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Serenity is what? Happiness is it possible?

4K views 46 replies 24 participants last post by  hlmiskelly 
#1 · (Edited)
Happiness is a warm gun (song from when?). What is happiness? Do you pursue it or is it a by product of life?

Serenity often considered and seldom found?

What do people think?

Here is one recipe for serenity.....



Or is life just as simple as this.....



(bike from ''Fenland choppers'' - United Kingdom)

Casper:)
 
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#2 ·
I suffer from depression. Lately it`s been off the scale. I can`t stand the medication, Lorazepam, it turns me into a zombie so I don`t take it unless things get really medieval. I`m also one of these stubborn gits who won`t ring any of the helplines or talk to anyone about it, because I`m a bloke and we don`t do that.

The best therapy is to spend time doing what you like and spending time with friends. I`ve been pretty selfish and done 11,000km`s on my Sprint in 10 weeks, touring with my good friends. There is no better thing for the soul than a motorbike and an open road. It works. It really does.
 
#3 ·
There is no easy answer to the common cold of ''depression''. 1 in 4 people have a mental health issue in their lives apparently.

I have battled this, but over time it has been defeated! I still have down times but through being honest about it and the support of loved ones it has departed in it's virulent form. No pills, no bull and many less problems for me - but it is a very very hard road.

Take care mate and God bless you.

Casper
 
#7 ·
Happiness is a warm gun (song from when?). What is happiness? Do you pursue it or is it a by product of life?

Serenity often considered and seldom found?

What do people think?

Casper:)
Pregnant questions. The Greeks of old spent volumes on this subject.

For me, while I recognize that knowing thy self; staying true to myself; and, balancing my physical, religious, social, and intellectual needs is the key to allowing serenity to occur, my problem is a fickleness of dispostion; hence, serenity (rare peacefulness) is indeed rare.

Riding often produce a near-serenity, certainly clears the head, but as to whether it's genuine or long-lasting is another story.

Your question as to whether one can purposefully pursue happiness/serenity is something to ponder. My experience has been that I have to set myself up for the possibility of it to ever happen.

My day has been a delight when I've spent time with God, have exercised in some way, have been around a friend(s), have read something engaging, and of course, ridden.

Time to get off this here computer and do just that.
 
#8 ·
My day has been a delight when I've spent time with God, have exercised in some way, have been around a friend(s), have read something engaging, and of course, ridden.
wise words Paul, goes for me too ! ;)

Casper

PS Welshrob - you're definitely not on your own stay safe and enjoy life ''down under'' mate
 
#10 ·
You can't see the bike in this photo, but trust me, it's right behind me. I really enjoy mixing photography with my riding as it gives me even more of an excuse to just stop and enjoy a scene for awhile. Stuff like this is spiritual for me, no one within miles having a scene like this all to myself. For these moments everything is right. While these moments are unfortunately not sustainable all of the time, their memory and hope for more get me through the tough times.

 
#15 ·
Beautiful scenery and stunningly magnificent!

We have beautiful scenery over here in the UK just on a smaller scale.

Also, for those of us in colder climes, there is SAD to cope with as well (if we are afflicted by it).

Here in the UK I find the almost continuous rain unbearable at times.

Casper
 
#14 ·
That was in Lassen National Park. If you're interested I have an ongoing ride report on another forum with this ride as well as others that follow this serenity theme that has come into my riding. I'd be glad to PM you a link, but I'm kind of new around here and don't want to spam threads.
 
#20 ·
I love to stop in the middle of the desert, shut off the engine, stand still and listen. I still do that, but the deep tranquility I once felt in that hasn't happened in 27 years because of Spinal Tap level tinnitus and other fun head problems. So, motorcycling, music, exercise and prescription drugs. :D I don't mean drugged out or sh¡t-faced, but there are times when nothing will calm me internally.

This is what I imagine on a cold, rainy day: Lying on the beach. Seagulls, waves, children playing. Body warmed by the sun, muscles relaxed after a swim. In the moment, not thinking, only experiencing. Drift off to sleep...

