I read a lot about the effects of chronic, daily hours-long engagement with social media. Endless smartphone scrolling. The go-to thing when there’s any idle time. I see such behavior play out in the gym at my health club as well.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – United States Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson replaced the word “property” with “pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence, … While influenced by [English philosopher] John Locke’s “life, liberty, and property,” Jefferson’s substitution made the right to happiness an unalienable right accessible to all citizens, not just those who owned land. – Google AI Summary
Is the pursuit of happiness the pursuit of ease? As in living well and doing well? Modernity projects a vibe of comfort and convenience, a removal of friction. While this begs the issue of the haves and have-nots – or those with and without property, the drift is promoted for all. (As if to turn us all into Hobbits, eh.) But that’s a relatively recent historical disposition, not what our biology depended on for survival over eons.
Continue reading Beyond happy – the pursuit of ease erases our humanity (and liberty)
idyllic_moment.jpg
Attaining (whether by pluck or luck) a seemingly friction-free life is a seductive notion. A state essentially without complaint. Something to yearn for, strive for. Perhaps achieve via a life of effort, as a well-earned place. Or a heroic reward. A validation of righteousness.
Such is this notion portrayed in mythology and modern lore … as haven, heaven, Elysium Fields. A refuge with resistance in remission … gnawing doubts gone … sorrow set aside. A friction-free liberty.
Yet, I’ve always wondered about the dynamics of such a space. Who or what services that realm? What individual or collective agency pertains there?
Continue reading Beyond happy – a resonant reality requires resistance
[Draft 11-3-2025]
Copyright © 2025 John P. Healy
(humility’s hard done by)
In the murky stillness, something sharp hit his head, knocking him to the ground. Rising to his knees, claws tore into his back. He howled in pain. Then there was just chatter. A voice said, “Zach, are you okay?” His fur was wet with sweat, not blood. The dream was over.
But later Zach was not so sure …
Continue reading feather & fur – a 21st century fable, part 1
Meaningscape is a relatively new word – for the contours & connections that we sense and use to grasp our reality. It’s a layered ‘sandwich’ of signs & symbols, beacons & benchmarks, ways & waypoints, memories & meanings. [1]
Meaning is relational. Meaning is finding a shared way of reading and navigating the world, including socially & culturally.
There’s the context of the meaning OF life – some type of cosmic connection; but, more importantly, there’s finding meaning IN life – social connection which grounds our well-being.
The craving for connection is the need for meaning.
Continue reading The meaningscape – synchronizing shared realities?
I like the use of the word alignment in this article for bridging meaning & purpose via storytelling.
But, without compassion & insight, might such reframing & narrative produce dark purpose? – e.g., vindictiveness [1].
• Psychology Today > “The Story You Tell Yourself” by Jordan Grumet M.D., The Regret-Free Life (May 8, 2025) – We are “narrative beings.”
Continue reading The stories we tell ourselves – anchoring purposeHappiness isn’t a destination; it’s a synthesis.
[updated 5-19-2025]
we scale ourselves …
in moving from low to high,
we see our pathway as true,
and that we are in the right.
yet forever left nearby,
as if they are out of view,
still the shadows of the night
whether heaven or haven
will ever erase our blight,
our myths impel us even
further on a cosmic flight
[refrain]
contemplate views from the site
the infinite in your sight
a temporary delight
the peak of eternal light
like Sisyphus for his wrongs,
while the summit’s view rivets,
we cannot stay at such height,
it’s not where our soul belongs,
just for brief tourist visits
the peak of eternal light
Copyright © 2025 John P. Healy
Continue reading the gods need not take our sight … (peak of eternal light)
If the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland (the 1951 Disney film) used a smartphone, would his passing by a curious Alice have been less panicky?
Are you a multi-tasker? Over the years, real-time task juggling has been praised. Multi-tasking on our digital devices has become the model for all tasks, at work & home (even perhaps on vacation). Hey, lifestyle of the 21st century. In fact, not doing so sometimes is viewed as a personal deficiency.
But what does research say? I’ve noticed a few articles now & then exploring the question. Here’s the latest:
Continue reading Multi-tasking – formula for thriving or folk tale?
[Draft 3-24-2025]
You’re at a cocktail party … or maybe in a social setting with your family … your attention is selective – like moving a spotlight around a stage, or tuning between foreground & background channels. Did you notice the person dressed in a gorilla costume walk by in the distance? [4]
Others want your attention. Sirens are calling you.
You want attention. Thrive on such attention.
(quote)
… the ability to grab the attention of the consumer is more important than the actual product or service offered. … we will forever be invested in [hunger for] other people paying attention to us. – Chris Hayes [1]
I was reminded recently of the book Small Is Beautiful. Does its economic philosophy still pertain to today’s world?