Ask HN: What makes you happy? What is your American Dream?

Re:Ask HN: What makes you happy? What is your American Dream? by nfnaaron on Tuesday March 30, 2010 @11:07AM (#1229301)

What makes me happy, short term:

  - Laughing with my son (12 years old).
  - Seeing my son happy and positive.
  - Being "in flow," engrossed in a task and making progress.

Long term goals:

  - To see my son's independent life unfold in a positive direction.
  - Making a secure living, however and wherever I choose.
  - Being secure after I choose not to work (or can't work).

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Re:Ask HN: What makes you happy? What is your American Dream? by kirstendirksen on Tuesday March 30, 2010 @11:16AM (#1229322)

I like that term being "in flow". I used to hear the term being "in the zone" when I played tennis as a kid. One coach told me I needed to "be the ball" (I'm guessing this is variation on some Buddhist all is one motif). Though I never achieved that state as I never really liked tennis. I wonder if one type of happiness is finding that activity you enjoy enough so be able- eventually- to be "in flow" or "in the zone".

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Re:Ask HN: What makes you happy? What is your American Dream? by nfnaaron on Tuesday March 30, 2010 @11:28AM (#1229355)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_%28psychology%29

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Re:Ask HN: What makes you happy? What is your American Dream? by arethuza on Tuesday March 30, 2010 @12:29PM (#1229515)

Good post - my son is 11 and I have very similar feelings.

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