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Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

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Re: Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

#461

Post by Nbox9 »

meken wrote: post #268
Nbox9 wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In contrast I hate driving cars. I feel like it’s my least favorite tool. I have a nice car, I’ve driven even nicer cars in different styles and hated them all. Driving requires so much of my attention I feel like it’s invasive. In addition I feel like I have to sit relatively still and use my muscles in very particular way. It’s a trap for my mind in body, and an experience I don’t find pleasant. I am an American an…

Interesting. Yup, if that was my experience, I would hate driving cars as well. I’m able to drive pretty much on autopilot. Plus, I don’t feel I’m wasting time listening to podcasts/audiobooks because I’m “doing something/headed somewhere”. I’ve driven almost 20k miles in the past 3.5 months.

To be a safe driver your eyes need to be constantly focused on the road, and even 15 seconds looks away can cause significant problem. Maybe you need less mental attention then I use, but it physically requires a lot of attention.

Re: Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

#462

Post by gher-shyu3i »

loeg wrote: post #420
gher-shyu3i wrote: post #400

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just because other things are also bad for you does not mean that porn isn't bad for you. It's established that it is.

> It's established that it is. Is it?

Yes.

Re: Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

#463

Post by Graffur »

foobar33333 wrote: post #80
d3nj4l wrote: post #65

Working from home. I realised being in an office - especially an open-plan office - was setting off my social anxiety all the time. Working in a place where I could choose to engage with people instead of having it forced upon me made it so much easier to work. I became a lot more productive and started enjoying what I did, even picking up more side projects and learning actively. It's a shame it's coming to an end,…

I felt this so much. When I'm in the office I spend so much time thinking about if my cough was too loud and distracting people, of if my hair is neat enough, or if I should walk to get a cup of water or if I should wait 20 minutes because I just got back to my desk from the toilet. Working from home I don't care about anything and just get things done.

I hadn't thought of those things but I did the same in the office too. I still look in the mirror or camera to see if there is food in my teeth :) but yeah a lot less stress from silly stuff. I am more conscious of appearing 'away' now though.

Re: Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

#464

Post by Graffur »

Nbox9 wrote: post #263
meken wrote: post #223

Getting a nice car. I’m prone to depression if I stay in the house too long. Having a nice car means when I roll out of bed in the morning, I’m able to head straight to a nice, comfortable, private, warm space and start listening to meaningful podcasts, audiobooks, get breakfast, head to the gym, and get a consistent good start on the day. I’m not sure if I can go back to city living at this point if it means giving…

In contrast I hate driving cars. I feel like it’s my least favorite tool. I have a nice car, I’ve driven even nicer cars in different styles and hated them all. Driving requires so much of my attention I feel like it’s invasive. In addition I feel like I have to sit relatively still and use my muscles in very particular way. It’s a trap for my mind in body, and an experience I don’t find pleasant. I am an American an…

Just adding that I also hate driving cars. Thanks for your comment - I always feel it is something very strange about me.

Re: Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

#465

Post by Graffur »

comprev wrote: post #306

Moving from Amsterdam to the rural Irish countryside where I can escape to the hills on the mountain bike or road bike each day. It's done wonders for my mental health.

Where in Ireland did you move to? What about work?

Re: Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

#466

Post by 11235813213455 »

Eating organic fruits (directly from trees, or on the ground). The pleasure is decoupled because you need to search for them, riding kilometers, it's not always easy, and they're so much more nutritive than the ones in supermarkets

Re: Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

#467

Post by comprev »

Graffur wrote: post #465
comprev wrote: post #306

Moving from Amsterdam to the rural Irish countryside where I can escape to the hills on the mountain bike or road bike each day. It's done wonders for my mental health.

Where in Ireland did you move to? What about work?

Killarney, County Kerry. I have worked remotely on & off for years, and decided to be 100% post Covid.

Re: Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

#468

Post by DougN7 »

loeg wrote: post #420
gher-shyu3i wrote: post #400

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just because other things are also bad for you does not mean that porn isn't bad for you. It's established that it is.

> It's established that it is. Is it?

https://fightthenewdrug.org/

Re: Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

#469

Post by guilhas »

ragebol wrote: post #443

Our first child. Born last June. Working from home with a baby there too for most of the time has been quite OK actually, much better than expected. Since the pandemic hit we have both been working from home (I already was working remote) and I can't imagine coming home from work at eg. 17:30 and then the kiddo going to bed at ~19 so I would only see him for a short while. Without, the pandemic would have been much m…

Same, August. Very challenging and very rewarding. A lot of work and sleepless nights, but all worth it to see that tiny person smiling for just seeing you. Never though a toothless smile could be so cute.

Re: Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

#470

Post by 1123581321 »

davidsawyer wrote: post #9
1123581321 wrote: post #3

Fixing chronic shoulder pain. My resting heart rate at night dropped by about 15 points in the week after an intense therapy session.

What are some things that the therapy session included?

It was designed by the therapist and me after seeing how progress from more generic PT sessions had plateaued short of our goal. Basically a high quantity of precise pressure and controlled movements that were, in her professional estimation, taken as far as possible without risking a regression due to damage or increased pain. My job was to communicate clearly and make clear that I valued progress over comfort at every choice. Quite intense and lengthy, and the 12 hours after had me unsure if her assessment was correct, but it worked out.
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