find out what makes me happy

I just saw the movie Knocked Up, and there’s this line where a married guy is watching his kids and he says “I wish anything made me as happy as them blowing bubbles!!” Man, I can totally relate to that.

Everything just feels like kind of a drag these days – there’s nothing I really look forward to anymore. This is why I’ve been listing these stupid video games on my 43Things list… just to force myself to find something entertaining.

I read books, but they’re mostly non-fiction and I feel like I’m forcing them too. I get to a certain point and am just bored as all hell with them. I’ve actually got NINE books checked out from the library right now. Finishing strong and focusing are not my forte.

I guess I do have soccer games and working out, which do make me happy. Those are fun and constructive things, at least. Better than watching TV, which feels like a total waste of time. Way better than drinking my life away.

Doing new things definitely excites me, especially trying to figure out something – anything really – on a computer. It’s entirely lame to admit, but I love that feeling of solving a problem. Totally breaking it down and owning it, and never looking back.

I’m gonna go try to do that now, cause otherwise I may go nuts with stress and responsibility, and no way to enjoy what little free time I actually have.

For starters, I just want to list out some activities that make me happy, when taken on their own.

1) Unfortunately, it seems like the things I spend most of my time doing – watching TV & movies, listening to music, napping – I actually don’t get much happiness out of, probably because they are passive.

The only exception is watching football, which I get a ton of enjoyment out of during the game, whether my team win or lose.

2) I absolutely love to play any game that I can be competitive [or at least respectable] at. For example, playing soccer, poker, or chess. Even games I’m not any good at such as pool and ice hockey are really fun. However, I don’t get any happiness out of doing stuff I’m bad at, like rock climbing, basketball, or scrabble.

I don’t even have to win to have a good time. I just have to be able to do it well. As for video games: these are only really fun when you play them against another human, like Guitar Hero 2.

On the other hand, I don’t find much fun in running, practicing sports, and lifting weights, probably because they are individual activities… perhaps I could try and make these competitive somehow? I could try and involve a partner.

3) Donating gives me a lot of enjoyment. Even if it’s just writing a check to charity, or giving blood to the Red Cross.

4) the obligatory answer: sex

More items to come later.