Five Cents of Happiness
Posted by Raul on August 2, 2010
Why should I see this? Why is it always like this? The noise, the smog, the trash all around, the fake smiling faces; the smell of rotten ideas that form the surroundings wherever we go.
I don’t want to see this ugly world anymore! I don’t need my vision, I don’t need to see all this trash around, I would be better without the vision of my eyes, better darkness than this ugly world in front.
“So the vision goes away and complete, permanent darkness take place all around.”
Without the vision it becomes better to introspect about the world, only…I can still hear the strident noises, the lies, the gossip, all the unpleasant sounds that surrounds me all the time.
“So the hearing goes away and complete, permanent silence takes place all around”
Isn’t that better? No vision that shows an ugly world and no hearing that allows noises to interfere with thoughts, only…I can still smell the trash and the rotten world that surrounds me.
“So the sense of smell goes away and no offensive, rotten world can be perceived.”
In the dark, silent new surroundings, all the thoughts can dance at will with no interference from the outside world that destroy the peaceful moment, so it can be enjoy at will, only…I can still taste the bitterness of the world around by the foods that I have no choice but to consume.
“So the sense of taste goes away and the foods are just nourishment without the bitter message of the world.”
And perfection is achieved! The perfect environment for reflection where no external elements interfere with thoughts, only…my body still perceives the cold and heat of this trashy world.
“So the sense of touch goes away and no wind, cold or heat can be felt anymore.”
Reaching the perfect point of independence, the perfect place for introspection, away from everything and everyone, yet in the same original place…happiness!
Thoughts fly by in front of me and dance to the sounds of my feelings; imagination gets freewill to express itself to the largest extent without limitations imposed by a decadent world around…I’m reaching perfection!
As the time goes by the thoughts seems to be the same, just with little variations in their tone and intention. The original state of independence starts to feel a state of loneliness without external constant feeding.
What once was the happiness of individualism becomes the desperation of being alone, abandoned by the surroundings that no longer can touch and influence the being behind the thoughts.
Crying in desperation for a longed connection with another being, so loneliness can go away and be replaced by the continuous, never ending input received throughout life, together with the perception of the elements that conforms the physical surroundings.
“So the sense of touch returns…”
The shapes! The textures! Even the temperatures that can be perceived with a single touch of the object…amazing!
“Then the sense of taste returns…”
Flavors…so many of them! And the desire of trying them all, one by one, all at once! If I could know more about them!
“So the sense of smell returns…”
Not just the food, but the flowers, the trees, the humid dirt after the rain, even the acrid smell of waste seems to be an outstanding experience! If I could only have more!
“So the hearing returns…”
What is that…music? And birds and the wind and voices all around that feed the senses with sounds and information to process and play with, but I want more!
“So the vision returns…”
Colors for everything and everyone! The complete understanding of the shapes of the objects experienced only by touch, now undeniably acquired in the brain, the mind.
Standing here makes no sense when there’s so much to be seen, to be heard, smelled and touched. There is a whole universe of physical element to be experienced and enjoyed throughout life.
And the thoughts that conform the mind get expanded and colorful with diversity when fed by so many physical elements and situations that can be experienced.
And people! With all the variations that can be encountered and all the different thoughts, opinions and experiences that can be learned and enjoyed from.
So questioning stops…and living begins!
Raul
Raul,
This is a great post. I loved your words: “And people! With all the variations that can be encountered and all the different thoughts, opinions and experiences that can be learned and enjoyed from.”
These words are good for me to read today. I’m feeling a bit down because my youngest left today for grad school. I sort of wanted to just crawl back in bed and hide. But see, here I am reading these wonderful words and being reminded how much I receive when I go visiting other blogs. Thanks:~)
Sara Healy´s last [type] ..Story Photo- End the Story
Raul Ojeda Reply:
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:31 am
Hi Sara,
Isn’t it funny that, even when we know that the connection between us and our loved ones is more than physical and goes without the limitations of a physical world, we still want and need the possibility of close contact, like giving a hug?
So we do the logical thinking of: “Is another step in life”, “Is part of the growing process”, “Is just for a short time”, but our hearts keep crying: “Just another hug” and tears escape from our eyes before we can have any chance to apply control of our shown emotions to the outside world.
Sometimes what hurts the most is the smile they have when walking away, even though we know is the right attitude in them since they are facing their future with hope and dreams, it still seems to us like they are abandon us.
