Rousseau asks, “What is the source of our happiness in such a state?” He answers that it is nothing external to us and nothing apart from our own existence. However frenetic our environment, such a feeling of existence can be achieved. He then goes on, amazingly, to conclude, “as long as this state lasts we are self-sufficient like God.”
God-like, then. To which one might reply: Who? Me? Us? Like God? Dare we? But think about it: If anyone is happy, then one imagines that God is pretty happy, and to be happy is to be like God. But consider what this means, for it might not be as ludicrous, hybristic or heretical as one might imagine. To be like God is to be without time, or rather in time with no concern for time, free of the passions and troubles of the soul, experiencing something like calm in the face of things and of oneself.
From: Happy Like God
This opinion piece by
Simon Critchley is an interesting piece about happiness. For once, God is a chosen alternative. And this came from a philosopher! I thought they blame God all the time. Clearly, I was wrong.
Just for the record, I have deadlines all the time. I might be grumpy about it, because sometimes things are just too hectic to handle. But deep in my heart, I love the job. Honestly, I could not even think of a better one. Other people might earn more. But the best part of the job, aside of writing, is that I get to put myself in countless shoes. One day, you have to deal with the heat in a fishermen village, feeling lost and yet astonished. Other time, you get to (learn to) fly a plane. As for today, I get head-shakes and facepalms from deaf-mute children because I'm a Muslim and I paint my nails. Red. They haven't learn biology yet, so the teacher got a hard time explaining "period".
I try to think if I ever be happy without involving time in it. I can't. Feeling peaceful, perhaps. But happy?
Everything I went through in life is great because of the people I spend time with. Or because I love what I do. It sucks when people don't pick up their phones, or it takes forever for an interview request to be approved. But happiness is when I see my writing on the paper/website, and people like it. Happiness is when I hang out with my family and friends. But in the end, happiness don't last. After the happy ending, you still have to pay the bills. Even if you're too rich to worry about bills, there's always something wrong.
How about God?
