‘Enjoying life’-- What is 'your' definition of this word?

@kalav56 (11464)
India
August 10, 2010 6:44am CST
I have heard these words being used by many friends and this set me thinking. Some people feel they ‘enjoy life’ if they go out to expensive restaurants , indulge in their favorite items and pass their time. Some people feel they’ enjoy life’ if they hang out with friends, go out to a theatre, munch whatever they want to and this is their description of ‘enjoying life’. There are others who feel fulfilled by going out every week to a mall , buy lots of things , eat out and have a nice time . There are still others who feel that they ‘enjoy life’ if they go out on frequent trips , or travel to fantastic tourist destinations . There are others who feel they are enjoying life if they are left alone or allowed to pursue their hobby. Your views please.
11 people like this
42 responses
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
10 Aug 10
To me, enjoying life is very simple. If you're happy, no matter what you're doing, you are enjoying life. You don't have to go out to enjoy life, just enjoy whatever it is you're doing, even your job. I enjoyed my job of proofreading so much I almost felt guilty being paid for it. (ALMOST! I also enjoyed that paycheck. LOL) I enjoy life when I go outside and see what nature had provided. I enjoy life when I'm fishing when the sun is shining. The peace and serenity I experience is quite enjoyable. I'm enjoying life when I hear brand new baby birds peeping from their nests. Life has many facets and there are quite a lot of them that we can enjoy if we allow ourselves to. "Going out to have fun" is something else entirely, to me, anyway. I enjoy life every single day. Maybe not 100 percent of the time but I'm so thankful for the little things that it's quite rare for me to not be enjoying life.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
10 Aug 10
A fantastic response! Be happy within, in our work and we enjoy life. I too love doing my work and I would almost echo whatever you have written except the 'fishing' aspect. But, I also love getting paid for whatever work I do. It gives me an inordinate sense of achievement.
2 people like this
@gunagohan (3414)
• India
10 Aug 10
Actually, what is the meaning of ur name mentalward???
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@drannhh (15219)
• United States
10 Aug 10
Hey, MentalWard, I can hardly wait to see what you tell gunagohan ;-) But really, I just wanted to say that you are so right that when we choose employment (or it chooses us!) that we love to do it as if we are playing rather than being at work and very enjoyable. Also, this is a great discussion, kalav56, with many delightful answers.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
11 Aug 10
Hi Kala! Different persons will have difference perception about enjoying their life. I differ from those who claim that enjoyment for them is - hanging out in malls with friends or going for movie. I think youngsters or singles who do not have much responsibilities on their shoulders can live a carefree life and may claim that they are enjoying their lives. However, those who have kids and other family responsibilities cannot 'enjoy' life. They may enjoy the life for a temporary period of for some given days, however, it is not possible on continuous basis. I sometimes enjoy my life, when I am free and I have completed all the days activities.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
11 Aug 10
HI Deepak ! what a feat it is!Congrats on crossing the 10000 mark.Coming back to the topic, I am also like you.My idea of enjoying life is having my loved ones in sound health and also being happy and carefree and this ensures my happiness too. I don't mind going out once a while or having a fun time wiht family but this is all for a short period.And as you have rightly pointed out, people with family responsibilities will have different concepts of enjoying life and this would not be in tune with the perceptions of many modern single people.
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@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
11 Aug 10
This discussion of yours figures in today's (i.e. 11th August) 'Hot Discussion' list.
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@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
11 Aug 10
Thanks for your wishes Kala! Yeah, if our loved ones are in sound health, life becomes automatically enjoyable and if any of them is indisposed, everything looks gloomy and enjoyment vanishes. Concept of younger generation is different from ours.
