Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with happy

New! Improved! Mood-brightening and enlightening!

fiercecupcake — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:21:43 -0800

What are some good, fun, little Internet surprises? More like this, less like Goatse. Little things you can make and send to a stranger/acquaintance/friend/lover/imaginary Internet person. Some things I use for this purpose are someecards.com and the above puri site. I'm always looking for more.

Key features:
* Free or for a nominal fee
* Surprising, inspiring, creative, fun, silly
* Not necessarily romantic

Yes, I can draw something in Paint and attach it to an e-mail, or take a picture and send it to someone, but I'm looking for something a little more unexpected. I feel like I've seen threads like this in AskMe before, but I can't find any of them!

Help me surround myself with happy.

moira — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:32:36 -0800

I'm looking for uplifting, happy-making songs, books, movies, and other media. Life-affirming, joyful, inspiring, silly, light-hearted, motivating: if any of these descriptions apply, it's just what I'm looking for. Some quick examples off the top of my head: "Bright as Yellow" by Innocence Mission and "Dear Prudence" by The Beatles for music; "Groundhog Day" for movies.

I'd like to avoid any significant amount of negativity. Stories about overcoming are powerful, I know, but I definitely don't want to go on an emotional roller-coaster to get to the happy ending. Much as I love it, something like "Ikiru" would mostly depress the hell out of me.

I have pretty wide-ranging taste, so throw 'em at me. No overtly religion-oriented suggestions, please.

(Back story: I'm struggling a bit with depression, and needing to create a positive environment for myself in as many aspects as I can. When I listen to music or watch a movie, I want to feel lightened by it. I'm addressing the depression itself, no worries.)

Lil Ms. Happy

MayNicholas — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:12:14 -0800

I am in search of a literary character... Here are the stats: Female, happy, feisty, very feminine, straight forward, unmarried in her 30's- and no shame in that position, no bitterness, genuinely happy for everyone else around her, socially not the norm but does not see that she is out of the norm, naively happy... does not have to be a classical character but must be a strong character. Thanks!

Help me make a breakup mixtape

Solomon — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:14:24 -0800

Please help me put a mixCD together for a friend who was recently dumped by her boyfriend. A friend of mine has given me the task of putting together a bunch of songs that will match her current mood. She was dumped a few days ago by her boyfriend.

The problem that I have is that there wasn't a problem with their relationship, or it's ending. They got on really well, but both of them realised that it was time to call it a day. They were happy together, and now they're happy apart. She's looking for songs that celebrate the positive ending of a positive relationship.

I Will Survive, by Gloria Gaynor: No.
Thank You, by Jamelia: No.
Etc.

Any song suggestions? I'm completely out of ideas. Every song I think of is either lamenting the end of the relationship (which she isn't) or if the singer is glad the relationship is over, the relationship was a bad one (which theirs wasn't). Any songs that you can think fit the bill will be very welcomed. I'm not ruling out any genre or age of song.

Ok is not yes!

abdulf — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:07:31 -0800

Did you marry someone you felt "ok" about at first? How did it work out? This does sound like it's been asked before, but I'm not asking for advice for any current situation - because one doesn't exist.

I was thinking about a lot of experiences I've had that I thought were going to be just ok, but turned out great.

In the context of marriage, what did you do when you found someone you felt "ok" about? Did you go ahead and marry them? Did it work out well? Better than expected?

When I say "ok" I don't say it with regret or the absence of affection. Ok is not bad. Ok is good.

But "ok" is not "great". Ok is comfortable and fulfilling. It's not a "you complete me" sort of thing though. If "ok" was a grade, it would be a B+ with a chance for extra credit.

I would like to hear stories. Thanks!

One minute I held the key, next the walls were closed on me...

cobain_angel — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:24:57 -0800

Help me go back to being a happy girl. Here it goes. This may get long, so please bear with me.

