I Enjoy Meaningful Conversations

I know the purpose of life is to be happy. A life based on seeking personal happiness may seem self-centered, but not necessarily so. Many experiments have shown that Unhappy people tend to be more narcissistic, socially withdrawn, and even antagonistic. Happy people are generally found to be more flexible, sociable, creative, and able to tolerate life's daily frustrations. I know that happiness is essentially determined by your state of mind rather than by external events. Take for instance all the studies and reports about indigenous people who live in jungles, deserts, and mountains. They are the happiest people on earth. Hmmmm. They don't have running water, electricity, they share all resources amongst themselves, they usually sleep in a communal structure, no tv, no radio, etc. All the comforts humans haved in CIVILIZED society. Yet, these off grid people are mentally, physically healthier, and happy. Why is that? Who is the more primitive? The indigenous people hunt and gather each day for the benefit of ALL, and whose customs focus on equality for each person, each has a place to sleep each night etc
Or, is it the sprawling glittering Metropolis?
With homless hungry, alcoholic and drug addicted zombies wandering the streets 24/7?
What about the pollution, crime, and filth a person has to wade through just to get to the slave job where your company pays you crumbs and it rakes in millions if not billions in profit from YOUR labor.
Now who IS primitive, I ask again, the jungle dweller or the dweller of a concrete jungle?

lalasway1 · 46-50, F

We all at some point think that life is better.. Being off the grid, living off the land, or however you sum it up. But if you think about it.. How responsible are you, just you, for the pollution, homelessness, the drug and alcohol problem, etc..? I'm guessing you're not too much of the problem, right? Neither am I. Nor is my neighbor, my friend, my coworker, or anyone else I know personally. But collectively we are. There are way more of us minimal contributors than there are people off the grid. Our life with technology and the other crap we don't need but can't live without, should make us happy.. But it doesn't. But giving it all up and running naked in the wilderness isn't the answer either. We need to focus on others, the interactions, notice what our actions cause, and find out how to be good people.
I've been working on me for a few years, and I've learned a lot about me and others.. And I'm not disappointed in people or myself like I used to be.

Andyroo · 41-45, M

Hi Marsane,
That type of question crosses my mind too, thanks for sharing.

I'm not certain what the point of life is, but for me, it's not necessarily happiness.

I prefer to be happy, but I see happiness as a byproduct of some other life purpose. Defining or describing that purpose is a longer conversation.

For me, I'm happiest when I talk and spend time with people that I feel closely connected, and a lot of that connection has to do with shared interests and a sense of wonder that usually manifests as an intellectual curiosity.
Cheers

Silverwings · 61-69, F

But we are here, and I see no way of going to that place that you mention, even though it does sound like it has merit. It would kinda be like joining the Amish community, at first the thought sounds good, but after having all the creature comforts, how could we move backward to a whole new civilization?