1 person likes this
• India
11 Aug 10
Hi Kala, For me, enjoying life means doing what I love best to do! That may mean a very quiet and uneventful weekend after a very very hectic week…I might just lie around with a good book, order some food from a home-delivery, listen to music, chat with hubby just like that or just sleep…nothing to do except what I want…my idea of ‘enjoying life’ LOL…yes, I’m a very quiet and boring person but I really cant run around much… and then I work really hard to earn my two dimes, so I don’t think it’s a great idea to splurge it all in an expensive mall with impulsive buying! Even my birthday treat at Pizza Hut was too expensive (with quantity of food too little) for my liking…I ended up feeling guilty rather than pampered. And then travelling…yes, I do love travelling but I know only too well that the kind of lifestyle portrayed in travel mags (This is Life!!! kind of images) is not for me, so that kind of life can never be mine either…maybe for a few days (2night/3day types) but then again its not worth it. To really enjoy life, it must be something that I can do regularly, it must come naturally to me and it must make me feel happy and content…not guilty and not leave a hole in my pocket.
1 person likes this
• India
12 Aug 10
Hi Kala, You are a darling you know…you understand me so well Actually, I’ve thought of making pizza at home many a times, the base bread is available practically everywhere…I know it would be much cheaper and I can add as much of toppings as I can afford without getting fleeced like at Pizza Hut…however, how do you make the topping? Do you use the readymade pizza sauces or do you make it at home? If at home, how do you make it? Also, when you put it on the tawa for the cheese to melt, how do you keep the pizza crisp? (I know I ask awful lot of questions)
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
11 Aug 10
That is the same for me sudipta. You are not a boring person but a very practical simple , contented person who knows the secret of enjoying life.Actully I am also a person who cannot run around much. I like to go out occasionally but I would just get so tired , thatI won't feel like going out most of the time.I do like to travel by a train and that too with family.But this normally does not happen. Next time, I suggest you buy readymade Pizza from the local store and then you make the veg spread on top and sprinkle cheese liberally on it.YOu can gently heat it up on the Tawa itself .THis would be enough for the cheese to melt. YOu can compensate by ordering a huge icecream instead.
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
12 Aug 10
Hi kalav56, everyone has his own words to define what actually a happy life means to him. Therefore people having their favorite activities to pursue thier so-called happiness respectively. There isn't any way which is considered to be the best to gain a happy life, as long as one really feels satisfied and happy with the style of life he is chasing. I'm a simple person that would feel happy easily. Many things happen in my daily life would make me to feel pleasant at anytime I was reaally happy to have many close playmates to play with all kinds of games and do with many fantastic activities during my childhood. I'm happy as well with what I have possessed at the moment. Yeah, what's more happy than to have good health, a happy family living under one roof harmonously and intimately Have a nice day
1 person likes this
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
17 Aug 10
Thanks kalav56 it seems like we are visitors to have some decades of year to have our vacation in this planet. To compare to countless unfortunate people who encounter all sorts of sudden and unexpected natural disasters in different parts of the world recently, we are considered to be extremely lucky we still could live our daily life safely with our loved ones as usual. Therefore I don't wish to make my normal life complicated. It's so uneasy to live with life full of anger, insatiable desire, greed, despair and so on. I feel rather embarrassed to type a pile of rubbish here
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
17 Aug 10
Absolutely true.When we think of the misery all around in the world, we do feel so grateful to GOd. I agree with you wholeheartedly.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
17 Aug 10
Great ikbooi! That was a fantastic response and I am thankful to have a friend like you. I can see absolute contentment and simplicity in your thinking and I also know that this is a great frame of mind which would always enable us to find enjoyment in the simplest of things. And there is nothing happier than having good health , a good family under one roof living harmoniously.
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@derek_a (10874)
11 Aug 10
Well, to me as a Zen practitioner, there is the thoughts of enjoying life and the reality of enjoying life. I have recognized that life is about two sides of the coin, that the good comes only because we have known bad. Good and bad are dependent on each other, as is enjoyment and non-enjoyement. It's a roller coaster that if you look around, you will notice that everybody rides... _Derek
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
11 Aug 10
That is very true and we have a pithy saying in our language too that the merits of shade under a tree are best realised by a man who has been under the scorching sun till then.Thanks for hte participation.
