matticus
Legendary Member
He wrote some amazing words. An inspirational dude.
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He wrote some amazing words. An inspirational dude.
Beebo
Legendary Member
If you like that sort of stuff, I recommend the Tommy Boyd “Wonderful Hour” podcast where he just talks about little things that make him happy. Full of these sorts of observations.
Find joy in as many small things as possible, as one day, sooner than we think, it will be over.
Electric_Andy
Regular
As I've got older (well, I'm only 45 but have always been old for my age), I've come to appreciate this more. I think this is the key to contentment. Which is different from happiness or joy. I annoy my partner frequently with my ability to go on and on about a certain brand of soap, or I fake getting annoyed at mundane things just for the comedy aspect. But I think, finding joy or wonder or even mild irritation with very minor things helps you to be content. I could sit in a room with my thoughts and be fairly happy, without the need for wifi, social medias, expensive watches, and generally not caring what other people are doing. We are really just flies on a massive dung pile, so we might as well enjoy it
Rusty Nails
Country Member
100% agree. I’ve been doing this all my life and it works for me. I never, ever wear headphones out walking or on the bike as there is so much more interesting, probably mundane, stuff going on all around us. I even smile at strangers and say hello, and stick my tongue out at toddlers. Haven’t been thumped or reported to police yet.
AndyRM
Elder Goth
This. 100% this.
On my daily wanderings I've noticed so many people with one headphone in walking along with someone. And I'm thinking, you must be listening to some beige music, because there's no way I can conversate while Anaal Nathrakh are in my other ear.
briantrumpet
Timewaster
This. Not only are there so many interesting and beautiful sounds around us (I'm lucky that most of my outdoor stuff is in the countryside too), I'd really not want to mask that with human-created sounds.
And yes, you always should pull faces at babies and toddlers. It's the law.
icowden
Pharaoh
When I used to commute I would wear headphones so I could listen to podcasts. Same journey every day is dull. If I'm with someone else it just seems it would be weird and rude to have headphones on. If I'm cycling with my group, we are chatting or cycling through beautiful countryside - so again headphones aren't needed
secretsqirrel
Über Member
I often use 1 airpod. I can only hear properly with one ear, so I use it in my deaf ear to amplify sound on that side. They can be set up as very good hearing aids.
Psamathe
Legendary Member
I agree except eg if I'm expecting an important telephone call and face a choice to stay home and take the call or head out for a cycle and miss the call so under those circumstances I tend to head for a cycle with one earbud in so when the phone rings I can take the call (mobile in pannier).
AndyRM
Elder Goth
That's interesting. My hearing is shot (entirely my own fault).
I'll have to look up an Android equivalent.
secretsqirrel
Über Member
Rusty Nails
Country Member
Even at home, if I want to listen to something without disturbing others I use Shokz bone amplifiers. I can listen without locking the rest of life out and without people having to signal to gain my attention.
secretsqirrel
Über Member
Shokz are great, I may have a defective ear but my bone conduction is very good.
AndyRM
Elder Goth
Cheers @Rusty Nails and @secretsqirrel - I'll give them a look.
AuroraSaab
Pharaoh
Catherine Grey has a good book about this, The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary.
She's a recovering alcoholic and now takes far more joy in ordinary everyday things.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unexpected-Joy-Ordinary/dp/B07XB2PG7L/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Zgsjp_pgTmqhSJt-n0petPCmAWV36ALd-6qub1F6FA8yPL9ovalZObY0I4ohLOw7lL8UoqkIXNDFQnHP8zriuiSHRBi_i0lF9J8VmX0V2kYo9xovvHI7kx7KoyDi3af65SY0FVRHVMR0tNbcsFEA3Li6KZCT215s1XiD7rMYK9jVOm1aQithRx2I1maL68cLZBg6cVRbTNHzCSf7Nv62kA._j2WUtJ0p5xaE7fUggmXc713Mj_VdLyd_4SsCNH7K24&dib_tag=se&qid=1779800481&refinements=p_27:Catherine+Gray&s=books&sr=1-4
Her book The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober is good too, if a bit of a grim read at times.
I've always been happy with the simple things in life. Unless I have something very specific to worry about, eg health or kids, I often think sit in Mcdonald's with a cup of tea and tell the OH 'We live like kings'. He agrees.