I think this is a great, insightful article, though I think much of the advice has been said time and time again. It's just hard to really understand and live them until you've gone through it and have had to live them, as these elderly men and women have. But I do think this is great advice, and it is important to remind yourself of these things. You can't buy happiness, but you also have to realize that you have a choice in whether to be happy or not and you can make choices that make you happy. You can't plan for everything that'll happen in life, but plan for the things you can. Don't be afraid to take chances and seize opportunities, and don't be afraid of saying yes. Save money and travel while you're young. I feel like the advice on being present and meeting people and taking opportunities and on choosing to be happy are especially important for me, as well as saving money to travel rather than spend it on something silly and short term. I think those tips most apply to me and to my problems and/or fears (and travel is something I definitely want to do with my time and money).
we really have to emotionally set ourselves free. we tied ourselves to a goal that is not achievable and kind of unrealistic so that i can keep us moving. i dont hundred percents agree. the reason is that if we do it that way, we put us in a inferior position which means we are eliminating our confidence. dont be stressed by something that has not happened yet and dont feel sorry for things that has passed. per 9 Yan
I liked how this article dealt with your idea of mental flexibility, especially the idea of careers and happiness. I think the two play hand in hand. Regarding careers, we're often told to go and make the most money, but rarely to do what we want to do, especially if we can't make the most money doing what we'd rather be doing with our lives. But this also ties with the happiness component. I agree that happiness if based on our outlook on life, but I think it's also skewed from our day-to-day experiences. If our everyday life is boring, then I assume we won't be as happy as we could be. I think this ties best with your idea of mental flexibility because I take it that your lesson and this article is trying to tell us how we should just go with it and become some sort of a 'yes man' for ourselves so we don't ever deny ourselves an experience that we could learn from. Like you said, we have to find the doors ourselves and choose which ones to open and go through.
I thought this was a very insightful article. It's always helpful to receive advice from people who've actually had experience in life and this article was a great collection of advice from a diverse group of elders. The message that stuck out and with me the most was the advice on happiness and how it is always a choice. Even if two similar people were wealthy and lived lavish lifestyles, their happiness is based on their own decisions and states of mind. For example, one person could always be looking for more, more money, more fame, more power, and will find that their hunger for such things will never be satiated. On the other hand, another person can choose to be grateful for what they have, count their blessings, and enjoy their life. Even people with varying degrees of wealth can be happy simply because they choose to be. I hope that if I remember any piece of advice from this article in the future years to come, it would be this one.
I think this article is another example of living life to the fullest or to pursue what really interests you. Unfortunately, today's society determines success based on an individual's income which forces people to pursue careers that eat away at his/her happiness. There are a select, fortunate, few who have a career that they love so much. In the future, I hope to be one of the few.
This was truly a very enlightening piece. It's amazing how much a change of perspective can impact ones own happiness and general well-being. I never really viewed my life in full form, consisting of both the years I have lived, and the years I have yet to live. Breaking up my own time-line into phases allows me to become more at peace with the fact that I don't know exactly what my future will be like. Furthermore, knowing that I will one day cease to exist fuels me with ambition to make my life meaningful and to challenge myself through new experiences. This article allowed me to give concrete form to the roaming thoughts that have filled my head recently, of how multi-dimensioned life truly is. No matter what I do in the next stage of my life, I hope that I will continue to develop new, or expand any of my pre-existing perspectives on what it means to be happy, to be peaceful, and ultimately, to be human.
This article was interesting to me because I could relate to it. I am under a constant pressure from my parents to do well in school and sports, although I am not necessarily interested in certain things they want me to succeed in. I do it not for my own happiness, but for their's. I also agree with the article that many people are actually not happy because they care too much about impressing society rather than keeping themselves happy and doing what they want to do. I believe that there are a lot of things that factor into what makes a person happy, but it is a must to be in a good emotional state as well as a financial state. I feel like each person has their own values and enjoy different things, so each person has their own things that make them happy. As long as a person does what he/she enjoys in life and spends it with the right people, i think that it is possible to live a happy and enjoyable life.
From my point of view, this article illuminates a unique perspective of monetary success, one that is quite different from what society's standards dictate. The author elucidates the benefits of doing what we truly love rather than solely emphasizing the maximal financial gains. Our happiness holds much more value than anything money can buy, which provides great insight to not only economics, but also our futures. -K.C. Per. 8
This article offered very valuable advice that I aim to take advantage of as I grow older. The fact that the author was able to give up his job as a lucrative biochemist to enjoy the littler things in life is certainly admirable, and I commend him for it. As I graduate high school, the advice this article offers is even more applicable to me. I've been worried about growing older and I kind of just want to be a kid forever (who doesn't) but the fact that the interviewed elders in the article were so happy in such late stages of their lives is reassuring, to say the least. I am excited about leaving for college and moving on to the next stage of my life, but growing older is scary. But this advice on aging, marriage, and choosing a job is something that I will keep with me, forever. Especially patience with marriage and women- my future wife thanks you Mr. Kramer!
The best thing I learned from this article is that happiness is a choice. I think that is absolutely true and it’s up to you to make sure you’re happy. Surround yourself with good people and don’t put money first. I’m pretty sure that I am choosing a career path that I’m interested in and genuinely love. –A.L. Period 8
I really enjoyed this article because i completely agree with it. I feel like life is too short and we need to make the most of everyday. Every decision should be in our best interests, without concern for other peoples thoughts and or opinions. Whatever you do in life should make you happy. Your job, marriage, life choices all are for YOU, not anyone else. People in todays society are influenced by others and this causes them to make choices they don't like but feel are necessary. - Yash Shah pd 8
I agree with this article in that it is not all about the financial aspects of the job that should attract you. What will bring you the most happiness is the job you should choose because it is the one that will be the most enjoyable for you and will allow you to go through your life with no regrets. Karan L. Period 8
This article gave me quite a lot to think about regarding my decisions lately and what my decisions will entail in the future-especially regarding my career. I've always been someone who is completely invested in the work I commit myself to, but lately, I've probably let that come in the way family...and this is only the beginning- for I will probably choose my work and my goals to make money will override aspects that make me happy plenty of times. Before I know it, my youth will slip away from me, and I'm going to have to devote my life to raising a family of my own. Thus, this is the time for me to start doing things for myself- things that make me happy. While I should think about the future, it shouldn't be my biggest priority. After all, as Ferris Bueler once said "life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look around once a while, you'll miss it"- and he's right. In the years to come, I need to live a little. Also, this makes me wonder why so many people-including me- pick the careers we do. Is it because we like medicine and finance, or is it because those are the jobs we've been told are lucrative and prestigious? At the end of the day, the money and status behind these professions has influenced us all, and that makes me wonder-- what careers would we take if we all followed our true passions, regardless how much money and prestige was behind it? - M.S. PD 8
I find this article very well-timed considering how we are close to graduating. Life goes on too fast; people are unsure whether they spent that fast-paced time doing something worthwhile or worthless. Fame, prestige, and money might sound like great things at the moment, but for people looking back they are essentially meaningless. The only things meaningful were whether you were happy and if you had any regrets.
