I recently had the pleasure of watching “Into The Wild”, a film based on a Jon Krakauer book in which a young college graduate (Christopher McCandless) packs up his life and backpacks his way around the US, ending up in Alaska.
In a moment of extreme loneliness in a derelict bus in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, the young adventurer scrawls the following statement onto a piece of wood which doubled as his diary:
“Happiness is only real when shared”
Rarely does a quote in a film hit so hard, and it’s had me thinking over the past few days…. Is happiness only real when shared? The more I think about this, the more I feel that this is a massive topic for debate, therefore I would like to open this up and hear your thoughts on the following question:
Is Happiness only real when shared?
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In my own experience, happiness is often times magnified when shared with other dear and happy people, but it is no less real when I am totally alone. Happiness can only be felt by you.
No matter what it may seem like, if others are trying to make you happy and you do not have that mood with in you at the time, you will not be happy.
When you think about it, happiness is only ever experienced alone; even when you share it.
Maybe we should ask, "Can we ever really share happiness?"
Great post!
Peace
For me, first there is happiness, then there is a desire to share. This must be the way of true happiness since we are all One. Happiness is that feeling I get when I feel connected to myself. And feeling connected to myself comes right before feeling connected to all of me. Feeling connected to all of me makes me want to share.
I don't think this person in your story was feeling connected, but was feeling lost and wanting another to help him feel connected. Something we all want when feeling disconnected and we don't know how to reconnect.
So real happiness shares.
That is why I write on my blog and comment here. And I would dare say that it is the same for all who write here.
The book offers new layers to the film's perspective. Giving up what you think you know enables uto rediscover what you had forgotten. That surfacing awareness of what is encompasses everything.
Interesting. I certainly feel very happy and content when alone. The happiness when shared with my wife, friends, family and so on is somehow different, yet still happiness.
Maybe, as often, English is short of yet another word. Both fit under the 'happiness' banner yet are different.
I have sometimes felt my greatest loneliness when in the company of others. I have sometimes felt my greatest joy when alone in my own company. I believe both happiness and loneliness are within me. It doesn't matter if I am alone or in an airport full of people. Sharing adds to the feeling or takes away from the feeling. I will have to think about this topic more.
"If a tree falls in the woods and there's no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
There are no answers independent of the question recipient's subjective perception and response.
When we reach a place where we truly understand this and can gain no further benefit from the exchange, we are free to silently, simply, be.
This was a great film. His perspective is based on his being alone.
In my experience, I can have moments of happiness and moments of contentment - but sharing happiness is a whole 'nother thing.
Happiness when shared is happiness multiplied and perhaps in its purest form. An individual smile is not the same as ones own laughter or the laughter of a group of smiling people.
Having looked into the face of a small baby smiling = and receiving a smile back = how much more is that than looking in the mirror smiling?
I love this quote and I think it very well may be true.
Human beings were not meant to be alone or to just sit and be happy - we were meant to share everything with each other.
Happiness is just one emotion and oh how it multiplies in the arms of the love of another.
Great topic.