I'd always been a very bright and cheerful person who pretty much walked through the pains of life with a smile on my face. I was always convinced that anything I'd need from life I would get by means of working hard to get it. To me, nothing was impossible. This attitude about life took me through a stressful childhood (alcoholism, abuse), a move to a different country (the US), learning the new language (English!) in six months or so, and dealing with complicated situations at home (same situations as childhood). I was always eccentric (a good friend of mine referred to me once as "insane, but in a good way"), artistic, and willing to try all sorts of new things. Two years ago I met a wonderful young man and we embarked in what has truly been the best relationship I have ever had.
All of this changed last summer. I was preparing to go to a college I'd been wanting to go to for a while. I got accepted and so did my boyfriend. We were ecstatic and everything was ready. However, due to a completely unexpected problem with banking bureaucracy over in Mexico (my home country) I was left unable to attend the college I wanted. This shattered my confidence; for the first time, I was forced to face the fact that there were some things that I just was unable to change. I was able to pull myself together well enough to register for the city's community college in time, while my boyfriend would attend "our" college by himself three hours away. I was completely devastated, and felt betrayed by my boyfriend. Though he was sad, it was an exciting experience for him. I felt abandoned and needed him very much, but also understood that going to college was important and that he wasn't abandoning me. He was as supportive as he could and made sure that I always had an outlet to my frustrations. We talked every day, and tried to keep things as happy as we could without stifling any emotions.
As the months passed, I went from being the girl described above to being a lonely, sad person. I stopped trying out new things and enjoying the things I used to love before. I went from not having enough hours in the day to do what I wanted to spending afternoons sitting on my couch doing nothing at all. My muses for painting, drawing, writing and crafting went dead. Even though my boyfriend visited practically every week, I stopped being the affectionate, fiery girlfriend I used to be and barely even kissed or touched my boyfriend; our sex lives pretty much disappeared. I felt unable to take on any relatively big tasks, feeling that I wasn't in control of my life. The only thing that I was able to do well was keep my grades up.
Now the school year is over and my boyfriend is back from college. He found it disappointing and regrets it, no doubt in part because of me. Our relationship feels damaged. We don't fight, and we are still very loving and caring with each other. But he misses the girlfriend he left behind. I am very sad with the way I have become, but I have no idea of what to do to go back to being the same girl I used to be. What can I do?

Mood Setting Music

spacefire — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:54:05 -0800

Where can I find free music that can generate a certain mood? I'm looking for tracks, preferably ten minutes or longer, which can evoke certain feelings. Like, if I'm feeling stressed out, I can play a track that would calm me down. Or something inspiring if I need to start work or something.
Does such music exist?

Pixie Pop 'Plosion.

The Whelk — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:01:51 -0800

Manic Pixie Dream Music: Once again I must step outside my beloved genres to find music for an event that's all about Sparkles! Glitter! and Pixies! Need suggestions for happy, twinkly, fairy music. The more tooth-achingly pop-y the better. "The Magic Position" by Patric Wolf would be a good example. I'm pretty well versed in Glam Rock, but am a complete noob in the indie/current/pop/rock/whatever scene. Consider me 60 years behind the times.

Happy Tricks

shadowfelldown — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:48:45 -0800

Happyfilter: Little every day things I can do to make me happier? I've had a tough year. Lots of psychologically daunting and oppressive nonsense, lots of over dramatic emotions and histrionics. I am working through all of it.
What I would like are suggestions for little things you do every day, or little myths you have heard about things that will make a person happier, artificially or actually.

So far, I have tried burning peppermint or lavender oils, lighting candles that smell equally nice, reading for fun (as opposed to school/work reading), indulging (somewhat) in junk food, working out. I've heard that rubbing ones scalp releases endorphins. Keeping my house uncluttered. I know baths are supposed to fall into this category, but I only have a shower.

More things like these?

Happy Law Career

leotrotsky — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:32:50 -0800

Lawyer-filter: Path to becoming a happy, fulfilled, (potentially) well-compensated lawyer? Thoughts and/or to keep in mind for an incoming 1L? Hi folks. Starting law school this May at a T10 school. Very excited. I've read a fair number of horror stories about the legal profession and its toll on people's physical and mental health. I do not want this to be me. I've already read the Schlitz article, and these Axme threads.

Suggestions from other lawyers so far have included: Avoid BIGLAW, avoid litigation, consider tax &/or trust and estate, stay away from the coasts, consider boutique shops.

I know I'm a little early with this, but I don't want to end up like the bored associate in the Axme thread in 5 years.

How to be a happier/less-worrier person?

red_rika — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:59:19 -0800

How to be a happier/less-worrier person? I have been a worrier all my life, stressing about stupid stuff. I think this is partially part of my low self-esteem which i believe comes from my small dick.

Life is sometimes so hard for me when i think about sex. I do not know how am i gonna show my dick to my gf. lol

Anyway, putting that aside, I wanna be a happy-go-lucky guy who does not worry about any single things then he sees. Could my worrying habit is caused by my bad sleepy habit (sleep around 5 am and wakes up at 2pm) and lack of exercise?

