Joyful and contented life

The best definition for happiness I've seen so far. Two key points from this article:

1. Half of our happiness is genetically determined. Circumstances only account for about 10% of happiness, and rest comes from our intentional effort to counteract to our amazing ability to adapt that will try to pull us back to the genetic set point. Here is my previous post on this.

2. Variety is the key to make us happier.

Don't blame it on Internet

Interesting article from Wired:

Our reasons [of trying to connect online] are more complex than bodily need: Most people seem to be seeking some combination of understanding, a sense of belonging, excitement, pleasure, novelty, stimulation, validation, romance or even just temporary escape from the demands of ordinary daily life.

I'm not talking about biology here, which -- to oversimplify for brevity -- suggests that we are hardwired for nonmonogamy but able to overcome those instincts and mate with only one partner. I'm just noting the gap between what we preach as "right and good for everyone" and what a good many of us (the majority?) actually do. Because we can't pretend anymore that we don't.

It's no wonder we're in turmoil, demonizing the internet as if it invented unconventional sexual behavior. It's easier to blame the new technology, be it telegraphs or telephones or telecommunications, than to admit to cheating on a partner or being turned on by images we think might be taboo.

But I think all we've lost by this transparency is our innocence. Or more accurately, our hypocrisy.

Here is the main point: don't blame it on Internet, it just helps you come out of your closet and makes it easier for you to be accepted, by yourself or maybe the society. Human nature is not something technologies can alter easily. We might be better off accept it and stop living under the lies.

Will I buy into this argument? I'd put more weights on the influences of culture. I have a strong belief in our brain's plasticity: people grow up with widely different views and moral values. I genuinely admire those with strict moral codes as long as they do what they preach. However, being strict yourself does not automatically give you the higher moral ground to look down at others.

Leisure or labor

70 percent of the reduction in work hours has been offset by increased hours in school.

What is leisure anyway?The economists offer an interesting answer to this almost metaphysical question. According to them, leisure activities are those that give direct enjoyment. So all we have to do is to figure out what sorts of activities people enjoy.

[A] survey in 1985 in which people were asked to rate how much they enjoyed various activities on a scale of 1 to 10. “Sex” came in first, with a score of 9.3, followed by “sports” at 9.2. “Housecleaning” is near the bottom of the list, with a score of 4.9.

This is from today's NYT. Very true for me, I've been a quasi-full-time student for the past five years. How would I classify my school time? Leisure of labor? Since most of the time I enjoyed my classes(7 out of 10?) and exams seldom were an issue for me, I'd say it's more like leisure for me.

It might be quite a different story if I were a full-time student.