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1 | --- | ||
2 | title: Problems | ||
3 | id: problems | ||
4 | genre: prose | ||
5 | |||
6 | project: | ||
7 | title: Book of Hezekiah | ||
8 | class: hezekiah | ||
9 | order: 6 | ||
10 | next: | ||
11 | - title: Liking things | ||
12 | link: likingthings | ||
13 | prev: | ||
14 | - title: Moving sideways | ||
15 | link: movingsideways | ||
16 | ... | ||
17 | |||
18 | The problem with people is this: we cannot be happy. | ||
19 | No matter how hard or easy we try, it is not to be. | ||
20 | It seems sometimes that, just as the dog was made for jumping in mud and sniffing out foxholes and having a good time all around, man was made for sadness, loneliness and heartache. | ||
21 | |||
22 | Being the observant and judgmental people they are, people have for a long time tried to figure out why they aren't happy. | ||
23 | Some say it's because we're obviously doing something wrong. | ||
24 | Some say it's because we think too much. | ||
25 | Some insist that it's because other people have more stuff than we do. | ||
26 | These people don't have a clue any more than any of the rest of us. | ||
27 | At least I don't think they do, and that's good enough for me.[^1] | ||
28 | I think that the reason why people are unhappy (and this is a personal opinion) is that they realize on some level (for some it's a pretty shallow level, others it's way down there next to their love for women's stockings[^2]) that there is no background to put themselves against, no "[big picture][]" to get painted into. | ||
29 | This makes sense, because on one level, the level of everyday life, the level of *observation*, there is always a background---look in a pair of binoculars sometime. | ||
30 | But on another level, that of ... shit, wait. | ||
31 | There are no other levels.[^3] | ||
32 | |||
33 | What's more, people try to explain how to get happy again (although it's doubtful they were ever happy in the first place---people are very good at fooling). | ||
34 | Some say standing or [sitting in a building][] with a lot of other unhappy people helps. | ||
35 | Some say that you can't stop there; you also need to sing with those other unhappy people about how unhappy you are, and how you wish someone would come along and help you out, I guess by giving you money or something. | ||
36 | I say all you really need to be happy is a good stiff drink.[^4] | ||
37 | |||
38 | In any case, people have for some reason or another, and to some end or another, always been unhappy. | ||
39 | And people have always tried to figure out ways to be less unhappy---one of the most important things to people everywhere is called "the pursuit of happiness." | ||
40 | I think that calling it a pursuit makes people feel more like dogs, who are the most happy beings most people can think of. | ||
41 | By pursuing happiness, they're like a dog pursuing a possum or a bone on a fishing rod: two activities that sound like a lot of fun to most people. | ||
42 | I think most people wish they were dogs. | ||
43 | |||
44 | [big picture]: ronaldmcdonald.html | ||
45 | [sitting in a buiding]: feedingtheraven.html | ||
46 | |||
47 | |||
48 | [^1]: This seems to be an attempt on Hezzy's part to set an example for | ||
49 | mankind. It should be noted that he is an alcoholic, and not in any | ||
50 | shape to be an example to anyone. | ||
51 | |||
52 | [^2]: It is thought that only the leg coverings of the female sex are | ||
53 | here referenced | ||
54 | |||
55 | [^3]: You have hereby found the super special secret cheat code room. | ||
56 | Yes, this is just like Super Mario Brothers---you can skip right to | ||
57 | the end. Go and face the final boss already! | ||
58 | |||
59 | [^4]: See footnote, above | ||