Where Do We Find Our Happy?
06.18.18
Hi Friend,
I just got back from a great vacation in Lisbon and Berlin last week. The trip coincided with my birthday (35) and was spent both traveling solo and meeting up with friends. In the course of it all I had a lot of time to think and examine the things that I really want out of life and what makes me happy. All in all I didn’t come to too many conclusions, but I did realize a few things:
1) For me, there’a a big difference between what I want to do, what I need to do, and what I (think) I should do. I need to get those things more aligned.
2) Happiness is not a goal in and of itself.
3) I tell myself a lot of narratives, many of which turn out to be false.
35 has felt like turning a new chapter, and I’m trying to approach it with much more joy and uncertainty — opening myself to risk and, more importantly the possibility of failure. The reality is, the reward is bigger the more we try.
So, here we go.
1. The Happy Film
While I was in Lisbon I was lucky enough to see The Happy Show by Stefan Sagmeister, a graphic designer and a bit of a hero for me. I love his joy-filled approach to creativity that mixes with intense thoughtfulness and discovery. The Happy Show was a breakdown of his quest to understand happiness. It’s at turns hilarious and thought-provoking. Accompanying the show is a film he produced where he tried 3 different methods of finding happiness: meditation, therapy, and pharmaceuticals. I really identified with Stefan in the film and if nothing else, it may change the way you think about the pursuit of happiness.
Watch It
2. Direct Your Own Biopic
I wrote a piece in Medium about rethinking the way I approach risk and who’s in charge of my happiness.
Read It
3. AI Sex Dolls
If I’m honest, I clicked on this because I was curious to see what an AI sex doll looked like, but this 12 minute documentary is a fascinating look at the future of sex and what companionship might look like in the digital age. It’s at turns highly discomforting and extremely desirous. And if you think you’re above it all, just imagine how many digital products we interact with that bring us companionship and joy that we don’t even question today. It may be a bridge too far for some, but I don’t think it’s a bridge that’s very far away.
