Think Happy Thoughts

It occurs to me that most of my blogs so far have basically been me whining about one thing or another. That's really what blogs are for, so it shouldn't come as any sort of surprise. That said, there are a lot of things in the world that make me happy, so I thought maybe I'd share some of them.

It makes me happy when someone recognizes that they've been rude and apologizes about it. It's rare, but it does happen. One day I was waiting at a bus stop. Not for a bus, but just to confuse people. Someone near me lit up a cigarette. The wind changed direction, and the smoke blew toward my face. "I'm sorry," they began, "I didn't realize the wind had changed. Would you like me to put this out?" I thought briefly about how to answer that question. On the one hand, I did want them to put it out, because I don't particularly like the smell. On the other hand, it's so rare for someone to even consider someone else's feelings that I felt compelled to utter the following: "No it's okay." Boy. That really made me happy.

Seriously, I have nothing against smokers, or alcoholics, or people who hatch out crotch fruit as if they're trying to repopulate the Earth. I don't begrudge people their thumpy music on their blown out car stereos, or their weekly football game that causes them to leap into the air and shout "WOOOOO!". These are the things that make people happy, and that's great for them. We all need something.

I do, however, wonder if my perfume-saturated, loud-talking neighbors complain much about my habits. For example, it makes me very happy to play Castlevania for hours on end, swearing and throwing temper-tantrums and smashing the controller whenever a goddamn crow comes out of nowhere to peck Simon's eyes out. I imagine that might bother someone. They're probably sick of hearing the theme to "Friends" every night because, in lieu of actual friends, I choose to laugh at Chandler's lame jokes and Monica's obsessive neatness.

I guess my point is, it seems that everyone's happiness comes at someone else's expense. It's impossible to be truly happy without making noise or smelling really bad or taking advantage of other peoples' generosity. So if that's really true, perhaps this blog (and the movies and films of which this is an extension) are really trying to do just the opposite. Explore human misery (mostly my own) for the entertainment and happiness of others.

Or it might just be a giant masturbatory exercise. Whatever.