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@derek_a (10874)
12 Aug 10
Yes, I really like that saying.. Very profound. _Derek
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
10 Aug 10
I don't feel that I have to HAVE anything or DO anything to enjoy life. For me, enjoying life is more a matter of being someone. Who? A person who can differentiate between the ephemeral and what is important in life. A person who is kind, but not a doormat, who sticks up for the downtrodden and at least tries to make a positive contribution to society. A person who lives mindfully, weighing each decision with questions such as these: 1) What are the likely consequences of this action, both immediate and longstanding? 2) Does this action fit with my goal of furthering the higher good? 3) Have I considered this word or action from every angle before plunging ahead. If I can look myself in the mirror every day and see a person who thinks ahead along these lines instead of being swayed by the opinions of a crowd or just drifting along taking the easiest route at the moment, then I feel that I am enjoying life. What I have found so far, though, is when we put our emphasis on doing what we feel is right rather than having hedonistic pleasures as a goal, the luxurious things naturally come to us. We can give them to others, enjoy them for ourselves, or cast them aside, depending on how we perceive abundance in the universe. If I cast them aside I try not to do it wastefully. If I give them to others I try to give to people who will use the gift responsibly. If I keep them for myself I try to do so thoughtfully without indulging in vainglory.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
12 Aug 10
Thank you for that elaborate response. I do agree that when we keep doing our work diligently wihtout thinking too much of 'enjoying' life[in the sense that is used by many], these things naturally come to us.Routine work b ecomes ' enjoying ' life na dthis keeps us also in total peace.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Aug 10
kalav56 to me at my age I find I enjoy life one day at a time , and enjoy being content with what I have where I have it and being happy just being alive and mylotting and surfing the web, I also interact with my off line friends hre too. life is as good as you perceive it or as bad.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
12 Aug 10
oH Hatley! That is so nice of you. BTW, how is your son? I chanced to see one discussion of yours where you were worried that he did not come one week or so but it was a month ago. Is he alright?
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
11 Aug 10
Hey kalav! I definitely agree that there are alot of different ways to enjoy life and I have a few that I prefer! I live to go shopping sometimes with friends, sometimes alone. I also like to go out to restaurants, when I can afford to which isn't too often so when I do get to go I really enjoy myself. I also love to just stay at home with my bf and my cats or sometimes just me and my cats and sometimes those are the moments I enjoy the most!
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
11 Aug 10
Hi Opal! Thanks for dropping by. I agree with you thta whatever we do, wherever we go we still find the best enjoyment at home with our loved ones being safe and sound." East or west , home is the best."
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
11 Aug 10
I believe I am enjoying life when my heart sings! There are so many things that can make my heart sing; doing what I’m doing right now for example, my writing…Not to mention spending time with my child. Life is not about ‘stuff’ although sometimes new things can make me feel very happy although it is short lived. For me enjoying life is not about feeling joyous and ecstatic but about contentment which makes me smile from the inside out.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
11 Aug 10
Thanks for the great response Paula and only today I was mentioning to my husband how happy and contented many people are. IT was very heartening.I have got such wonderful responses here that I feel like marking BR for many.How is your daughter's desktop now? YOu had posted a discusson about some technical issue earlier isn't it?
@Jotomy (6322)
• India
11 Aug 10
Hi kala, i don't know about others much though i have many friends, they all have different different ideas about the word enjoyment. But for me as woman i can tell you, I am enjoying my life. I have a joint family, all are with me, we all go out travel outside for site seeing, we all go out for eating once in a month or twice in a month. But above all, i enjoy my household work listening to the music, cooking, caring my family members (inlaws as well as with my parents and siblings), talk to them and spend with them. I really enjoy my day when i get good comments from my family members for my cook and other work. I also spend with the friends in the college and online chat (some of my friends are staying in abroad). I also enjoy the time of worship or pray god. I really enjoy the beautiful moments playing with my son along with my husband in my bedroom.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
11 Aug 10
What a sweet response! I loved your response , your sense of commitment to family, your contentment and affection you have for your members. You are an asset to your family Jo and May God bless you! I feel sorry that your mil is not alive to see you. I am sure God would bless you with all that is good for you.
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@Jotomy (6322)
• India
11 Aug 10
thanks for your words kala, yeah i am missing my mother in law, when she was there with us we are just like friends we used to go for shopping, she used to buy clothes for us when festivals comes, she specially look clothes for me, saying that this saree will suits to jo. And whenever she buy vessels or some utensils she used to say jo is working hard for cooking with old vessels, these new vessels will be good and easy to cook. And whenever her friends comes home or whenever we attend marriages there if we meet relatives (who didn't know me, her side relatives )she used to say about me, she is my jo, she is my daughter in law but she is like my daughter. Her words i still remember. I really missed her.
