There can be many moments in people’s lives where they have to make the choice of sacrificing something for the good of others, such as a wish like Sergei does in “What, of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?” In the story “What, of this Goldfish, Would You Wish?” by Etgar Keret, he gives many examples of what happiness means for others. When Yonatan went from door to door asking people what they would wish for, many wanted wishes that would help them or it was something that they had wanted for awhile. And while Yonatan didn’t necessarily sacrifice his happiness for others, he witnessed others wish for a part in their lives where they didn’t have to forcefully sacrifice or give up their happiness. But Sergei was the perfect example of making the …show more content…
right choice even though it meant sacrificing his happiness for the good of others. When the story tells that Sergei actually does have a magic goldfish. Many would assume he would use them to benefit himself, but when his wishes are told, none of them are about him.
Quoted from the story, “That first wish, Sergei used up when they discovered a cancer in his sister. A lung cancer, the kind you don’t get better from” Without a second thought he asked the goldfish to cure her as soon as he walked through his door the same day.“The second wish Sergei used up five years ago, on Sveta’s boy. The kid was small then, barely three, but the doctors already knew something in her son’s head wasn’t right. He was going to grow big but not in the brain.” When Sergei found out he stayed up all night walking along the beach, and when he came home he immediately asked the fish to fix the little boy, which made Sveta happy without her knowing what Sergei had did. She left him a few months later for a cop with a fancy car. He told himself he did it for the little boy and not her, but he knew deep down he did it for her to make her happy. Then for Sergei’s final wish which he used for Yonatan to bring him back to life, which did take some thorough thinking for him. He didn’t want to use his last wish on Yonatan, because it was thought that he would regret the decision later like he did before with
Sveta. After the last wish, Sergei won’t have a choice. He’ll have to let the goldfish go. His magic goldfish. His friend. He didn’t want to be alone, but he used his last wish on Yonatan, because he knew it was the right thing to do. He sacrificed what he wanted for himself to see it help someone else. And even though he probably wasn’t thrilled with his choice at that very moment, he made the right decision.
The documentary Blackfish by Gabriela Cowperthwaite is a gripping documentary about orca whales in captivity at SeaWorld and other sea parks around the world that shows the disturbing effects that can be caused from having these animals in a place where they shouldn’t be.
In contrast to Aristotle, Roko Belic’s documentary “Happy” provides a fresh perspective that takes place far more recently. The film sets out to similar goals of Aristotle in defining the nature of happiness and exploring what makes different people happy in general. Unlike Aristotle, however, the film’s main argument refers to makes people happier. In this case, the film argues that merely “doing what you love” is what leads to happiness (Belic). The argument itself appears oddly self-serving, considering that message is what underlines the foundation of happiness, yet there is a subliminal message that a simpler lifestyle is what leads to what the film is trying to convince you of. The message itself is obviously addressed to Americans, considering
In the poem Happiness by Jane Kenyon, the main idea is that happiness comes in many forms to our lives and it is very difficult to see it, rather we need to experience it. The poet also conveys to treasure the happiness in our lives, even if it occurs in its miniature forms. Happiness is an emotion that is unique to an individual, rather than an event. Additionally, the poet tries to point out that happiness comes to everyone and everything – even though we are not aware of it. The poet effectively utilizes the parable of return of the prodigal son to explain what happiness is, then suddenly takes a turn to claim “happiness is the uncle that you never knew about.” Now the scene is set with the uncle arriving in his plane and to find you “asleep
Happiness is a reprise from the many trials and turmoil of life, and so it is natural that we should actively seek it. Ironically though, in our naïve belief that we can somehow augment the amount of happiness in our world, we are actually making our world more depressing to live in. Both John F. Schumaker, in The Happiness Conspiracy, and Ray Bradbury, in Fahrenheit 451, argue that our myopic pursuit of happiness is actually counterproductive. The two authors attempt to persuade the reader that happiness is, and should be, an almost-serendipitous byproduct of a truly fulfilling life, and therefore should not be an explicit objective.
The Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) is an invasive saltwater predator that is increasing exponentially in the tropics of the western Atlantic (Benkwitt, 2013). The Lionfish invasion is causing a dramatic decline in native marine reef species due the gluttony of the lionfish.
