I find that being right often sucks a lot. When I have dinner with a couple and think "that's not going to work" I would so much rather be proven wrong. There is the tiny satisfaction of "ok, I do have perception and understanding of these things," but that is far outweighed by "people I care about are suffering and I was pretty sure that would happen and there was nothing I could do to prevent it". Same thing with politics--usually sucks to be right. The times when I'm right and it's a happy thing are notable and I do my best to revel in them.
I like "happy" because I'm able to judge that one fairly indisputably. Sages and fools have debated "good" and "right" and will continue to do so and I have my own opinions on the topic that sometimes match up with those of others and sometimes are relevant. But whether or not I am happy, whether or not a particular experience adds or subtracts from my happiness--I get to be the judge of that.
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-27 04:34 pm (UTC)I like "happy" because I'm able to judge that one fairly indisputably. Sages and fools have debated "good" and "right" and will continue to do so and I have my own opinions on the topic that sometimes match up with those of others and sometimes are relevant. But whether or not I am happy, whether or not a particular experience adds or subtracts from my happiness--I get to be the judge of that.