I think that the article has a lot of truth and this does help to our lives in the future. It is true that many people are focused on making tons of money and divorce rates are higher now than ever before because people are giving up because their lives aren't happy: not in their jobs, lives, and marriages. People gotta do what they love the most and have the most fun in. That decreases the stress in ones job and this will correlate every where else in a persons relationship with the world and others. One should be grateful for the happiness in life because it can be taken away quicker than the speed of light. So one should cherish it and make it last.
Life is short, but it the longest thing we experience. I agree with the article’s point that today people are chasing a life that puts money at the center of everything, including their happiness. Living life with no regrets goes hand in hand with living a life that is satisfying, one that you can look back on and not change a single moment. My cousin had the perfect GPA, graduated Columbia University, and went on to work in prestigious financial firms. He is on track to make his first million before he is thirty. But is he happy? Not at all. Working from 7am to the early morning hours seven days a week does not allow him to have a life. I would rather make less money but wake up everyday happy to do something I love. AB pd. 9
A qoute in the this article that really stuck with me was in the happiness section. It was about how you cannot control the outcome of every situation but you can always control your attitude to the outcome. This really made me realize how every individual has control over how they use their experiences and whether they use them to progress or take steps back. The article also defined the difference between following your interest and following monetary gains. Another quote I really liked was the part where the author said they wanted to live everyday like their last however they also wanted to keep an eye on the future. Chirag Soni Pd.8
I have read a great deal of articles that give advice on how to live your life, a list of things to live by, things to look out for in the future, etc. These articles are enlightening, touching, and impacting, but they all leave me with the same lingering question… “How?”. From what I’ve just read it’s very easy to tell me what to do, but how do I go about doing it? And after the frustration and lack of an answer to my question, I finally realized something. These bloggers or writers can write what they do because they have figured it out for themselves or still in the process of. These articles aren’t meant to be a step by step on how to achieve happiness, they are more of a “keep this in mind” as you go on life’s endeavors. I think this article is perfect for me and my peers at this stage in our lives because we might not have to necessarily agree with everything written down on the article but we can keep it in mind because our mistakes, adventures, experiences, and adversities can answer the ultimate question of “how”. - SS, Pd 9
“I learned to be grateful for what I have, and no longer bemoan what I don’t have or can’t do.” I’ve learned a lot of things this year, but two lessons seem to stick out the most. The first is that things aren’t always fair. People get hurt indiscriminately. Everybody is bound to take a loss once in a while. However, the second (and much more important thing) I’ve learned is the importance of resilience. The way someone deals with loss says a lot about the person. I am definitely working on become more resilient\tenacious. I think this article is eye opening in a sense that it pushes me to focus on things that make me happy. I think self-pity will get me nowhere. Now that I’m about to enter a new frontier of my life, I think this is something great to keep in mind for my continual happiness. -TB
This article is true. I don't see the point in wasting your life. Don't do anything you don't like. Enjoy it. Yes, it seems like a long life but its not. I can't believe I am 18. It's young. But still. I feel like I'm 12. I want to travel the world. I have a list of places I want to go to. (Restaurants & Countries). This weekend I went to one of the Restaurants on my list and I felt so accomplished. More accomplished than giving in my college apps and getting into college. I also really think its important to enjoy the small things. Janvi Pd 9
I feel as if this article is very relevant as we choose what majors we will be pursuing for the next four years. As I enter the business world, I feel as if I may be inclined to choose a job that is most lucrative. However, remembering this article and all the advice my high school teachers have given me the past four years, I hope I will pursue a job that matches my interests. Avital B.
This was an interesting article regarding what really is important in life. I definitely agree with the author in that, when I die, I want to be able to say that I had no regrets. Additionally, I hope that this article is right in a lot of ways. I hope that old age really is better than most people expect it to be. In the end, I think that this article gave me a nice prospective about life in its totality; because as a 17 year old, the thought of being 80 is unreal. E.S. per 8 E.S.
I thought the closing sentence was a great way to conclude the article as a whole. Older people can probably fairly be referred to as “experts” in making the most of their time, simply because they have experienced the most of it. The comments about marriage seemed especially important to me, because with such high divorce rates in America, it seems a very common source of wasted time is failed marriage. The advice about commitment to marriage as an institution seems old-fashioned and unnecessary to me, but it is probably true that in cultures where marriage is considered much more sacred (especially for women) that divorces are less common. Whether this suggests marriage satisfaction is higher or indicates that problems are left to fester under the surface, I do not know. Overall, the article was an interesting read; I love reading the opinions of experts! Karan Singhal AP Econ Pd. 9
Carly L Period 7: I really enjoyed this article. Not only was it interesting and engaging, but the lessons touched upon throughout it were very realistic and important, and many of which are not taken so seriously. One of the lessons that resonated with me the most was the idea of happiness, and how it's more of a choice than a result of life. No matter what happens to you or what you have to go through, you always have the opportunity to look at it in a different perspective, and be grateful for the things that you have, and not always dwell on what you don't. I think that is a big part of economics: not always worrying about what you don't have and others do. If you are always wanting more and are never satisfied, there is no hope for true happiness.
