:Glasses:
My math teacher, an admirable man, gave me lots of life leasons.
One that seems to stick to my head the most is his about happiness.

He said that happiness has to come from within yourself. 'If you rely on others to make you happy you'll never truely be happy.' It's a powerful thing when your happiness comes from someone else. It's like they have control over you. If your happiness comes from others then '..they have the power to give you happiness whenever. But that also means they have the power to take it away too.'

I felt the need to post this because I don't want to forget him.

To make a discussion: What are your thoughts about this?

Sadness also comes from relationships, and I experience both all of the time. After sadness usually comes some happiness. Maybe because some lesson has been learned? And after happiness usually comes sadness. Maybe because some new lesson needs to be learned?
Rich

That's a very interesting idea. I think it could be applied to all types of saddness. A 'How do I learn to get over it?' question I suppose.

For me happiness can come from anything. The happiest moment of my life, as I remember, was when I realized I was alive, as silly as it sounds. I try to follow this lesson as best I can because it makes alot of sense to me. It's also a reason I try not to get too involved with people or material items.

Thank you, Rich

:Glasses:
My math teacher, an admirable man, gave me lots of life leasons.
One that seems to stick to my head the most is his about happiness.

He said that happiness has to come from within yourself. 'If you rely on others to make you happy you'll never truely be happy.' It's a powerful thing when your happiness comes from someone else. It's like they have control over you. If your happiness comes from others then '..they have the power to give you happiness whenever. But that also means they have the power to take it away too.'

I felt the need to post this because I don't want to forget him.

To make a discussion: What are your thoughts about this?

Hello mister kitten,

Your math teacher was a wise man. You were fortunate those words had an impact on you. If I might expound on them a little. What comes first? Happiness or the smile. Without question, the smile. Now where does that come from? Inside you. You are the giver and it is absolutely FREE. Norman Vincent Peale wrote a very good book, called "THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING". Once you have it, the smile, you want to share it. It's compulsory. If you depend on others, it is not the same as others offering it when you least expect it. An unrequieted smile that asks nothing in return. That will cause one to become introspective as to "why"? Eventually if done often enough to any one person, they will eventually catch on, there must be something to this. Hmmm? Love of your fellow man is a one way street. It can only be given, period. Now toss that around a little and think about it. If all were to freely give, it would be a give/give realtiy rather that a give/take. The bounty would be impossible to imagine.

Thanks for the thoughtful thread,
William

PS; As to the title of your thread, a better answer is hidden in my post, see if you can figure out a better name for it rather that "Dunno what to call this"? See what you come up with.

To Kenneth: Happiness does come from other people too. My teacher said that in order to be truely happy your happiness must come from yourself, not from depending on others to supply it. He didn't say to miss out on happiness from others (if I remember correctly he said quite the opposite).

---------- Post added 07-20-2009 at 01:02 AM ----------

Hello Ken,
Let me see if I can put it another way. To give is rare if it is unrequited. Now unrequited is, IMO a misnomer in that there is "something" to be gain by unrequited attempt to offer something that is not asked for if it is in the best interest of another. And what could be more appealing than an undeserved "smile". It immediately creates a non-offensive sensory connection that has amazing results we are unaccustom to. We have no idea of what ponders the mind of another but that "love connection" is surely not going hurt unless of course it was at a time in which it would be inappropriate to do such; such as at a time when someone is experiencing a loss. Even at those times a "smile" of support would be welcome and a comfort.

It's all about earth, (oop's) I mean heart; I put the "h" in the wrong place, ha. Snicker Snicker. It is that heart that will define our "humanity" as we share it with others to bolster theirs. Ah, what a grand plan! We'll catch on................one of these days. I guarantee it.:a-ok:

William