Happiness plays an important and necessary role in the lives of people around the world. In America, happiness has been engrained in our national consciousness since Thomas Jefferson penned these famous words in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Jefferson). Since then, Americans have been engaged in that act: pursuing happiness. The problem however, as Ray Bradbury demonstrates in his novel Fahrenheit 451, is that those things which make us happy initially may eventually lead to our downfall. By examining Guy Montag, the protagonist in Fahrenheit 451, and the world he lives in we can gain valuable insights to direct us in our own pursuit of happiness. From Montag and other characters we will learn how physical, emotional, and spiritual happiness can drastically affect our lives. We must ask ourselves what our lives, words, and actions are worth. We should hope that our words are not meaningless, “as wind in dried grass” (Eliot).
Welcome to the brave New world where most decisions no longer affect your course of the future. Happiness, something we all search for in our unpredictable lives, for some, happiness comes much faster and easier, but for many others, the notion of knowing that happiness is just too far away from them ultimately causes the decision to make the only permanent escape and that is to end their life just like poor Johnny boy. Quote “Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. (Aldous Huxley “Brave New World”) This is quite an interesting quote made in the book as it hints to suggest that happiness and contentment are actually quite dull. In fact, the struggle to achieve such, is much more interesting, livelier, more exciting. Their opposites like unfortunate events, disappointment and temptation are what make life passionate and spectacular.
Plants and animals can flourish but only rational beings, humans, can experience. Happiness in the contemporary sense is usually determined subjectively but, it is for the individual not the outside force to determine if one is happy. It is to mean if someone’s life as a whole has been a happy one. It is far too easy to mistake if one is in a state of eudemonia, not because one is disillusioned, but because one may interpret it to involve largely of physical pleasure or luxury. Understanding this mistaken conception shows to us how eudemonia is a moralized happiness akin to ‘true’ happiness the kind worth having.
In The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister tells how a beautiful, extraordinary, yet, self-centered blue fish learns that being beautiful isn’t the key to happiness. The blue fish came to find this lesson when he lost his friends. Pfister takes a simple ocean setting and explores the consequences of an individual’s arrogance toward their peers, the process of humbling of oneself, and the tremendous reward one feels when they learn to share. The story achieves these morals by the author’s use of detailed imager and also, the influence of minor characters on the antihero in order to reveal to the audience the true thematic message; selfish actions bring true happiness.
Stearns, Peter N. “The History of Happiness. (Cover Story).” Harvard Business Review 90.1/2 (2012): 104-109. Business Source Complete. Web. 6 June 2015.
...esult, the more directly one sees their personal efforts impact someone else, the more happiness one can gain from the experience of giving. Sometimes generosity requires pushing past a feeling of reluctance because people all instinctively want to keep good things for themselves, but once one is over this feeling, they will feel satisfaction in knowing that they have made a difference in someone else’s life. However, if one lives without generosity but is not selfish, they can still have pleasure from other virtues.
The movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, gives a real life example of how actions of others can affect one’s
Bowman, James. "The Pursuit of Happiness." The American Spectator. N.p., Sept. 2010. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
Happiness is a feeling that everyone aims to accomplish, yet some people seem to only catch a sight of it. Gratifying atonement, a state of well-being, and serenity are the more eminent elements of happiness. David G. Myers and Ed Diener propose the article “Who Is Happy?” which present aspects of happiness, a theory that recognizes adaptation, cultural world view, and personal goals. I believe through word of mouth and through those whom we look up to, we are told many myths about happiness, especially the biggest myth that money can buy happiness. In Daniel Gilbert’s “Reporting Live from Tomorrow”, he argues that the definition of happiness is not defined by wealth and that we rely on super-replicators and surrogates to make decisions that we feel will enhance our happiness. Our economic history has proven the idea of declining marginal utility. If we pursue life and liberty without happiness, our lives, quality, and value will slowly vanish, but the absence of wealth has nothing to do with one’s happiness.
In the wake of perhaps, a financial problem a person could sacrifice the luxuries of their lives to benefit another cause in their life that they care for. Think of a time that you have given up a luxury for a better cause in yours or another’s life. These can feel good despite the sacrifice we make. For example, in an article entitled “Canine News” the article speaks of owners