Really good advice. I wish I could skip all the hardships that produce wisdom, and simply know what is best for now. But, I have to live before I am wise. I want to be happy, yet I do not know what will make me enjoy everyday for the rest of my life. At least I am contemplating it before it is too late to turn around.
Carly L p7: I really enjoyed this article. Not only was it interesting and engaging, but the lessons touched upon throughout it were very realistic and important, and many of which are not taken so seriously. One of the lessons that resonated with me the most was the idea of happiness, and how it's more of a choice than a result of life. No matter what happens to you or what you have to go through, you always have the opportunity to look at it in a different perspective, and be grateful for the things that you have, and not always dwell on what you don't. I think that is a big part of economics: not always worrying about what you don't have and others do. If you are always wanting more and are never satisfied, there is no hope for true happiness.
This article really makes it clear that you have control over alot of the important things in your life. You can choose to be happy if you want to and make sure that you handle it correctly. its information that i feel that we all already know but need to be remind of regularly.
I think that this article opened my eyes in many ways in that I should choose a profession that would make me happy regardless of the money opportunities. I feel that a lot of people nowadays choose job fields that guarantee the most money without even having the slightest interest in the profession and for me this is a sad thing to do. I do hope that I will not choose a job based on its financial asset but instead like the author said, to be genuinely happy at what I choose to do in the future. In the end, I hope to reach the author's goal of dying without regrets because I think it opens a lot of doors that were once closed which can help to broaden our horizons and help with personal growth of ourselves as individuals. We are too scared of the world around us that we forget to enjoy it and live in peace. Maresa M. Period 8.
TL;DR Life, ultimately the pursuit of happiness, is what you make of it. Spend less time worrying, as it is contradictory to your life goal. Happiness is something nurtured and cared for, not attained like a promotion or hoop to jump through. Some points felt generic and obvious, but it's the process of attainment that is difficult. "It's the journey, not the destination," when it comes to these points.
Generally, I feel like I do a pretty good job of living my days to their fullest. Something that particularly caught my attention in this article was the view on parenting. I've always been very excited to one day be a parent, but I've never actually given it practical thought. I'm not sure how I'm going to balance my family life and my work. I know this is something my parents struggle with. But I'm not sure if this will apply to me when I get older because I do a pretty good job now at balancing out spending time with my friends and doing work. Albeit, I'm not there every time we hang out, but I'm there most of the time and still am able to maintain my grades through time management. Truthfully, a lot of the things in this article are ideas that I've already adopted. I'm fortunate enough to love something that is a very lucrative field. I don't think I'm one to give up too early on a relationship nor am I one to stay in a relationship without friendship. I can aim high while detaching expectations so I don't get hurt when I don't accomplish my goals. And I just think I'm generally a pretty happy person. Of course, I don't have it all figured out yet. But I think that's the beauty in life. You never really have everything figured out. Belal Taher 8 AP Economics
I feel like most of us have heard and know almost every single part of this advice. It is just getting to the point of following through with these suggestions. That seems to be the primary struggle. People constantly say do what you're passionate about for your career. Still, it's hard to decide young that we want to go into a less lucrative career when we don't know the financial burdens the future will bring. All of the advice from parenting to regrets do sound like ideas I agree with and hope I will follow in my life. I like the "always be honest" touch because I think that's sometimes overlooked when advice is given. I can't wait to experience what new experiences new decades will bring Jugal Pd. 8
SK period 7: I enjoyed reading this article that offered advice from the elderly on how to best live and enjoy your life. I’ve learned first hand that the older generation has lots of offer. I lived with my grandmother most of my life and from her I learned the importance of caring more about the little things in life. It’s easy to miss their value on the journey.
Obviously, school is a huge part of my life and as I’ve navigated through the hallways of Herricks. I’ve learned that competition and hard work is of value, it does not define you. After four years I’ve learned the value of a healthy balance of work/play.
As I head off on my next rite of passage, college, I know I’m doing the right thing. I’m choosing a variety of courses that interest me. I’m not declaring a major and headed down a single path. I’m open to new ideas and will search for a career that is not geared to prestige and money, but to my interests.
I agree greatly with the comment that you can’t waste your life on the negative and that happiness is often a choice that I would absolutely chose!
I completely agree with everything in this article. Whenever people ask me what i want to major in or what kind of job I would like to pursue I pause for a second because I don't know exactly what I want to do yet. I'm not the kind of person to take a job just because I'll make money. I just want to do something because it makes me happy. This is why it makes me so upset when my family or friends criticize myself or others by saying that one job won't make a lot of money. Well, money isn't everything and as long as you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life. -Kim R pd 7
I felt like the author was talking directly at me when she said, “...the learning comes too late to help them avoid painful mistakes and decades of wasted time and effort.” My dad always used to tell me, “it’s never too late to do anything,” and I take that advice to heart whenever I lose the motivation to try. I always try to live each day like it’s my last one just like the author mentioned; however, that doesn’t mean I make the right choices every time. I will keep all these life tips shared in the article about marriage, career, parenting, aging, regrets, happiness in mind for the future because I will definitely need it. Graduating high school seems unreal, but it’s happening in about two weeks, so I guess I can’t fight it. Growing up scares me. A lot. However, it excites me simultaneously. I can’t wait to explore and find out more about not only what life has to offer, but also what I can offer to the world as well. Like the article said, “happiness is a choice,” and I will choose to be happy from now on even when life gets hard.
JJ period 7: I completely agree with this article. I think the most important point was on careers. Money will never be able to buy happiness, only doing what you love and spending time with those you care about can. I also think the point about travelling when you are young is valid. If you wait until you are older, you may not be able to do all the things you originally wanted to. My parents told me the same thing about marriage. It's nice to be different to keep things interesting, but if they do not share goals and values, a couple may end up getting further apart with time.