“There, my dreams and hopes have reached the state of unity by itself and time comes for it to go away to be. My dream has become to pursue its own dreams and I become the empty flower that somehow has again to learn to live”
It is the beauty of life.
Hugs for you Sara
Raul
Raul Ojeda´s last [type] ..Five Cents of Happiness
Hi Raul,
What a journey. This is gorgeous.
I am at a loss for words, but want you to know that in really enjoyed reading this today.
xo
~Lori
Lori´s last [type] ..Front Porch- Dreams- Laughter- and Comic Inspiration
Raul Ojeda Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 8:58 am
Hi Lori,
Thank you for your kind comments, I’m glad you enjoyed the reading
Raul
Raul Ojeda´s last [type] ..Five Cents of Happiness
Ha ha! Yes! I love what you did with this, Raul! Brilliant!
Yup, unfortunately, we do have to take the good along with the bad if we want to live, that’s for sure. And really, the world’s not ALL bad, not when there are new things to see and experience, to learn from. It’d be kind of boring if there wasn’t, much like an inner world devoid of all the senses.
Raul Ojeda Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:03 am
Hi Toni,
The senses by themselves are a marvelous thing, when we think of all that we can experience thanks to them is just outstanding and what is to be experience by the means of the senses…it is simply amazing!
Raul
Raul Ojeda´s last [type] ..Five Cents of Happiness
What a lovely Cartesian exercise, Raul! I very much enjoyed your exploration of what the senses mean to you. Your writing was very strong on this one. I can feel you were inspired!
I would add one teeny detail, though, just because I am such a trickster: What happens when there are no senses and also no thoughts?
Sorry, this is a very Zen kind of question. But for me it’s been an essential part of my life quest to find out for myself if there is anything beyond thought.
Meredith´s last [type] ..help- I’m melting…
Raul Ojeda Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:14 am
Hi Meredith,
Yes, you are a trickster
My take, since I’ve never been in that situation, is that without senses that perceive and without thoughts that analyze, the only thing left is…tada! “Pure feelings”…a state of not being human but rather just and nothing less than a being, spirit, soul or entity; a state where we are like a dream we have.
Now you got me curious! I’ll have to think more in depth about the sensations behind the situation you propose in order to visualize what it’ll be like…that’s an idea for another post, thank you
Raul
Raul Ojeda´s last [type] ..Five Cents of Happiness
Wow.
This is a very different way to look at things and truly makes you appreciate the good and the bad in life for all that it’s worth.
Thanks for the insight today.
Eric´s last [type] ..Other Project At Play
Raul Ojeda Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Hi Eric,
Sometimes we need to “be there” to realize we wouldn’t like it and to valuate what we have
Raul
Raul Ojeda´s last [type] ..Five Cents of Happiness
Hi Raul,
What a beautiful piece. When I got to the end my first thoughts were, “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” and “we don’t know what we’ve got till it’s gone”.
All the more reason to be grateful, even for the littlest of things.
Your writing really shines through in this post. Keep up the great work.
Barbara Swafford´s last [type] ..One Blog Title – 52 Ways
Raul Ojeda Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Hi Barbara,
It could be also like “the grass is greener at the other side of the fence”…until we get there.
Thank you for your kind comment and encouragement
Raul
Raul Ojeda´s last [type] ..Five Cents of Happiness
Raul,
What a beautiful and touching post! We have bad, good and ugly in life and we learn how to make the best out of it and improve it little ours and others life. Thanks for sharing a beautiful vision.
Preeti @ Heart and Mind´s last [type] ..No Spend Month Challenge- Update and Take away from the experiment
Raul Ojeda Reply:
August 4th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Hi Preeti,
You are right, we have to learn how to make the best out of everything to improve our and other people’s lives.
Thank you for your kind comment
Raul
Raul Ojeda´s last [type] ..Five Cents of Happiness
Raul: What a great post. This was so poetically written. I really was moved by that last line … “and living begins”. That really is what it is all about. Thanks for the pointer in the right direction.
Sibyl-alternaview´s last [type] ..30 Great Habits That Will Help Free You of Bad Habits
Raul Reply:
August 5th, 2010 at 12:07 am
Hi Sibyl,
Thank you for your kind comment. Yes, it is so simple yet so many times we tend to forget in this so fast paced society.
Raul