ICYMI (reading the post this video is about) you can read it before you watch the video to familiarize yourself with the subject matter. It’s riiiiiight here 👉 “Happy is a List of Things Felt Strongly by the Body”
If you’d rather I read it to you, I am happy to do so.👇 Reading commences as soon as you hit play. Enjoy!
Notes from the Captain
You hoo, you crew. Yes, you. I greet you with a smile that exceeds the width of my face for I am so beamingly, tripping-over-my-feet, happy to see you.
Happy. There’s a thought. A feeling. A moment.
What makes you happy? Can you define happy? Where is happy in your heart? Are there GPS co-ordinates and is there a Strava segment to get to it? (That’s a very specific reference only people who track their exercise will get as they use a specific app that they’ll probably cancel soon because Strava seems to hate how its users use it1 and THIS IS SEARING SOCIAL COMMENTARY!)
In my last post, I spoke of how I feel happiness in my body. I am aware of its presence and like to acknowledge it in the room of me when present. I don’t know if this has always been so. Part of me thinks it’s one of the rewards you get for becoming older: the ability to recognize and feel happiness when it taps you on the shoulder. Because you probably have frozen shoulder or tennis elbow or plantar fascitis or meniscus tears and there should be some compensation for that so, hey, here’s the ability to express your happy through a sensory experience within your body.
Your body still works! Just not how it used to.
Does everyone feel happy on their skin? In their bones? Carpeting the floor of their heart? (I only just found out that when some people hear the word apple they don’t see a fully formed, colorful apple in their head, so I’m always curious how others experience things. More about that below).
All of this to say, when you’re happy, trust the happy. Don’t look at it with suspicion. Don’t doubt its motive. Happy comes and goes and if we don’t take the time to appreciate it when its with us, well, we’ll probably arrive at the end of our individual timelines having earned the moniker “miserable old [insert derogatory term of your choice]” here.
Watch the video, listen to me read the post, and I’ll see you on the seas.
🫡 This non-miserable old salt salutes you. Let us begin.
Thangs from this episode…
👩✈️ Some stuff about happy people, countries, and science
Here is the 20 minute video I talked about in my video above.👇
The UN World Happiness Report, 2024 is here. Once again, Finland is all smiles. 145 countries ranked.
Snapshot
Happiness is measured using six categories including GDP per capita, social support, and healthy life expectancy, among others.Northern European countries dominate the top of the happiness rankings, reflecting strong social support systems and high standards of living.
Finland is ranked as the happiest country in the world in 2024, with Denmark and Iceland following closely behind.
👇 Some random vids on happiness and happy people
I watched this years and years ago, 100% because Werner Herzog made it and I think he’s ace. It’s on youtube, but I’m not sure if this is an official upload. It’s also on streaming services. 👇
There are too many things to watch regarding what makes people happy. Happiness is fascinating.
Extras:
“The Science of Happiness” - Psychology Today
”I spent 10 years studying what makes us happy in life” - CNBC (happiness and the senses)
”6 Secrets You Can Learn From the Happiest People on Earth” - TIME (2014)
And here’s an…. alternate perspective.👇
👩✈️ A happy playlist
Having said that, the theme of this playlist is not that the songs in this list are happy sounding or make me happy, but they all have happy in either the title, band name, or are happy adjacent (that’s how I’m allowing the Joy Division. You can never skip Joy Division.)
👩✈️ What does your apple look like?
Aphantasia—I mentioned it in today’s intro ramble. Aphantasia is the INability to see things in one’s mind. And now, I shall turn to Hank Green to explain.
Here’s a little explanation image (created by WeAreCognitive) from this story.
The story goes on to explain it from a creativity perspective, noting that:
The important word to note here is “visually.” Aphantasia does not mean a complete lack of imagination, it means a lack of visual imagination.
A common concern in the people with aphantasia that I have spoken to is whether or not the condition affects their ability to be creative. The answer is a resounding no. Having aphantasia does not show any correlation with decreased creative capacity. In fact, some highly successful, highly creative individuals have famously had aphantasia: Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar and former president of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Craig Venter, the biologist who first sequenced the Human Genome. Blake Ross, creator of Mozilla Firefox. Glen Keane, Disney Animator and Creator of The Little Mermaid. Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller.
Creativity is the process of having original ideas that have value. As we have discussed often on TCR, imagination is a key aspect in the creative process. Creativity is “applied imagination.” Not only have we established that aphantasia does not mean a lack of imagination, we also know that the creativity often thrives when presented with boundaries or obstacles to overcome. The human mind is inherently creative and adaptive.
👩✈️Ren and Stimpy
I sing this song often. That and Log. Ren and Stimpy made an impression on me back in the day.
👩✈️Fill that happy hole!
(That sounded weird)
I believe one should show Thom Yorke dancing about the empty space in the heart whenever one can.
And since it’s Grinch season…“Your heart’s an empty hole!” at :30 seconds
Ok. That’s it. Thanks for listening/watching and sharing this week. If you want to comment on any of the concepts in last week’s post—or just in general—feel free to leave a comment for the Captain (it me.)
I remain, as always, your faithful Noodle of the Sea, viewer of potential storms and happy sailor. Ahoy!
Your Captain, Janeen 🫡
Shameless Podcast Plug
Listen to audio versions of early issues of The Stream on my podcast, Field of Streams, available on 👉 all major podcasting platforms 👈
Here’s Apple
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