This article demonstrates to me the importance of keeping an open mind. I think that too often, people are forced into believing that in order to lead a happy and full life, they need to have a job that pays a huge salary. However, as this article demonstrates, happiness and fulfillment come from enjoying what you do. I think that this is a lesson many people learn, but soon forget because their financial goals cloud their decision making. I hope I will be able to follow this advice
SB - pd 7 - I think that this article was very inspiring and eye opening. As high school seniors, we are about to enter a stage of our lives in which we will make choices that will affect the rest of our lives. I think that it is important for us to be reminded of the ideas laid out in this article especially during a time that will affect our lives so heavily. We should remember these ideas when making choices in college and for the rest of our lives,
Typically, people make connections between economics and money. But its more than that. Economics is less about money, but more about profit. And that profit could be money, but could also be happiness as the article states. To get the most out of our short lives. The travel part really resonated with me because I'm also a very avid traveler, and its really important to balance out money and personal fulfillment and happiness to maximize your profit, which in this case, is our lives. -Ben Jung pd.9
This is basically someone taking the world's wisest people and putting them in a book. I love reading articles or posts about things like this because it is a constant reminder that "you will be ok." We stress, as students and adults, so much about the present, but fail to realize that we have a ways to go. We look at everything so narrow-mindedly and fail to see the "big picture." After reading this article, I feel physically lightened - it put me in a good mood and kind of took the stress away. People who have lived full lives really do offer wise advice, and I am definitely going to take it.
This advice was truly insightful. It may be true that we hear the same type of advice but you don't truly take it into consideration until you experience it yourself. It's a lot like when i was a freshmen and seniors would constantly tell me that time flies in high school but i never believed it. I brushed off the simple advice because i thought it wasn't true, or maybe that i had plenty of time. But it just shows that you control how happy you can be and how you want to live your life. You have a choice to make yourself become the person you want to be whether its miserable or happy for life
Their opinion on happiness is probably the most important piece of advice you can get from this article (this may not be the case for other people). A lot of the things that happen in life are completely out of your hands. However, this doesn't mean you should give up and lament your life. Focus on the good parts of life, not the negative. AA per 9
This article really tells you that it is not money in your like that makes you happy it is what you do. Whether that be travel around the world or change your profession. It is clear that happiness doesn't have a price and even making less money but enjoying what you do is key. -BH
This article offers an interesting perspective as the mindset you are shown through the opinions of those who have already lived life greatly differ from the mindset we hold as youth today, having our entire futures ahead of us. In a way, this article is almost like a way for us to learn from all the regrets those before us had in their lives and apply them towards fixing ours, essentially at an attempt to perfect the aging process. -A.R. P8
This article reinforces the idea of doing the things you love because it's important. What I found most amusing is the fact that the author decided to write about the elderly more so than middle aged. They all seemed content with how they carried their lives and it's really good that people live like that. I feel like this isn't something you can be taught though, too many people say this and it loses it's value unfortunately. Some things, like money, don't lose it's power over people and we sometimes lose sight of things that will genuinely make us happy in our life besides money. AT Period 7
I actually really enjoyed this article and I'm really glad I read it even though its really late. I don't really know what to say besides the fact that this while reading this article, I kind of just had a smile on my face. I don't know if its because of how positive all the elders were about life or due to the lack of sleep. One thing they hit upon that I personally have always had trouble with is the finding what you love to do. Now I know that I don't need to know now and some people don't know what they love to do until they are well into their golden years, but I have honestly been thinking about this for years. My mom always told me to do what i love as a career, ever since I was little. And ever since then I've been on this hunt to find that one thing that I love so much. That one job that I can't wait to go to every morning. I chose computer engineering as my intended major, but honestly thats because I was drawn a blank on what else to choose. I knew I would be good at engineering and since we are in a tech savvy world, why not computers. And you make bank with this job. But I don't know if I will love it. I don't feel I will but I don't know what else to choose. I'm hoping to figure out later in college. Maybe I'll do that traveling thing they were talking about and do some soul searching or something. Who knows... ~ TM Pd 8
CC period 7 I agree on many points on this article, and I feel like I can relate to it personally. I would much rather do something that makes me happy than whatever pays the most, at a reasonable level. I take the time out of my life to enjoy small things such as sunrises, the beauty of nature, and many other things. Everyone should learn to appreciate where they are on this planet, and not just live their life paycheck to paycheck. I also agree mostly on the no regrets part, you shouldn't let little things prevent you from enjoying life.
Jane E. Brody’s article “Advice From Life’s Graying Edge on Finishing With No Regrets” offers a great deal of advice that will definitely come in handy in the near future. At present, I feel that the sections on happiness and on careers were most applicable. As mentioned in the piece, “You are not responsible for all the things that happen to you, but you are completely in control of your attitude and your reactions to them.” This quote reminded me of Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture, in which he stated, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” I found the section on careers particularly important because my classmates and I are currently transitioning to college, which is often considered to play a major role in one’s pursuits. As stated in the article, “The most important thing is to be involved in a profession that you absolutely love, and that you look forward to going to work to every day.” This quote reminded me of the common saying, “If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.” All in all, I found this piece quite meaningful and will save it for a time when it is of even more use. - ZA (Period 8)
This is a pretty cool article. I hope that I can be happy in my life. Sometimes it is really hard to know what you really want. However, I feel that everyone wants to be happy yet not many people are. That is very interesting. I hope I am happy when I am older. -Won Park period 9
The article was definitely an insightful one. I feel that it'll be one I'll think about often for many of the advise given truly resonated with me. I feel that when one is about to embark upon a new chapter in their lives they should definitely give this a read. Just as a reminder. To really enjoy what is about to come and make sure that you're content and positive. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this I'll no doubt keep their advice close to my heart. F.S per 7
I think this is a great, insightful article, though I think much of the advice has been said time and time again. It's just hard to really understand and live them until you've gone through it and have had to live them, as these elderly men and women have. But I do think this is great advice, and it is important to remind yourself of these things. You can't buy happiness, but you also have to realize that you have a choice in whether to be happy or not and you can make choices that make you happy. You can't plan for everything that'll happen in life, but plan for the things you can. Don't be afraid to take chances and seize opportunities, and don't be afraid of saying yes. Save money and travel while you're young. I feel like the advice on being present and meeting people and taking opportunities and on choosing to be happy are especially important for me, as well as saving money to travel rather than spend it on something silly and short term. I think those tips most apply to me and to my problems and/or fears (and travel is something I definitely want to do with my time and money).
