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meg fowler tripp dot com
You are currently browsing comments. If you would like to return to the full story, you can read the full entry here: “happy?”.
I am certainly happy you’re closer and that I get to see you more. You’re a kindred spirit, and I’m not just saying that because both you and Anne of Green Gables are Canadian. I’m happily certain life is better for a lot of us when you’re around.
I think “Are you happy?” often falls into the same polite-society-platitude category that “How are you?” does. Seems like an obligatory question to ask, but people rarely want to know the real answer.
Wow. This one hit home.
I’ve experienced a lot of the same changes (moving away from family, new career, new friends) in the past few years and have often had to answer the “are you happy?” question. And I’ve always had trouble answering it because it has been a mixed bag.
But it took reading this post to realize that the root of my often ambiguous answer to that question is the uncertainty; I don’t think I’ve had that moment yet that says “yes, this is where I’m going and all of these twists and turns are worth it.”
In the meantime I’ll keep trucking along till I hit that point. But now I can certainly look forward to the day that light switch finally turns on. So, thank you for that. :)
Brilliant, brilliant words. Definitely hit home, as I’m sure your post resonated with every person who has ever left the safety and comfort of home in pursuit of live, love and happiness in a brand new place. I’ve been following your blog for some time and all I want to say is “bravo” for your courage, your honesty and your wisdom. Thanks Meg!
(aw crap, typo!) That should be LIFE, love and happiness … ;-)
I clicked on the link to your blog today based on @tamadear’s “tweet” …pursuing something bigger than happy. There are so many business related posts today that I need to make the time for to read, but you know I really, really needed to read your more a whole lot more. I’ve been fighting with “happy” for months and not just my own happiness either! Your honesty and clarity in this blog will stay with me today and I hope every day for a long while, especially this thought “Joy should be the goal — to have peace and grace and contentment in every state, no matter what life hands you.” Beautifully written. I wish you well here and interestingly enough our daughter moved to SF several years ago to be with the man she loves and she answered my “are you happy?” question similarly to your explanation of your new life, only with a tone of impatience with me for wanting everything to be so happy and wonderful for her, so now I get it! Thank you for your humanness.
Thanks for being thoughtful, Meg. I love it.
Happiness is often temporary, based on a set of external circumstances aligning in the right order, at the right time, few of them we can control. My goal is contentment, which tends to be more long term and I of which have a lot of control. For instance, I can be unhappy in my work situation because of my director, co-workers or commute (external); however, I can be content in the fact that I have a job in the midst of so much unemployment.
1. You write beautifully, lyrically. I sailed along the words and felt the emotions with you.
2. No one has ever captured what it means to make a big move — for love or any other reason — the way you’ve done here.
3. The fact that you moved for love and it’s still a huge adjustment is so true. Even for the non-mover.
After 9 months of pining for each other (punctuated by frequent trips), when my guy finally moved from San Diego to Boston, I called a friend and whined, “There’s a man in my apartment and he won’t leave.”
4. Being new, being under scrutiny, forming ALL new friendships… it’s tough on the soul. When I’ve been in that boat, even if only for a 2 week visit to CA, I find myself missing people who already love me. I don’t want to audition.
5. All that said, Happiness is a choice. And if we keep turning in that direction – taking the path of gratitude for whatever is working & good – we will get there. Of that I am certain.
I’ve missed this.
I’ve also heard it said that “Happiness is a method of travel, not a destination.” I’m making some big changes too that I think will make for happier traveling. Good for you making the choices you did.
Great Post. Really Great Post.
I am joyful that you are happy!
normally a lurker on your blog… but had to comment since this was such a great post. I will be going through a big move next year (Vancouver to Ottawa) and am already thinking about many of the same things. You summed up those mixed feelings beautifully. Change can be hard… but still be right.
I’m so glad you’re happy and I’m so glad you’ve moved. I actually stopped reading for a while because it made me crazy that you were so far away from Gradon and I wanted to yell JUST MOVE ALREADY, and in fact, may have commented that several times. So yay for you moving and yay for me not having to wish so hard for you anymore.
Powerpoint – what the hell? Is there ANY way to keep it from capitalizing every time you hit return? And don’t get me started on bullet points and its lame system of tabs. The other day I had 10 slides where the indents were perfectly hanging and ONE where the indents would not hang. So what did I end up doing? Duplicating a slide that worked and retyping all of the info I needed into that one. GAH. And why, why does it not keep formatting when you copy a text box from one slide to another? Who thought it would be preferable to have everything suddenly pop into 36 point Arial when I paste to a new slide.
Powerpoint issues. I have them.
Such true and thoughtful words. Love it Megs.
Very well written. Thanks for a great post. I think we all can relate to it somehow at some point in our own life. Change is good but wow what a lot of work and effort too.
So really Meg, how are you? :)
Come to think of it, I don’t believe anyone has ever asked me that question. Am I happy? I have no idea. I am not unhappy. Great. Now I have issues. Thanks.
Just have to say knowing you are gone away leaves this city feeling a little less happy. But I am a glad you are with your love and moving your life forward in new degrees. All the best wee Meg.
I think, in general, we all spend far too much time thinking about whether or not we’re happy instead of just being.
I haven’t read your blog in a very long time, but I can, without a doubt, say that I am happy I decided to today.
As always, it’s extremely well written, and has left me with the “corner-of-the-mouth” smile that intelligent wit usually does.
Thanks for being an inspiration as a writer, and as someone who genuinely enjoys life.
Certainty leaving happy in the dust!
Awesome.
Just checked in on your blog for the first time in an AGE, for a really circuitous set of circumstances, and WOW!
The joy and grace are evident.
Thank you, and blessed be.