to tourists and dancing in clothes of the opposite gender. One theme prevailed, all the people were happy.
People always smile for photos, although these photos carried a bit more. Everyone can tell a fake smile from one that comes from the soul. Why is it that people that don't reside in North America always appear to have genuine smiles, whereas those of us who live with such excess always appear to wear a superficial face?
Heading home for the evening, I still carried all the thoughts that were pulled out by that license plate. My conscious ping ponged between thoughts of my own happiness and the happiness of everyone else on the planet. Winding through Calgary's streets I came to the same point that Sheryl sang about in ought two. Happiness is not having what you want, it's wanting what you have.