What songs/albums would my parents like similar in mood to Aaron Neville and Julio Iglesias?

Askr — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:46:53 -0800

Looking for pleasant music in the same mood as Julio Iglesias and Aaron Neville that I can put on a CD for my parents to have on in the background at home. Making my parents a mixed CD for Christmas and possibly buying them one or two.

Want your recommendations for songs/albums that match the mood of the two things they play most: Julio Iglesias's Greatest Hits ("My Life") and Aaron Neville, probably also his greatest hits.

They play music in the background in the living room as they putter around the house on weekends or when they have company.

The mood is: pleasant, happy, sweet, romantic, gentle, occasionally more excited.

Mom describes it as "the kind of thing that can play unobtrusively in the background and add to a nice atmosphere, but which I can really enjoy if I tune into it." So, not just bland atmospheric sound. Stuff that can go under a conversation rather than compete with it, but which you can sing along to if it has the focus.

That could apply to a lot, but I want to match the particular kind of mood Julio and Aaron are examples of.

Julio examples: Moonlight Lady, Me Va Me Va, Amor Amor, To All The Girls I've Loved Before, Ae Ao

Aaron examples: I Don't Know Much, Everybody Plays the Fool, every other song in that warbly voice

Other things in their living room background music stash, but which I hear much less frequently: Enya, Cesaria Evora, Johnny Lang, Chieftains, Dirty Dancing Soundtrack, Out of Africa Soundtrack, Top Gun Soundtrack, various Elvis including some old gospel.

Somewhat related things they have but which they don't play as background music: Buena Vista Social Club, Paul Simon's Graceland, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Elton John.

Type of thing I think fits the mood just right: Lionel Richie e.g. All Night Long, Dancing on the Ceiling, Stuck on You. Jackson Browne's Got to Be Somebody's Baby. Probably some Kenny Rogers or Dolly Parton.

I'm going for this particular kind of pleasant, feel-good, relaxed mood as opposed to, say, giddy/excited/dancey. My parents are both 60, but don't have Old People Mindset yet. But newer artists are probably less likely to work than older. Thats still broad, I know, but I appreciate any of your suggestions.

I tried using music-map.com but it wasn't all that helpful. The closest thing it found to Julio was "The Meatshits" for example. Not for mom, thanks!

Memorable cartoon?

leigh1 — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:50:15 -0800

I'm having trouble deciding which of my zillion photos should I frame. So I've decided to frame a nice cartoon/comic that will make me and most people laugh. Do you have a memorable cartoon you would like to see framed?

aussie aussie aussie!

randomstriker — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:11:42 -0800

Morbid Aussie birthday greeting, goes something along the lines of "War and famine, people dying, everywhere, and it's your birthday, hooray!" -- what is the correct and complete version? I remember some Aussie exchange students singing this at birthday parties back during uni days. A google search came up empty.

Who has delighted you?

pjern — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:11:34 -0800

What online shopping experiences have left you absolutely delighted? As in "I laughed with delight when I opened the box?" I want to start building a list of *great* places to buy gifts for my friends/family, and I'm sure some of you know some great places. My inspiration for this question.

What made your happy childhood memories happy?

onlyconnect — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:07:24 -0800

What happy memories do you have of being a young child that make you think either "those were good times" or "that was good parenting"? The younger you were at the time, the better. I can not remember too much from my young childhood, besides the warm feeling from sitting in a basket of laundry just come from the dryer, my dad teaching me how to ride a bike, and the days my mom would pick me up from grade school and we would eat and talk at Arthur Treacher's while we were waiting for my brothers to finish school. And I can remember one vacation with my family by the seashore when I was very young, when my grandmother showed me how to dig for clams, as well as a trip to Disneyland where we stayed in a loft with a circular staircase surrounded by orange trees. All of these memories leave me with happy, warm feelings about my childhood. I also remember playing with my brothers and reading in my room alot and other minor incidents, but these more mundane memories don't really carry the same emotional weight.

I would like to know if other people have more happy memories from their childhoods and, if so, what are they like? If your parents created loving memories for you, what sorts of things were you doing together? I guess I'm partly trying to understand why some things stick in our minds, to become happy memories, and others don't. As well as how to help create positive memories for a child. (Obviously, "be a good parent/aunt/sitter/friend" is the default answer, but beyond that, what makes the memory?)