I'd bottle that feeling if I could. The key phrase, there, is "in the moment." Casper's poster says it. You have to do what you need to do to jettison all the garbage that swirls around in your head and has nothing to do with anything. I suppose you could say, ride as many miles as it takes to get there.
 
#24 ·
Unk, both my mum and father in law take 2 capsules in the morning and another 2 at night. They both swear by it. My father in law was a customs man at Manchester Airport back in the day when planes were both very noisy and no one wore defenders, whilst he's now pretty deaf, he does say there's been no tintinnus since he started taking CLO.


Sent from my iPhone using Motorcycle.com App
 
#26 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hmmm. I'm no stranger to psychic entropy:(, so I use a combination of strategies to keep me from getting stuck in my head in the wrong way. Taken individually, they sound trite and treacly. Mindfullness and learning how to calm the beast were key developments. I taught myself how to meditate and now I am able to turn mundane activities into meditations. I maintain my important relationships to get me off of Planet Me. I try to see the humour in everything. I'm grateful. I keep physically active - sometimes at the gym guys'll ask "wadda ya workin today?" and I always answer "my mood." I purposefully keep learning. I consciously seek "flow states". Riding motorcycles is one of my favourite flow states.:) All of the above is under construction...
 
#28 · (Edited)
I was in Alberta in 2010 and this shot seemed magical to me.....



I don't think there is a ''magic wand'' for happiness or serenity. I have battled with it over the last 7 or 8 years as I have suffered with redundancy and crossing into the 50 year age period!!!!!

My wife and I keep honest with each other and having someone there to share over 27 years is a good thing IMHO.

I do have a religious faith, but don't want to preach on this site! But that faith keeps me grounded and I believe there is a plan and a purpose for each person's life. No one is an ''accident'' - there is a plan for us all.

Cod liver oil? Don't use it myself but hey sounds good! :)

Casper
 
#29 ·
What is happiness? Do you pursue it or is it a by product of life?"

Pretty sure whoever said the following is right: "A life devoted to the direct pursuit of happiness is the surest recipe for an unhappy life."

Those of you who like to read to learn about such topics, I found these books to be among the most accessible and useful:
"Stumbling On Happiness" by Daniel Gilbert
"Finding Flow" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
"The Happiness Hypothesis" by Jonathon Haidt
Cheers.:)
 
#31 ·
Only for short periods and then it is snatched away in the blink of an eye.
Sadly I've found this to be all to common.

MountainMan, great photo. I've found Lassen difficult to visit as I like to go to the parks in the winter to avoid crowds. But Lassen packs in so much snow it seems like the place is always closed!

I have had a number of experiences like this in Yosemite though. Of course, you have to start hiking at or before dawn if you want to get a nice view without 2200 of new (and usually very loud) friends joining you. I've also found snow shoes helpful in avoiding the masses. :)
 
#32 ·
I always feel better when I come back from a ride. BUT the Winter months get to me every once in a while. I think it's the shorter days for sure. I've battled depression all my life and I guess I cope with it more or less.

My dogs have helped out greatly for me. Kinda nice to have a couple of warm fuzzies around to keep me on my toes.
 
#33 · (Edited)
Does living in Northern climes, like we do here in the UK, have an effect on depression rates?

For example do those folk who live in say Florida or Italy or Spain have less depression?

Anyway, glad to hear you have your four legged friends. I have an old 13 year old border collie as well as my dear family around and a wife of 27 years who keeps me ''on track'' :eek:

Take care mate.

Casper;)

PS here is a bobber from ''Fenland Choppers'' UK

 
#39 ·
Well, in accordance with Lefty's claims, I know that the Swedes seek "light therapy" to attempt to prevent them from sucking on the vodka bottle and topping themselves throughout their 6 month winter. It's hard to believe that their neighbours are the happiest people on the planet;

they can't be Aussies are!
 
#40 ·
There is an interesting article in this week's New York Review of Book by Leszek Kołakowski titled "Is God Happy?" that address can one truly be happy in the presence of evil and sadness. He specifically asks can a Buddhist obtain enlightenment and serenity - happiness - and still be connected to the world or can a Christian be in happy in heaven and still connected to the suffering of others in the world and, if not, are you still you.

Great article.
 
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