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@kukueye (1759)
• Malaysia
10 Aug 10
i guess is mininum work and maxinum enjoyment.Like those celebrity like paris hilton enjoying life from one party to next party from different countries enjoying her life. No need to worry to much of money but just enjoy .Some enjoying life also means the person finally found his favourite job and it is paying so he is actually doing what he/she likes and still able to survive.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
11 Aug 10
Being able to do what one likes is the best form of enjoyment one cna think of.Celebrities may not be enjoying their lives all the time becasue they would face their own hassles.
• India
11 Aug 10
For me living my life with my loved ones is enjoying life ...
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
11 Aug 10
Thanks for the response and comment .YOurs seems to be the simplest and best source of enjoyment.
@LIENROSE (910)
• Philippines
11 Aug 10
I agree with you my friend... there's no such place like home
1 person likes this
10 Aug 10
Enjoying life for me is like LIVING life To the fullest.i enjoyed a lot when I'm out with my friends talking with them.But in whole,i enjoyed life by serving others who are sick and giving them reassurance that there will always be a solution in every problem..
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
17 Aug 10
That is very kind f you to serve the sick people and give them moral support.Welcome to the forum and enjoy your time here.THanks for the participation.
@akn1961 (1034)
• India
11 Aug 10
enjoying life means enjoying every moment of life ,i have money and good family ,still trying to earn more money so life will be more beutiful
• India
11 Aug 10
My view is enjoying life is best & peacefull life happy family members & nearest person life is full of sweet memorise
@asiregar (864)
• Jakarta, Indonesia
11 Aug 10
enjoy life as it is not excessive and does not lack, so that our lives are not a nuisance to others even if you might be able to help others live
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• United States
10 Aug 10
There are many things I do that make me enjoy life. Spending time with my guy, see a damn good movie, or a great hockey game. I also enjoy doing a job well done.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
10 Aug 10
Thanks for your participation sarahruthbeth. YOu seem to have fairly realistic and concepts that you can easily get in life thereby making you happy.
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10 Aug 10
Enjoying life varies with different age and mentalities as well. The various ways of finding enjoyment as mentioned by you is absolutely true .A child's enjoyment is colourful things and noisy things but a young student's enjoyment is different -maybe going for a picnic or so .Again a teenager's enjoyment is going to a movie and spending on clothes .A colege student's enjoyment depends on dating or hanging out at malls or restaurants.A newly married couple enjoy in trips abroad and eating out and so on .A middle aged couple would find happiness in their chldren earning well and getting settled .But to an old couple peace is the true enjoyment .I find enjoyment in having my family around all hale and hearty and going out and at the same time the company of friends enriches my happy feelings.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
10 Aug 10
You are absolutely right. Enjoyment does vary from period to period and when we are teenagers we are at the pinnacle of life. How I loved my college days! But, then the concept changes and as you say when we are old we need peace,and also the well being of children. That becomes primary.
@amlan43 (34)
• Bangladesh
10 Aug 10
I feel the thing 'enjoying life'is do better for whom you want to satisfy. Just do for the goal that's the 'enjoying life'
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
10 Aug 10
I guess you are saying that you live up to a person's expectations and this person is someone whom you really care for.Is it ?
@LIENROSE (910)
• Philippines
11 Aug 10
of course if all you commitment to life are on the right track,,, i will then for sure enjoy life.... happy mylotting
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@frishy (221)
• Philippines
10 Aug 10
It doesn't mean to splurge just to enjoy life, for me doing small things on my spare time, free vacation is the meaning of enjoying life.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
10 Aug 10
Exactly frishy. I wholeheartedly agree with you. I am one of those who ‘enjoy life’ at home with my usual routine. I love it most and feel I am enjoying life to the maximum if am lounging around and reading a good book on a wet day with thundering rain overhead and the sky threatening to swallow us just through the window.Thanks for the response.