McDonald's Filter: Do any of you recall happy meal packaging from the mid-80s that looked like a boat?

xotis — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:48:57 -0800

McDonald's Filter: Do any of you recall Happy Meal packaging from the mid-80s that looked like a boat, and was made of flimsy plastic? A co-worker today was talking about how they recalled McDonalds Happy Meals from the mid 80s where the package was a large boat split into two pieces, a top and bottom half. When you took the top half off, the meal was inside. When you took your meal out of the boat, you could re-assemble the two halves and it would float in water.

Other co-workers were scoffing at this memory of my other co-worker, but I could recall these Happy Meals (vaguely). Can any of you shed more light on this memory? Such as the year, details, etc? Or am I just having a false memory conjured up by the story of my co-worker?

Bonus points for a photo of any kind. My google fu was not powerful enough to yield any results.

To clarify, this is not a question regarding a Happy Meal toy, but the actual packaging that the food came in.

Thanks!

Let's hear it for the Joy!

My Bloody Pony — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:17:12 -0800

Looking for Music Videos that can't help but make you smile. Inspired by This Post, and This Post, and This Post, and This Post, I'm looking for more music video which will make me simply giddy with glee. Here are some good examples.

I realize that all of these videos essentially involve kids or else people acting like kids, but that's not necessary to the transcendent experience. I guess it's just where my mind is right now.

ID song from "iPhone in the enterprise" video?

Asymptote — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:16:16 -0800

What is the song used in the background of Apple's iPhone in the enterprise video? It's intensely familiar which is why I'm especially bugged about not being able to figure out what it is.

My first thought was that it was Digital Droo. I can't find any of his songs that match. Maybe I heard on Groove Salad.

If the direct link to the video above stops working, you can click on "Watch the video" on the left of side of this page.

Thanks!

Please recommend happy rap songs.

AllieTessKipp — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:31:32 -0800

Does anyone know of any happy, zippy, upbeat rap that I can run to? My last question about music made me realize there is a lot of stuff out there I've never heard. Is there happy rap? ;) I am not educated much about music. I took a music appreciation class in college. I learned I like Chariots of Fire and Ode to Joy. And Amazing Grace (So far I am the only Wiccan I've met who likes Amazing Grace) They did not have any rap to listen to in that class.

I will listen to almost anything. No machinery or industrial noises, please, and the words must be something I can understand.

I have two dogs here. One is unflappable and one would rather live on a sheep farm in the 18th century. Nothing that would scare 18th Century Dog, please. :)

I don't listen to what they're saying because then I'd be crying instead of dancing...

twiggy — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:27:25 -0800

I'm trying to put together a list of the happiest sounding songs with the saddest lyrics... can you help? I'm looking for songs that people dance, sing and party to all the time seemingly ignorant of their lyrical content.

Here's a couple of examples of super upbeat songs with really sad lyrics to get started:

OutKast - Hey Ya
Len - Steal My Sunshine

As an aside, if it never occurred to you that Hey Ya was kind of a sad song, check youtube for Obadia Parker's acoustic version of it. Bonus points for pointing to cover versions like that one where the music embodies the feel of the lyrics more than the original...

I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing

humannaire — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:15:23 -0800

What is the happiest and catchiest (mostly) unknown pop song you know? Oy-yea!! My friends and I are video recording a publicly-performed improv-type dance number, and we need one ridiculously but genuinely happy music song.

What is sought is really happy happy happy pop-type song that is either so obscure that it's practically unknown....or brand new. Something that will surprise people.

Think if Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves were undiscovered. Yes, that happy! Like a song that would be the opposite of anything Marvin the depressed robot would sing. Something outrageously happy!

Recommendations?

sublime deaths

leibniz — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:55:31 -0800

Looking for fictional deaths which might be described as 'sublime'. I am trying to find examples in art (films, novels, poems, paintings, operas etc.) in which a character is depicted as having a noble or happy death as a result of a sublime experience (sense of awesomeness of nature/universe). The best examples would have no other reason, but ones where the character sacrifices themself for some purpose (e.g. to save loved ones) and then has additional experiences of the sublime are also useful.

