2012.01.05 07:00 - Recipe for happiness

The Guardian for this meeting was Storm Nordwind. The comments are by Storm Nordwind.

Storm Nordwind: Hi Sam!
oO0Oo Resident: :) Storm
oO0Oo Resident: Still a few flakes drifting down I see
Storm Nordwind: Ah yes. I think they come part and parcel of Fc's tree!
--BELL--
oO0Oo Resident: Oh.. That is Fc's tree.
Storm Nordwind: So it tells me :)
oO0Oo Resident: I can claim the log unless you prefer to?
Storm Nordwind: I already have. I normally do on Thursday mornings.
Storm Nordwind: But thank you for the offer :)

Happiness.

oO0Oo Resident: OK :) I liked your email about happiness. Captured elements of Bodhisattva way.. yet not trapped by particular language.

In a email conversation, someone had asked, "What's your recipe for happiness?" Several people replied before I added my own brief thought: "Recipe for happiness: Be kind. Put others before self - constantly. Have compassion for all - constantly. And when constantly is hard - as much as you can, more and more."

Storm Nordwind: Ah yes... I'm glad you liked it. I'm not sure it's what anyone else wanted to hear, judging from the stunned silence thereafter!
oO0Oo Resident: I didn't hear that lol
oO0Oo Resident: But I certainly liked it.
Storm Nordwind smiles
Storm Nordwind: I think Boxy's request for a recipe was specifically aimed at me, so I couldn't really duck the question! :)
Storm Nordwind: I think it would be a good theme for the next Art as Being project.
Storm Nordwind: It's something I suspect people tend to sweep under the carpet - about being happy, that is.
oO0Oo Resident: It might be hard to imagine.. being in settings where atleast some of the persons present, are there with a disposition to simply help, or do no harm. There sometimes seems a continuum of insight or something, but I really don't know. ART as BEING HAPPY?
oO0Oo Resident: nice excuse to immerse in thoughts of creative happiness
Storm Nordwind smiles
Storm Nordwind: I wonder if people react in different ways, depending on their life experience. To know that in your surroundings there is unspoken, unimposing help available can be reassuring and bring a feeling of not-aloneness... though (because of life experience) I suspect some might find it claustrophobic.
--BELL--
oO0Oo Resident: Well that feels close to home :) I know for myself it is hard to see broader possibilities quite often. And the more possibilities the more freedom somehow.

Xirana arrives, disappears, and returns. And Arch joins us, with RL companion.

oO0Oo Resident: Hi Xir :)
Storm Nordwind: Hi Xirana!
Xirana Oximoxi: hi Sam, Storm:)
Storm Nordwind: Welcome back Xirana. Stormy internet weather over western Europe? :)
Xirana Oximoxi: ty Storm... it's sunny outside! :) but SL don't perceive it!
Storm Nordwind chuckles
oO0Oo Resident: :)
Storm Nordwind: Hi Arch!
oO0Oo Resident: Arch :)
Xirana Oximoxi: hello Arch!
Archmage Atlantis: Hello Storm, Sam, Xirana
Archmage Atlantis: Sitting in rl with my case workder
Storm Nordwind waves to Arch's companion
oO0Oo Resident: Hi Arch's case worker ::waves::
Archmage Atlantis: Mel says hi back
oO0Oo Resident: :)

Caucus.

Storm Nordwind: We've been fairly quiet so far, other than musing on an "Art as Being Happy" project and some remarks that came from it.
Storm Nordwind: But if anyone wishes to spring a topic on the rest of us, please feel free to do so!
Archmage Atlantis: Topic - the Iowa caucus
oO0Oo Resident: can you explain that for our international audience Arch? ;)
Archmage Atlantis: rl is real, actually
Archmage Atlantis: In the US, the voting for the president begins in Iowa
Xirana Oximoxi: welll it mmay be a good topic, but I don't know wht it is:)
Archmage Atlantis: A state with few ppl and lots of land
Xirana Oximoxi: "A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded, the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucus
Archmage Atlantis: A place that holds a crucible of belief
oO0Oo Resident: Iowa is one of the United Staes.. and a caucus is?
oO0Oo Resident: oh ty
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
--BELL--

In a democracy, are all statements tested?

Storm Nordwind: Is it really important or influential, or have the news media simply been unimaginative and latched onto and inflated an otherwise dull political circus as something to fill their column inches?
Archmage Atlantis: It is important... in a democracy, all statements are tested
Archmage Atlantis: Democracy is messy
oO0Oo Resident: are they?
Archmage Atlantis: I don't always agree
oO0Oo Resident: Does the USA have a real Democracy?
Storm Nordwind: The statements eminating from people who have the money and are thus heard can be tested. I don't recall my statements, for example, getting much testing! ;)
oO0Oo Resident thinks the USA should listen to Storm a bit more and test his statements ;)
Storm Nordwind chuckles
oO0Oo Resident: Afetr all .. he can control the weather
Storm Nordwind: Ssshhh! Don't tell everyone. That's my secret!
Archmage Atlantis: Ah (blames Storm for cold in S FL)
oO0Oo Resident: Well then, maybe the formula for happiness then! ;)
Storm Nordwind nods and smiles

Changing the weather.

Archmage Atlantis: That an the waters rising
Archmage Atlantis: polar caps melting
Archmage Atlantis: Really, Storm....or Thor
Xirana Oximoxi: I must go now!!! Have a nice day!!
Storm Nordwind: Bye Xirana. Nice to see you!
oO0Oo Resident: You too Xirana! :)
Xirana Oximoxi: bye bye:)
oO0Oo Resident: ntsy
Archmage Atlantis: into the beyond.. ms x
Storm Nordwind: I don't mess with the weather. Too many potential karmic repercussions.
Archmage Atlantis: agree
Storm Nordwind: Although - for those who remember the Molecule Theater performance - "Tuuli" was a wind spell :)
oO0Oo Resident: Charming :)
Archmage Atlantis: Dang, I'm getting old remembering being old.........yes I remember
--BELL--

"They're only gods."

Storm Nordwind: And I do remember, many years ago, attending celebrations of heathen deities who did seem to manipulate the weather for the duration of the rituals! But I guess they had a reputation to maintain... ;-))
oO0Oo Resident: lol
Archmage Atlantis: I knew Bacchus, Isis, and Prometheus, they were friends of mine
Storm Nordwind: I'm from further north, and Thor and his one-eyed father were my friends.
Archmage Atlantis: I know
oO0Oo Resident thinks.. this is some serious name dropping here lol
Archmage Atlantis: To Hikari Ii am going....Blessings and Namaste
Storm Nordwind shrugs - they're only gods
oO0Oo Resident: Bye Arch :)
Storm Nordwind: Bye Arch!
oO0Oo Resident: Bye Mel!
oO0Oo Resident: Please excuse me Storm. RL calls.. have to pop away early. Thanks, and nice to see/be with you. :)
Storm Nordwind: Always great to see you. Bye for now!
oO0Oo Resident: bfn Enjoy :)