Early this morning when I had finished my morning chores and just sat down to read the first newspaper of the day, I got a phone call from a friend and on hearing my cheerful greeting he asked me “how can you be so disgustingly cheerful this early in the day?”.
Okay, I confess that I am disgustingly cheerful not only early in the mornings but in all the telephone calls that I receive.
Anyway, my being always cheerful whether on the phone or on a face to face meeting, is often misunderstood as being happy. I confess that I am as human as the next person and can experience sadness, melancholy, joy, frustration and just about every other emotion that everyone experiences. I simply refuse to let whatever is bugging me at that point of time come out and spoil the mood of the other person/s. My good friend Ramesh has given me the nickname Swamiji and insists on calling me by that only, because he says that I am always cheerful! He is still to come to grips with my explanation that I am just eudaimoniac! I don’t know if that word is correct and I am ready to be corrected.
Martin Seligman calls that state of mind as “Flourishing”.
Anita, Have I annoyed you enough?
You’re not annoying me! While I hope I can be empathetic to those who want to talk about their concerns, I dislike being snarled at unexpectedly because I’ve haplessly deigned to call or greet someone.
No Linda, that question was a private joke between me and Anita! Please see her comments elsewhere here. I don’t snarl at people as a rule.
Whether correct or not the term eudaimoniac is best left to the lofty egos of pseudo intellectuals who like to display their sophistication with their use of $5.00 words. You are simply a nice guy that makes a conscious effort to be polite, respectful and pleasant when greeting others. To those who find that somehow offensive I say “Get a life!” or – and knowing your dislike of swearing – I offer a non-vulgar fuggum! 🙂
shackman recently posted..What Nondescript Item Had The Most Impact On Your Life (How/Why ?)
Wow! And I am in total agreement. And I like that non vulgar response too.
“eudaimoniac” .. Reading about it gave me a headache and I still don’t know what it means. I much prefer to ‘flourish’ … “Oh, when your smiling… when your smiling, the whole world .. etc.” .. 🙂
Flourish away Big John. You make so many others smile.
Hi Rummy,
I’m “disgustingly cheerful” as well (didn’t know that was a “sin”) 😉
Like you, I don’t get absorbed by life’s vicissitudes.
Cheers
Max Coutinho recently posted..Political Indicators for 2015
Continue to be disgusting and bug people please.
It is always good to have a few people around whose self-worth and purpose in life is measured by the misery they go through. Offering them kindness and charity is then quite appropriate.
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It may be appropriate but how sad that there are people like that!
Just recently someone considered dropping my blog because I’m always so “damned cheerful” and live like a monk. Well, yeah. My title was chosen for a reason. 🙂 It’s a great life.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Checking Facts
That was me (I).
You don’t exactly live like a monk with your Prime mail, stuff you order and discard, your house “up there”. I spend a lot on big items but live frugally–like a monk.
She laughed when I told her that. We may be opposites but are great friends.
When she laughed was when I told her I was ditching her blog because she’s so “damned cheerful…”
All of us know that BHB and that she laughed is also true to character.
For me being a monk isn’t about money, it’s about how we focus our energy and attention.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Checking Facts
Your energy & attention is all on the computer. Monks don’t have computers.
Are you sure about that, bikehikebabe?
http://www.buddhanet.net/mag_surf.htm
https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100418024729AAjWvZk
Hmm… what were we just talking about over on your site, Cheerful Monk? 🙂
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..Tired of Looking at My Own Nose
We do love Amazon Prime! Almost instant gratification.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Checking Facts
Now, this concept of “instant gratification” may not be the ideal spiritual state for a monk. 😉
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..Tired of Looking at My Own Nose
“Happiness as a spiritual practice” was the original tagline for cheerfulmonk. Spirituality doesn’t have to be grim. 😉
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Solar Heating Panels in Action
So you equate “delayed gratification” with “grim”? 😉
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..Just ONE Word? You’re Kidding, Right?
Yes, it is indeed almost instant gratification.
And that one is one of life’s great models of fun!
That’s a lovely greeting! I need more eudaimonic people in my life, Rummuser. I think I am the same, most of the time – not 100%, maybe, but it’s more in my nature than being gloomy or sad. I was just telling someone this morning that I pretty much laughed my way through cancer diagnosis and treatment a few years ago. Why not? What’s the point of crying and adding the insult of a stuffy nose to all the other misery? 🙂
I wish more people could be eudaimonic. It’s a good word, Rummuser, and I think you used it perfectly.
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..Spammerview: A Blogging Fable with No Moral
I have been told a few people that I should stop being such a snob and simply use ordinary language. So, joyful should do I think.
Cheerful early will either help, or annoy if the cheerfulness isn’t shared.
I agree, Bikehikebabe. As I’ve replied to Holly, whether you’re ‘disgustingly’ cheerful or ‘annoyingly’ chipper, I think both descriptives arise from the state of mind of the other person. I think a little sensitivity is required when unleashing ones cheerfulness on some unsuspecting sod who’s had a bad day. Cheerfulness and compassion together go a long way towards raising another’s spirits – and isn’t that the point?
Bingo!