To give you an example of the sort thing I am looking for. Here's the end of H.G. Wells short story 'The Country of the Blind':

From where he rested the valley seemed as if it were in a pit and nearly a mile below. Already it was dim with haze and shadow. The mountain summits around him were things of light and fire, and the little details of the rocks near at hand were drenched with subtle beauty - a vein of green mineral piercing the grey, the flash of crystal faces here and there, a minute, minutely beautiful orange lichen close beside his face. There were deep mysterious shadows in the gorge, blue deepening into purple, and pulse into a luminous darkness, and overhead was the illimitable vastness of the sky. But he heeded these things no longer, but lay quite inactive there, smiling as if he were satisfied merely to have escaped from the valley of the Blind in which he had thought to be King. The glow of the sunset passed, and the night came, and still he lay peacefully contented under the cold stars.(Online text)

Please quote passages or give online links if you can. Descriptions of happy deaths in general are also welcome.

How to rebuild a life? Long....

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:48:09 -0800

Reconstructing myself - where to begin? Last night my wife of 22 years announced that she and I were finished as a married couple. Now, at the age of 53, I find myself alone. Presently, I am seeking the anonymity of a bunch of strangers because it doesn't seem hurt as much this way. A cross sectioning if you will. Besides, MetaFites are generally a younger bunch, and they may have a more optimistic perspective on this. We have boys aged 16 and 20, and I love them like I love my next breath. Therefore, I am committed to being around for them- within walking distance for the youngest. The oldest is 2 hours away at college, the youngest is still in high school.

The most immediate question that I have to ask is; how could I have been so blind to the fact that my wife was unhappy? I don't drink much, womanize or carry on in or hang out with the boys. I have never called her when I was drunk, and always tried to be considerate of her feelings. Last night she was beyond rational, and I can't figure out where her incredible anger towards me is coming from. (menopause?). BTW she has refused counselling either one on one or together, although she did go to one therapy session.

In spite of all that, I now need to rebuild some parts of my life as I allowed myself to become intertwined in hers. I lost my father 12 years ago, my only brother 4 years ago, and I act as primary caregiver for my aging (83) and blind mother, so i have no family other than my kids. I live in a rural community so there are few services available. Her family in in the immediate area and are for the most part, supportive of me - but of course, they are HER family. I expect we will maintain civil relations.

I have tried to take stock of where I am in this life, and here it is in a nutshell.

The good:
- My midlife crisis resulted in my decision to get healthier, not buy a sports car and chase 22 year old hotties.
- I am a good person most days, not allowing emotions to overrule good judgement.
- I am in excellent physical condition and health.
- i have a reasonable income and post secondary education
- I have some monies saved up.
- my staff says that I am a good manager and that they would follow me almost anywhere.
- I have been an excellent dad, and have never failed to tell my boys every night that I love them. (Course, with a 16 yr old, I gotta be discreet about stuff like that)
- Most people in the community know me, and some even like me.

The not so good
- Despite my good health and good body, my inherited looks are umm, unique. And, as I age, I notice that they are getting more unique. Bald, big ears (a DEADLY combo!) and skinny, er, wiry. Think Albert Einstein, bald, but not as clever, unfortunately.
- I have no family to spend time with other than my boys - who of course, are very close to my wife's extended family and their kids.
- I have no interest in dating - obviously. Maybe that will change.
- I am limited in my social and conversational skills, believing that I better show my character through actions rather than conversation. This has been commented on by others in the community.
-Being in a small community, I am not sure how I would react if I saw my ex-wife on a date.
-My job can be stressful, and I can sometimes carry that home. I am getting better at compartmentalizing that however.

So, how to I rebuild my life? Its painful to write this, but you know, I just don't want to die alone or spend Christmas by myself. The "die alone" thing gets more acute the closer I get to my brother's age when he died.

How do other people rebuild parts of their lives after getting a bombshell dropped on them? I want to look up with the missing two front teeth and say "life, is that all you got?".

Any information or opinions are appreciated. I know this sure ain't the biggest tragedy out there, but right now it is to me. Responses from ladies that can provide insight especially wrt the menopause thing would be great.

How can my dreams of being a baseball player come back?

stedman15 — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:29:24 -0800

I need help finding goals and dreams for my life I don't have any goals or dreams for my life. I used to when I was a child, but I just can't come up with anything I can do as far as work or pleasure that would truly make me happy.

I work 40 hours a week, but my work doesn't excite me. After going home, I hang out with my roommate.

I know I should do something more. When I think about what I'd rather be doing, my mind goes blank. I feel like I've become so bogged down in practicality that I've lost the ability to have hopes and aspirations.I just don't know how to go about it.

I want to be able to dream big dreams, and find out what truly makes me happy.

How can I do this?