Happiness comes in many different flavors and varieties. Moments of happiness can catch us at home, at work, in the street, or by unexpected encounters with beauty. We can be captured by happiness when we are in a crowd, during a relaxed evening with a few friends, in a moment of connection with one person, or when we are alone.
Happiness can be high-energy and exciting or relaxing and contemplative. You have probably heard about Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of Flow, the addictive feeling created by the perfect balance of fluent skill, the right level of challenge, and focused concentration. A “flow-like” state though can also arise from more contemplative deep perceptual experiences.
In my twenties, I remember one day of almost suicidal desperation during one of my many abandonment-by-boyfriend emergencies. That afternoon, I picked up my pieces and went to one of these artsy theaters that show old and indie movies. They were showing An american in Paris. I went by myself, and for those 113 minutes I felt happy. Really, truly, completely happy. Since then, I have always had a very soft spot for musicals, the music of George Gershwin, and how Gene Kelly smiles when he dances.
When I lived in Pisa–trapped inside my late teens angst during a time of extreme political unrest–I used to find my own flow-like state in a cafe in Piazza Garibaldi, looking at people walking outside from the large glass windows, while the jukebox played ’70s and early ’80s music. I still love looking at people in cafes while music is playing.
Music is a big part of my sudden moments of perfect happiness. Happiness comes often when I listen to the iPod Scott bought me for my birthday. I may be driving to work, eating by myself in the cafeteria, writing away on my ibook, or even grocery shopping. There is something magic in making the entire world around us musical, without interruption, not knowing what will play next, but knowing we can trust it.
[It’s probably true of everybody’s music library, but I have a quite eclectic collection of music on my iPod: from Christina Aguillera to Patti Smith, from Tibetan monk chants to Eminem, from Max Bruch to The Clash, Yo-Yo Ma, Gilberto Gil, and Cold Play. So until I decide to organize my playlists, I literally don’t know what to expect next.]
Buddhism teaches how to train the mind to reach a state of bliss and equanimity free of constraints. Unfortunately, it takes a long time, perhaps many lives, to get there. In the meanwhile, I’ll take the perfect if ephemeral moments of happiness that I get from listening to my iPod. Perhaps technology can’t make us happy, but at times it gets darn close.
January 22, 2006
My moment of flow this weekend was purchasing and listening to Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album: a serious gap in my music collection. In high school, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was our anthem. It was the song of rebellion for all the “alternative”, artsy, freaky misfits. I was surprised that I still remember all of the words. On the way home, I cranked up the car stereo and screamed out all of my angst with Kurt. I was in heaven!
Also bought the Limp Bizkit album with the “Nookie” song on it (shh… don’t tell anyone!)
January 23, 2006
So far I have resisted buying an mp3 player, and no one has gotten me one as a gift. I love the innovation, and the staggering possibilities available in a tiny container. But I have not yet been able to get myself past the way it makes people disconnect from their surroundings. Seems like more evidence of the Bowling Alone phenomenon. I’m antosocial enough, I don’t need encouragement! And I feel mildly insulted when I pass someone in a public place who has earbuds in and is lost in whatever they are listening to. I want them to try and connect with me, dammit! But for use in the car, I’m all over that. I know I will break down soon, perhaps very soon, and join your ranks.
Thanks for the tip about the Gryphon Cafe – I will have to check it out.
January 27, 2006
[…] Yesterday I had a few more thoughts about the iPod-induced state of bliss that I described earlier. I was listening to music in my car while driving to work (I got a Monster iCar tuner, which seems to work quite well with my iPod) when I realized that I was really enjoying my morning commute. […]