ReplyDeletewe really have to emotionally set ourselves free. we tied ourselves to a goal that is not achievable and kind of unrealistic so that i can keep us moving. i dont hundred percents agree. the reason is that if we do it that way, we put us in a inferior position which means we are eliminating our confidence. dont be stressed by something that has not happened yet and dont feel sorry for things that has passed.
ReplyDeleteper 9 Yan
Ansh Hirani Prd 9.
ReplyDeleteI liked how this article dealt with your idea of mental flexibility, especially the idea of careers and happiness. I think the two play hand in hand. Regarding careers, we're often told to go and make the most money, but rarely to do what we want to do, especially if we can't make the most money doing what we'd rather be doing with our lives. But this also ties with the happiness component. I agree that happiness if based on our outlook on life, but I think it's also skewed from our day-to-day experiences. If our everyday life is boring, then I assume we won't be as happy as we could be. I think this ties best with your idea of mental flexibility because I take it that your lesson and this article is trying to tell us how we should just go with it and become some sort of a 'yes man' for ourselves so we don't ever deny ourselves an experience that we could learn from. Like you said, we have to find the doors ourselves and choose which ones to open and go through.
I thought this was a very insightful article. It's always helpful to receive advice from people who've actually had experience in life and this article was a great collection of advice from a diverse group of elders. The message that stuck out and with me the most was the advice on happiness and how it is always a choice. Even if two similar people were wealthy and lived lavish lifestyles, their happiness is based on their own decisions and states of mind. For example, one person could always be looking for more, more money, more fame, more power, and will find that their hunger for such things will never be satiated. On the other hand, another person can choose to be grateful for what they have, count their blessings, and enjoy their life. Even people with varying degrees of wealth can be happy simply because they choose to be. I hope that if I remember any piece of advice from this article in the future years to come, it would be this one.
ReplyDelete- VL Period 8
I think this article is another example of living life to the fullest or to pursue what really interests you. Unfortunately, today's society determines success based on an individual's income which forces people to pursue careers that eat away at his/her happiness. There are a select, fortunate, few who have a career that they love so much. In the future, I hope to be one of the few.
ReplyDeleteK.K p8
This was truly a very enlightening piece. It's amazing how much a change of perspective can impact ones own happiness and general well-being. I never really viewed my life in full form, consisting of both the years I have lived, and the years I have yet to live. Breaking up my own time-line into phases allows me to become more at peace with the fact that I don't know exactly what my future will be like. Furthermore, knowing that I will one day cease to exist fuels me with ambition to make my life meaningful and to challenge myself through new experiences. This article allowed me to give concrete form to the roaming thoughts that have filled my head recently, of how multi-dimensioned life truly is. No matter what I do in the next stage of my life, I hope that I will continue to develop new, or expand any of my pre-existing perspectives on what it means to be happy, to be peaceful, and ultimately, to be human.
ReplyDeleteShweta Lodha
Robert Lis - Pd. 9
ReplyDeleteThis article was interesting to me because I could relate to it. I am under a constant pressure from my parents to do well in school and sports, although I am not necessarily interested in certain things they want me to succeed in. I do it not for my own happiness, but for their's. I also agree with the article that many people are actually not happy because they care too much about impressing society rather than keeping themselves happy and doing what they want to do. I believe that there are a lot of things that factor into what makes a person happy, but it is a must to be in a good emotional state as well as a financial state. I feel like each person has their own values and enjoy different things, so each person has their own things that make them happy. As long as a person does what he/she enjoys in life and spends it with the right people, i think that it is possible to live a happy and enjoyable life.
From my point of view, this article illuminates a unique perspective of monetary success, one that is quite different from what society's standards dictate. The author elucidates the benefits of doing what we truly love rather than solely emphasizing the maximal financial gains. Our happiness holds much more value than anything money can buy, which provides great insight to not only economics, but also our futures.
ReplyDelete-K.C. Per. 8
This article offered very valuable advice that I aim to take advantage of as I grow older. The fact that the author was able to give up his job as a lucrative biochemist to enjoy the littler things in life is certainly admirable, and I commend him for it. As I graduate high school, the advice this article offers is even more applicable to me. I've been worried about growing older and I kind of just want to be a kid forever (who doesn't) but the fact that the interviewed elders in the article were so happy in such late stages of their lives is reassuring, to say the least. I am excited about leaving for college and moving on to the next stage of my life, but growing older is scary. But this advice on aging, marriage, and choosing a job is something that I will keep with me, forever. Especially patience with marriage and women- my future wife thanks you Mr. Kramer!
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I learned from this article is that happiness is a choice. I think that is absolutely true and it’s up to you to make sure you’re happy. Surround yourself with good people and don’t put money first. I’m pretty sure that I am choosing a career path that I’m interested in and genuinely love. –A.L. Period 8
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this article because i completely agree with it. I feel like life is too short and we need to make the most of everyday. Every decision should be in our best interests, without concern for other peoples thoughts and or opinions. Whatever you do in life should make you happy. Your job, marriage, life choices all are for YOU, not anyone else. People in todays society are influenced by others and this causes them to make choices they don't like but feel are necessary. - Yash Shah pd 8
ReplyDeleteI agree with this article in that it is not all about the financial aspects of the job that should attract you. What will bring you the most happiness is the job you should choose because it is the one that will be the most enjoyable for you and will allow you to go through your life with no regrets. Karan L. Period 8
ReplyDeleteThis article gave me quite a lot to think about regarding my decisions lately and what my decisions will entail in the future-especially regarding my career. I've always been someone who is completely invested in the work I commit myself to, but lately, I've probably let that come in the way family...and this is only the beginning- for I will probably choose my work and my goals to make money will override aspects that make me happy plenty of times. Before I know it, my youth will slip away from me, and I'm going to have to devote my life to raising a family of my own. Thus, this is the time for me to start doing things for myself- things that make me happy. While I should think about the future, it shouldn't be my biggest priority. After all, as Ferris Bueler once said "life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look around once a while, you'll miss it"- and he's right. In the years to come, I need to live a little.
