Media Medley Blog

Last night I was in my pottery making class. The pottery instructor showed us a demo on how to throw a cylinder pot using wet clay on a potter’s wheel. He then narrowed the top to make a small rimmed opening in the pot. The opening of the pot was about 2 to 3 inches wide. He looked inside and decided he needed to get the water out of the bottom of the pot. He then grabbed a sponge on a stick.

The sponge was rectangular and about 5 inches long. The sponge had wire wrapped around it’s middle, then attached to the stick.

As the instructor brought the sponge close to the hole of the wet clay pot, it was obvious that the sponge was far wider than the opening. As any one who has thrown pots can attest, wet clay is easily marred. I and apparently everyone else in the class held our collective breathe as we intently watched him shove the sponge-on-a-stick through the narrow opening.

When he got the sponge through without unduly damaging the wet clay at the rim, everyone in the class released their breathe to create an audible sigh of relief.

“It must be a guy thing,” I said. Everyone in the class turned to look at me questioningly. In explanation I exclaimed, “Well, I didn’t think it would fit!”

Every generation thinks they were the first to experience pain, happiness, love, sex and other aspects of life. But imagine what could happen if we teach our children to care about other people. There may come a day when a new generation actually does experience something that no other generation has – peace on earth. – Cindy M. Douglass

I’ve come a long way since the days of my brother’s death. I’m usually pretty happy, now. I can find the absurd in most situations. For example, if someone tells me that he is “fatally allergic to stupid people”, I laugh because the person claiming fatal allergies is still walking around.  Zombies never seem to be aware they have been zombie-fied.

Anyway, as amusing as zombies are, I must stay on track here. I was discussing happiness. I recently read that studies have shown it’s not having stuff that money buys which makes one happy, it’s having pleasurable experiences.

To that I say, Duh!

I will always treasure the mystical experience of standing on a narrow European cobblestone street one early, very foggy, morning when I was 9 years old. As I stood there, I heard a galloping sound coming toward me. Then suddenly a white horse power burst out from the fog into my view. I remember the awe I felt, and the happiness I felt for witnessing such an amazing scene.

Of course, the two guys chasing the white horse long minutes after the horse had galloped by me were also comical, causing laughter.

I worked pretty hard when I was younger. But I was happy because I felt my work made a difference in people’s lives. I was always happy to make someone feel better about how they looked. To see their glow of self-assuredness was like getting a gift every day.

Introducing a friend to the joys of collecting ACEOs (playing card sized art) with a starter ACEO kit on her birthday was also a time of happiness. She loves cats and art, but lives on budget like most of us. So small art was a new experience for her. And to make it extra special,  I had created a special ACEO of her cat, Gracie, for her collection.

Anyway, I learned that happiness wasn’t something one got from exchanging life energy/time for money. And long term happiness wasn’t something one got from exchanging money for things. Things often require more life energy/time to keep and care for those things. Which means much of one’s life is used up to gather things, not experiences.

Happiness is an experience. Happiness doesn’t always come from pleasurable experiences, either. Yes, pleasurable experiences can bring happiness, but sometimes pain can bring happiness. Just ask any mother that just gave birth to a healthy baby how happy she is, and she’ll probably be over the moon happy.

Happiness is often earned by labor. Happiness can be created by the happiness you give others. Happiness can burst out at you. Happiness can be an attitude, a way of looking for the amusing in the every day. And happiness is supported by the underpinnings of thankfulness.

Look for your chance at getting happiness. Happiness is probably nearer than you think.