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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?

#511

Post by dave_sullivan »

M5x7wI3CmbEem10 wrote: post #499
dave_sullivan wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a consultant, you can choose the days that are open for booking, a lot of companies don't need full time help or can't afford it, and I'm highly productive when I don't hate a project. So it works out.

may I ask what kind of consulting and how you got into it? I’m a final-year in uni trying to ensure I don’t stay locked in golden handcuffs.

Eh, I started around 2010 with salesforce.com and business intelligence stuff, then python and javascript web applications, then machine learning. Started a couple companies. Worked with a lot of different types of clients, from SMB to F500. Worked too hard in my 20s and now am pretty burnt on "SV culture" and the cult of productivity.

So if you want to be like me, work like crazy for 10 years, develop crippling anxiety, and then move to europe I guess :D

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

#512

Post by randomopining »

gozzoo wrote: post #386
pothrow wrote: post #329

Quitting porn. At age 45, having been addicted since first finding I could download over 1200 baud dialup on my parents phone line and watching Cinemax late night through the static, it has just been a thing in my life almost daily and honestly I'd given up on caring whether it was a bad thing or not. I'd felt guilty about it sometimes, and sure, tried to quit on a number of occasions, but always ended up back within…

If you are referring to porn, despite the general perception I think it's quite harmless. Things like drugs, smoking, alcohol and even spedning time on Facebook and Instagram have much worse effect on someone's wellbeing. People use it mostly for stress relief and that's much better strategy than smoking pot or even casual drinking.

If you are referring to alcohol, despite the general perception I think it's quite harmless.

If you are referring to drugs, despite the general perception I think it's quite harmless.

If you are referring to smoking, despite the general perception I think it's quite harmless.

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

#513

Post by randomopining »

oleander73 wrote: post #484
dennis_jeeves wrote: post #397

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What cancer do you have? (Also have you been looking outside mainstream cancer treatments?)

Prostate cancer. No, I have limited faith in medical science and none whatsoever in alternatives. Like I said, I'm quite happy and don't cling to life. I'll enjoy whatever time I have left to the max, but there's no need for me to maximize my time on earth (i.e. quality over quantity).

Hell yeah. Agree a lot, and when the fear of losing life is reduced or gone you can go out and do what you want and what needs to be done with your remaining time.

Enjoy your time, relationships, and the beauty of the planet!

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

#514

Post by Graffur »

comprev wrote: post #467
Graffur wrote: post #465

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

You picked a great spot!

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

#515

Post by thendrill »

syncbehind wrote: post #507
Viker wrote: post #457

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. But given the choice, in non life or death situation. Between sex and food. People would pick way more sex than food. What I mean is that sex is easier to reach for than food when a person is bored. Just like heroin is more potent than aspirin. Also it has been proven that both sex and heroin stimulate pleasure parts of the brain.

> Yes. But given the choice, in non life or death situation. Between sex and food. People would pick way more sex than food. Ever notice how folks have sex less frequently when they're in relationships and as they grow older? Where the opportunities for sex exist in multitudes? Yet they never stop eating. You can live without sex, you can't live without food. The drive for the two are not comparable.

> Where the opportunities for sex exist in multitudes?

But porn is easier...

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

#516

Post by testfoobar »

syncbehind wrote: post #508
testfoobar wrote: post #43

Such a pandemic cliche: making sourdough bread. Takes all day. Took about 3 or 4 tries until I got the hang of it. Now I make two loaves every weekend. Tastier than anything I've bought at a store. Started with Serious Eats: https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2020/07/how-to-make-sour... Settled at Tartine Country Bread: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016277-tartines-country... Makes me happy every time.

It is seriously so gratifying to make. It's also really nice to be able to share it with friends/family. I think post-covid, I'd like to share with neighbours as well. Try mixing gochujang with it after the autolyse step, it adds a wonderful aroma and depending on how much you put in a nice kick too!

Haven't tried adding spicy things into the dough. Great idea. Thanks. Spicy sourdough is making my mouth water.

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

#517

Post by brailsafe »

jasondigitized wrote: post #243
brailsafe wrote: post #190

Living in a neighborhood I like, within viewing distance of the mountains, walking distance to my favourite cafes, deli, gym, and hiking in those mountains with my gf and other friends. Nearing another whole year with zero work, and it's only financially shitty.

Where do you live?

Vancouver canada, adjacent to the city center.

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

#520

Post by AnonC »

csixty4 wrote: post #264

Transitioning my gender. Living my truth. Coming out to everyone in my life and being forced to confront the shame that held me back for decades. It took a lot of reflection and was cause for a lot of growth. But now I'm not only mentally happier, I'm taking better care of my body because it finally feels like it's my own.

I’m glad to hear you made it through and are enjoying the freedoms every human being ought to have the right to. I feel a combination of sadness and anger when I read such stories and how society and inherent conditioning can be so cruel. If you have any books or resources to recommend, I’d like to learn more and keep those handy (I’m not gender queer, but am someone who could be called an “ally” and would like to be a better ally in supporting people’s freedoms to live as they wish to).
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