ReplyDeleteAlso, this makes me wonder why so many people-including me- pick the careers we do. Is it because we like medicine and finance, or is it because those are the jobs we've been told are lucrative and prestigious? At the end of the day, the money and status behind these professions has influenced us all, and that makes me wonder-- what careers would we take if we all followed our true passions, regardless how much money and prestige was behind it?
- M.S. PD 8
I find this article very well-timed considering how we are close to graduating. Life goes on too fast; people are unsure whether they spent that fast-paced time doing something worthwhile or worthless. Fame, prestige, and money might sound like great things at the moment, but for people looking back they are essentially meaningless. The only things meaningful were whether you were happy and if you had any regrets.
ReplyDeleteJim T Period 8
I think that the article has a lot of truth and this does help to our lives in the future. It is true that many people are focused on making tons of money and divorce rates are higher now than ever before because people are giving up because their lives aren't happy: not in their jobs, lives, and marriages. People gotta do what they love the most and have the most fun in. That decreases the stress in ones job and this will correlate every where else in a persons relationship with the world and others. One should be grateful for the happiness in life because it can be taken away quicker than the speed of light. So one should cherish it and make it last.
ReplyDelete- Noved G. Period 9
Life is short, but it the longest thing we experience. I agree with the article’s point that today people are chasing a life that puts money at the center of everything, including their happiness. Living life with no regrets goes hand in hand with living a life that is satisfying, one that you can look back on and not change a single moment. My cousin had the perfect GPA, graduated Columbia University, and went on to work in prestigious financial firms. He is on track to make his first million before he is thirty. But is he happy? Not at all. Working from 7am to the early morning hours seven days a week does not allow him to have a life. I would rather make less money but wake up everyday happy to do something I love.
ReplyDeleteAB pd. 9
A qoute in the this article that really stuck with me was in the happiness section. It was about how you cannot control the outcome of every situation but you can always control your attitude to the outcome. This really made me realize how every individual has control over how they use their experiences and whether they use them to progress or take steps back. The article also defined the difference between following your interest and following monetary gains. Another quote I really liked was the part where the author said they wanted to live everyday like their last however they also wanted to keep an eye on the future.
ReplyDeleteChirag Soni Pd.8
I have read a great deal of articles that give advice on how to live your life, a list of things to live by, things to look out for in the future, etc. These articles are enlightening, touching, and impacting, but they all leave me with the same lingering question… “How?”. From what I’ve just read it’s very easy to tell me what to do, but how do I go about doing it? And after the frustration and lack of an answer to my question, I finally realized something. These bloggers or writers can write what they do because they have figured it out for themselves or still in the process of. These articles aren’t meant to be a step by step on how to achieve happiness, they are more of a “keep this in mind” as you go on life’s endeavors. I think this article is perfect for me and my peers at this stage in our lives because we might not have to necessarily agree with everything written down on the article but we can keep it in mind because our mistakes, adventures, experiences, and adversities can answer the ultimate question of “how”. - SS, Pd 9
ReplyDelete“I learned to be grateful for what I have, and no longer bemoan what I don’t have or can’t do.” I’ve learned a lot of things this year, but two lessons seem to stick out the most. The first is that things aren’t always fair. People get hurt indiscriminately. Everybody is bound to take a loss once in a while. However, the second (and much more important thing) I’ve learned is the importance of resilience. The way someone deals with loss says a lot about the person. I am definitely working on become more resilient\tenacious. I think this article is eye opening in a sense that it pushes me to focus on things that make me happy. I think self-pity will get me nowhere. Now that I’m about to enter a new frontier of my life, I think this is something great to keep in mind for my continual happiness.
ReplyDelete-TB
This article is true. I don't see the point in wasting your life. Don't do anything you don't like. Enjoy it. Yes, it seems like a long life but its not. I can't believe I am 18. It's young. But still. I feel like I'm 12. I want to travel the world. I have a list of places I want to go to. (Restaurants & Countries). This weekend I went to one of the Restaurants on my list and I felt so accomplished. More accomplished than giving in my college apps and getting into college. I also really think its important to enjoy the small things.
ReplyDeleteJanvi Pd 9
I feel as if this article is very relevant as we choose what majors we will be pursuing for the next four years. As I enter the business world, I feel as if I may be inclined to choose a job that is most lucrative. However, remembering this article and all the advice my high school teachers have given me the past four years, I hope I will pursue a job that matches my interests.
ReplyDeleteAvital B.
This was an interesting article regarding what really is important in life. I definitely agree with the author in that, when I die, I want to be able to say that I had no regrets. Additionally, I hope that this article is right in a lot of ways. I hope that old age really is better than most people expect it to be. In the end, I think that this article gave me a nice prospective about life in its totality; because as a 17 year old, the thought of being 80 is unreal.
ReplyDeleteE.S. per 8
E.S.
I thought the closing sentence was a great way to conclude the article as a whole. Older people can probably fairly be referred to as “experts” in making the most of their time, simply because they have experienced the most of it. The comments about marriage seemed especially important to me, because with such high divorce rates in America, it seems a very common source of wasted time is failed marriage. The advice about commitment to marriage as an institution seems old-fashioned and unnecessary to me, but it is probably true that in cultures where marriage is considered much more sacred (especially for women) that divorces are less common. Whether this suggests marriage satisfaction is higher or indicates that problems are left to fester under the surface, I do not know. Overall, the article was an interesting read; I love reading the opinions of experts!
ReplyDeleteKaran Singhal
AP Econ Pd. 9
Carly L Period 7: I really enjoyed this article. Not only was it interesting and engaging, but the lessons touched upon throughout it were very realistic and important, and many of which are not taken so seriously. One of the lessons that resonated with me the most was the idea of happiness, and how it's more of a choice than a result of life. No matter what happens to you or what you have to go through, you always have the opportunity to look at it in a different perspective, and be grateful for the things that you have, and not always dwell on what you don't. I think that is a big part of economics: not always worrying about what you don't have and others do. If you are always wanting more and are never satisfied, there is no hope for true happiness.
