Tuesday 14 August 2018

Happiness


In a previous post, Jan left a comment on my blog saying, "there is so little happiness in our world at times."

By the way, visit her blog HERE. You will enjoy it.

So, as I was saying, there seems to be little happiness in the world these days. Whenever you switch on the TV or radio, or buy the newspapers all you hear is bad news. I don't know about you, but after a while all this bad news tends to wear me down. I have bad news overload. The hard-drive in my memory banks can't take any more bad news. My brain tends to switch off to the point where I become immune to bad news and sad events that are happening all over the world. And that in itself is bad. When we become immune to someone else's suffering we become less human. I dare say, we become less Christian. How can we obey Christ's message of loving one another if we no longer care about some sad event the other side of the world because we've heard too much bad news.

I suppose that's why over the years I've developed a sense of humour. It is not to shut out bad news and become immune to it, but to restore some balance in my brain and to seek a tiny bit of happiness, albeit at times short lived.

My sense of humour has not always helped me at work. When others wrestled with a serious managerial problem I often said something I thought funny to defuse the tension; and gain me the displeasure of my boss.

I remember once the boss gathered a team of "experts" to resolve an impending crisis. He started the meeting by asking what skills we had and wrote them on the board. Some said they were expert at economics, marketing, sales, financial management and all that. When it came to my turn, and my boss asked for my skill, (he knew it anyway, for Pete's sake ... I worked for him), I don't know why, but the devil in me said, "I wrestle crocodiles!"

To his credit, without batting an eye lid, he wrote "wrestles crocodiles" on the board.

Anyway, this is a long winded way to ask what is happiness? What is it to you? How would you define it in your case?

For me, happiness is getting home and finding there is still a piece of cheese in the mouse trap. I could then have cheese and biscuits and a glass of port. Well ... not actual port ... vinegar diluted with water. Now I'm sure some of you would be disgusted at what I've said. But I challenge anyone to tell me the difference between port, or a fine wine, and water and vinegar. For extra sweetness I dissolve some sugar in the water before adding it to the vinegar. It makes a fine rose wine from Château Victor!

Just had a thought ... it's been a while since I posted any videos. So here are two: about Happiness. Please humour me and spend a few minutes listening to the lyrics, and perhaps joining in the songs.

Let me know what you think. I made both videos.

The first song is sung by Father Francis Maple. A priest I have known for years.


   

 The second song is sung by the Monks of Weston Priory in Vermont USA.

16 comments:

  1. wrestles crocodiles... a useless skill until you need it, then you REALLY need it!

    Happiness...hmm...contentment, joy, resting in peace-- these things are good. But happiness comes and goes, I suppose.


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  2. Wrestling crocodiles is good when you're on WWE, TNA or other wrestling franchises. It's difficult though to put a winner's belt on a crocodile.

    Happiness does not go if you continue to put cheese in your mouse trap.

    God bless.

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  3. My goodness, but those videos were not what I was expecting. Hands down, my favorite is Father Francis. Yes, I was singing along. :)
    (So when might we expect to see you singing and playing, Victor? … please?)

    I'm a huge believer in humor used as a teaching tool; or simply to defray tensions.

    I hope Jan not only enjoys this column but takes a moment to check out Sean Dietrich's blog. For instance?: http://seandietrich.com/good-/


    God bless you right back! :)

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    Replies
    1. I am so pleased you enjoyed the videos, Mevely. I have known Fr Francis for years; he is in his 80s now. He sings in malls and shopping centres, and in his concerts to raise money for the poor. Over the years he has raised more than £1m. He also writes books and contributes articles to newspapers and magazines. His website is available if you click on his name in the post above. I have put a number of his songs on You Tube here:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDkeQvsGyKU&list=PLCGLgIPutQI8RLMu5avYQgoERNg3NHgRt
      Give it a try!

      Unfortunately, I don't sing or play music, Mevely. When I sing I frighten the wildlife for miles around. But I used to present a radio program years ago. I'll post a bit from those shows sometimes.

      Visiting Sean Dietrich right now.

      God bless you, my friend.

      Delete
  4. Humour is a great way to uplift ourselves, that and music. Thanks for your uplifting songs today Victor.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Christine. So glad you enjoyed this post.

      God bless you always.

      Delete
  5. Yes, happiness is where you are and what you want to be...
    And humour is a wonderful thing, it's sometimes makes a difficult time a little bit easier.
    Thank you for this wonderful post! I enjoyed it very, very much.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Kaya,

      How nice it is to see you visiting me here. Thank you so much. Please call again soon. I am so glad you enjoyed this post. More humour here again soon.

      God bless you.

      Delete
  6. Music makes me happy. It can be uplifting and change my mood to a happy state if I'm feeling depressed and a good laugh always helps too. Your videos were very uplifting, thank you Victor.

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    Replies
    1. I am pleased you enjoyed the videos, Bill. I put together videos mainly on music which I find up-lifting. I may post some more on this Blog in future.

      God bless.

      Delete
  7. Victor, your videos are definitely cheerful and happy. Both had great thoughts and uplifting tunes...loved them! I was humming along and they are running through my mind as I comment here 🎵🎶🎵
    Thank you for mentioning my blog in your post. This was very kind of you :)
    I've had a busy day and your post was just what I need now to wind down and enjoy some happiness! I know... I will
    listen to your two videos again!

    Great post you very talented writer and all around great human being~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jan for your very kind words. To be honest, I don't sing in the videos. I just put them together with nice scenery and photos etc ... However, I may post a song I sung some time ago.

      God bless you always. Hope people check out your great blog.

      Delete
  8. Loved the happy songs. With a name of happyone as you can imagine I choose to be happy. I think though that Joy is more of what I have because happiness is based on events and joy is something that only Jesus can put in your heart and that is what I have. : )
    I do so enjoy your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree about what you say regarding Joy, Happyone. Joy is often linked with Hope, is it not. Hope in what Christ is doing for us every day.

      I am so glad you enjoyed the songs. Thank you for your kind words about my Blog.

      God bless you and your family always.

      Delete
  9. I'm glad Myra gave you a link for Sean's blogs. Always uplifting. Your posts are also always uplifting!! I appreciate your humor which is always wrapped around serious subjects!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Terri for your kind words. The reason my posts are up-lifting is because I write them in an elevator.

      God bless you. Hope you are well.

      Delete

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