Start-Up

Really enjoying your writings from your web site, any suggested readings to furthur my knowledge? I am just starting to realise that the journey is so much more than the destination, and how much more happiness can be gained from living differently.

Heres a quotable quote along those lines.

For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are that you're not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn't going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness. -Andy Rooney

Thanks for the note.

Two books that you might enjoy. They are written by a guy called Dan Millman. One was written in the 60s/70s and is called The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. The second was published this year and is called, How to Succeed in Life and Sport. They are a mixture of Western and Eastern thought. If you finish those then drop me a line with what you think and I can recommend some more that might address specific areas of interest to you.

In my life, I have always had a tendency (a desire) to be different. I don't know why. Now that I "am different" I can see that a better way of looking at it would have been just to listen to my heart. Maybe my heart will tell me to be different but maybe my heart would be happy to do something "normal". I doubt that I will ever have a "normal" life based on prior experience but you never know. Without a doubt, following a path that brings happiness -- that is the path less traveled. We need only look around in the major cities of the world or pick up a newspaper to see that.

Still, it is kind of funny in that when I was unsatisfied in my life, I always tended to meet other people who were unsatisfied. Even when I started to make this transition in my life, I seemed to still always come across people who were unsatisfied. Sitting here nearly eighteen months into it, your note helped me realize that I seem to be surrounded by people who are happy in their lives. The strange thing? More than half of them are the same people! Now did the world change completely in a year and a half? I very much doubt that. However, I have changed and in changing I have either started attractive positive things in my life OR am now able to see the positive things that were always around me. I bet it is a lot of both factors. I love that Andy Rooney quote. It's a keeper.

gordo - 18 november 2001