ReplyDeleteReally good advice. I wish I could skip all the hardships that produce wisdom, and simply know what is best for now. But, I have to live before I am wise. I want to be happy, yet I do not know what will make me enjoy everyday for the rest of my life. At least I am contemplating it before it is too late to turn around.
ReplyDeleteCarly L p7: I really enjoyed this article. Not only was it interesting and engaging, but the lessons touched upon throughout it were very realistic and important, and many of which are not taken so seriously. One of the lessons that resonated with me the most was the idea of happiness, and how it's more of a choice than a result of life. No matter what happens to you or what you have to go through, you always have the opportunity to look at it in a different perspective, and be grateful for the things that you have, and not always dwell on what you don't. I think that is a big part of economics: not always worrying about what you don't have and others do. If you are always wanting more and are never satisfied, there is no hope for true happiness.
ReplyDeleteThis article really makes it clear that you have control over alot of the important things in your life. You can choose to be happy if you want to and make sure that you handle it correctly. its information that i feel that we all already know but need to be remind of regularly.
ReplyDeleteThomas F
I think that this article opened my eyes in many ways in that I should choose a profession that would make me happy regardless of the money opportunities. I feel that a lot of people nowadays choose job fields that guarantee the most money without even having the slightest interest in the profession and for me this is a sad thing to do. I do hope that I will not choose a job based on its financial asset but instead like the author said, to be genuinely happy at what I choose to do in the future. In the end, I hope to reach the author's goal of dying without regrets because I think it opens a lot of doors that were once closed which can help to broaden our horizons and help with personal growth of ourselves as individuals. We are too scared of the world around us that we forget to enjoy it and live in peace.
ReplyDeleteMaresa M. Period 8.
TL;DR Life, ultimately the pursuit of happiness, is what you make of it. Spend less time worrying, as it is contradictory to your life goal. Happiness is something nurtured and cared for, not attained like a promotion or hoop to jump through. Some points felt generic and obvious, but it's the process of attainment that is difficult. "It's the journey, not the destination," when it comes to these points.
ReplyDelete-JW
Period 8 AP Economics
Generally, I feel like I do a pretty good job of living my days to their fullest. Something that particularly caught my attention in this article was the view on parenting. I've always been very excited to one day be a parent, but I've never actually given it practical thought. I'm not sure how I'm going to balance my family life and my work. I know this is something my parents struggle with. But I'm not sure if this will apply to me when I get older because I do a pretty good job now at balancing out spending time with my friends and doing work. Albeit, I'm not there every time we hang out, but I'm there most of the time and still am able to maintain my grades through time management. Truthfully, a lot of the things in this article are ideas that I've already adopted. I'm fortunate enough to love something that is a very lucrative field. I don't think I'm one to give up too early on a relationship nor am I one to stay in a relationship without friendship. I can aim high while detaching expectations so I don't get hurt when I don't accomplish my goals. And I just think I'm generally a pretty happy person. Of course, I don't have it all figured out yet. But I think that's the beauty in life. You never really have everything figured out.
ReplyDeleteBelal Taher 8 AP Economics
I feel like most of us have heard and know almost every single part of this advice. It is just getting to the point of following through with these suggestions. That seems to be the primary struggle. People constantly say do what you're passionate about for your career. Still, it's hard to decide young that we want to go into a less lucrative career when we don't know the financial burdens the future will bring. All of the advice from parenting to regrets do sound like ideas I agree with and hope I will follow in my life. I like the "always be honest" touch because I think that's sometimes overlooked when advice is given. I can't wait to experience what new experiences new decades will bring
ReplyDeleteJugal Pd. 8
SK period 7: I enjoyed reading this article that offered advice from the elderly on how to best live and enjoy your life. I’ve learned first hand that the older generation has lots of offer. I lived with my grandmother most of my life and from her I learned the importance of caring more about the little things in life. It’s easy to miss their value on the journey.
ReplyDeleteObviously, school is a huge part of my life and as I’ve navigated through the hallways of Herricks. I’ve learned that competition and hard work is of value, it does not define you. After four years I’ve learned the value of a healthy balance of work/play.
As I head off on my next rite of passage, college, I know I’m doing the right thing. I’m choosing a variety of courses that interest me. I’m not declaring a major and headed down a single path. I’m open to new ideas and will search for a career that is not geared to prestige and money, but to my interests.
I agree greatly with the comment that you can’t waste your life on the negative and that happiness is often a choice that I would absolutely chose!
I completely agree with everything in this article. Whenever people ask me what i want to major in or what kind of job I would like to pursue I pause for a second because I don't know exactly what I want to do yet. I'm not the kind of person to take a job just because I'll make money. I just want to do something because it makes me happy. This is why it makes me so upset when my family or friends criticize myself or others by saying that one job won't make a lot of money. Well, money isn't everything and as long as you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life.
ReplyDelete-Kim R pd 7
R.L. Period 8
ReplyDeleteI felt like the author was talking directly at me when she said, “...the learning comes too late to help them avoid painful mistakes and decades of wasted time and effort.” My dad always used to tell me, “it’s never too late to do anything,” and I take that advice to heart whenever I lose the motivation to try. I always try to live each day like it’s my last one just like the author mentioned; however, that doesn’t mean I make the right choices every time. I will keep all these life tips shared in the article about marriage, career, parenting, aging, regrets, happiness in mind for the future because I will definitely need it. Graduating high school seems unreal, but it’s happening in about two weeks, so I guess I can’t fight it. Growing up scares me. A lot. However, it excites me simultaneously. I can’t wait to explore and find out more about not only what life has to offer, but also what I can offer to the world as well. Like the article said, “happiness is a choice,” and I will choose to be happy from now on even when life gets hard.
JJ period 7: I completely agree with this article. I think the most important point was on careers. Money will never be able to buy happiness, only doing what you love and spending time with those you care about can. I also think the point about travelling when you are young is valid. If you wait until you are older, you may not be able to do all the things you originally wanted to. My parents told me the same thing about marriage. It's nice to be different to keep things interesting, but if they do not share goals and values, a couple may end up getting further apart with time.
