Friday, September 16, 2011

The Wisdom of The Luthier

Last night the luthier reminded me that sometimes I don't have to search very far to tap into the wisdom of the ages. He asked me about the book I was reading - "The Happiness Project" and I explained it was a a book describing a woman's research and actions undertaken over a year to change her behaviour in small ways in order to become more happy and generate more happiness in those around her.
"It's a self-help book, isn't it?" was the reply.
" Well, yes and no, ... well yes, I guess it is."
" It's easy to be happy" he went on in his matter-of-fact way
"Really? How's that?" I said intrigued.

He replied "Just pull your head out of your arse."

I think he might be onto something.


10 comments:

eve and the apple tree said...

Oh brilliant, he is my new Yoda!

Melinda said...

I think he might be too.

ally said...

wise and happy apparently!!

Lila said...

I think he is absolutely right.

Jane said...

Oh lordy if only someone had told that to that 'eat pray love' woman! Love it!

gemma @ loz and dinny said...

I like Philantino. Alot. He should start a cult. The membership fees alone excluding donations would have you your extension before you could say OM!

Lady Koukou said...

You know people in celebrity land pay a packet for this advice....

Kris said...

Tis true. And the reason I didn't love The Happiness Project. She had such a privileged and quite lovely life, I kept thinking she should just enjoy it and quit making things harder for herself.

I think you do need to work at happiness - it helps to know what makes you happy and make room for it - but you don't need to over think it. Making happiness a project seems to miss the point of happiness.

Of course, this is all offered in the spirit of do what I say and not what I do.

Mrs Smith said...

Kris, I agree with you. Another reaction of Phil's to my reading the book was "Gees, how happy do you have to get?!" He is, as always, bang on. I have nothing to be unhappy about.
What I got out of the book was a reminder that investing a little more in being myself, and choosing what I really love, not what I should love/want/ be etc. makes me even happier.
I think making happiness a project fit her type A personality. (She also made personalised Valentines cards with photos of her kids on them and sent them to everyone she knows every year and wrote books in her spare time from her day job of writing books. And if she had turned up at my house and demanded I let her de-clutter, I may well have told her to eff off!)
I think you and the luthier have got it. Pull your head out. Don't make unhappiness where there is really mostly happiness. RIght on!

Fer said...

Wise man that husband of yours... :-)