ReplyDeleteThis article demonstrates to me the importance of keeping an open mind. I think that too often, people are forced into believing that in order to lead a happy and full life, they need to have a job that pays a huge salary. However, as this article demonstrates, happiness and fulfillment come from enjoying what you do. I think that this is a lesson many people learn, but soon forget because their financial goals cloud their decision making. I hope I will be able to follow this advice
ReplyDeleteAP Econ PD. 8
Danny Cheng
SB - pd 7 - I think that this article was very inspiring and eye opening. As high school seniors, we are about to enter a stage of our lives in which we will make choices that will affect the rest of our lives. I think that it is important for us to be reminded of the ideas laid out in this article especially during a time that will affect our lives so heavily. We should remember these ideas when making choices in college and for the rest of our lives,
ReplyDeleteTypically, people make connections between economics and money. But its more than that. Economics is less about money, but more about profit. And that profit could be money, but could also be happiness as the article states. To get the most out of our short lives. The travel part really resonated with me because I'm also a very avid traveler, and its really important to balance out money and personal fulfillment and happiness to maximize your profit, which in this case, is our lives.
ReplyDelete-Ben Jung pd.9
This is basically someone taking the world's wisest people and putting them in a book. I love reading articles or posts about things like this because it is a constant reminder that "you will be ok." We stress, as students and adults, so much about the present, but fail to realize that we have a ways to go. We look at everything so narrow-mindedly and fail to see the "big picture." After reading this article, I feel physically lightened - it put me in a good mood and kind of took the stress away. People who have lived full lives really do offer wise advice, and I am definitely going to take it.
ReplyDeleteKevin Chand AP ECON pd. 8
This advice was truly insightful. It may be true that we hear the same type of advice but you don't truly take it into consideration until you experience it yourself. It's a lot like when i was a freshmen and seniors would constantly tell me that time flies in high school but i never believed it. I brushed off the simple advice because i thought it wasn't true, or maybe that i had plenty of time. But it just shows that you control how happy you can be and how you want to live your life. You have a choice to make yourself become the person you want to be whether its miserable or happy for life
ReplyDeleteerin rivera pd7
Their opinion on happiness is probably the most important piece of advice you can get from this article (this may not be the case for other people). A lot of the things that happen in life are completely out of your hands. However, this doesn't mean you should give up and lament your life. Focus on the good parts of life, not the negative. AA per 9
ReplyDeleteThis article really tells you that it is not money in your like that makes you happy it is what you do. Whether that be travel around the world or change your profession. It is clear that happiness doesn't have a price and even making less money but enjoying what you do is key. -BH
ReplyDeleteThis article offers an interesting perspective as the mindset you are shown through the opinions of those who have already lived life greatly differ from the mindset we hold as youth today, having our entire futures ahead of us. In a way, this article is almost like a way for us to learn from all the regrets those before us had in their lives and apply them towards fixing ours, essentially at an attempt to perfect the aging process.
ReplyDelete-A.R. P8
This article reinforces the idea of doing the things you love because it's important. What I found most amusing is the fact that the author decided to write about the elderly more so than middle aged. They all seemed content with how they carried their lives and it's really good that people live like that. I feel like this isn't something you can be taught though, too many people say this and it loses it's value unfortunately. Some things, like money, don't lose it's power over people and we sometimes lose sight of things that will genuinely make us happy in our life besides money. AT Period 7
ReplyDeleteI actually really enjoyed this article and I'm really glad I read it even though its really late. I don't really know what to say besides the fact that this while reading this article, I kind of just had a smile on my face. I don't know if its because of how positive all the elders were about life or due to the lack of sleep. One thing they hit upon that I personally have always had trouble with is the finding what you love to do. Now I know that I don't need to know now and some people don't know what they love to do until they are well into their golden years, but I have honestly been thinking about this for years. My mom always told me to do what i love as a career, ever since I was little. And ever since then I've been on this hunt to find that one thing that I love so much. That one job that I can't wait to go to every morning. I chose computer engineering as my intended major, but honestly thats because I was drawn a blank on what else to choose. I knew I would be good at engineering and since we are in a tech savvy world, why not computers. And you make bank with this job. But I don't know if I will love it. I don't feel I will but I don't know what else to choose. I'm hoping to figure out later in college. Maybe I'll do that traveling thing they were talking about and do some soul searching or something. Who knows... ~ TM Pd 8
ReplyDeleteCC period 7
ReplyDeleteI agree on many points on this article, and I feel like I can relate to it personally. I would much rather do something that makes me happy than whatever pays the most, at a reasonable level. I take the time out of my life to enjoy small things such as sunrises, the beauty of nature, and many other things. Everyone should learn to appreciate where they are on this planet, and not just live their life paycheck to paycheck. I also agree mostly on the no regrets part, you shouldn't let little things prevent you from enjoying life.
Jane E. Brody’s article “Advice From Life’s Graying Edge on Finishing With No Regrets” offers a great deal of advice that will definitely come in handy in the near future. At present, I feel that the sections on happiness and on careers were most applicable. As mentioned in the piece, “You are not responsible for all the things that happen to you, but you are completely in control of your attitude and your reactions to them.” This quote reminded me of Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture, in which he stated, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” I found the section on careers particularly important because my classmates and I are currently transitioning to college, which is often considered to play a major role in one’s pursuits. As stated in the article, “The most important thing is to be involved in a profession that you absolutely love, and that you look forward to going to work to every day.” This quote reminded me of the common saying, “If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.” All in all, I found this piece quite meaningful and will save it for a time when it is of even more use.
ReplyDelete- ZA (Period 8)
This is a pretty cool article. I hope that I can be happy in my life. Sometimes it is really hard to know what you really want. However, I feel that everyone wants to be happy yet not many people are. That is very interesting. I hope I am happy when I am older. -Won Park period 9
ReplyDeleteThe article was definitely an insightful one. I feel that it'll be one I'll think about often for many of the advise given truly resonated with me. I feel that when one is about to embark upon a new chapter in their lives they should definitely give this a read. Just as a reminder. To really enjoy what is about to come and make sure that you're content and positive. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this I'll no doubt keep their advice close to my heart.
ReplyDeleteF.S per 7