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I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

theguardian.com

631–640 of 780 posts

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#631

Happiness - he's found it. Sure, he's an extreme and very few want to emulate it because there's a mild element of delusion. But, he's found the thing so many of us work our entire lives for only to never find. Part of life is letting happiness find you, part of life is finding happiness, and part of life is pushing away things to find happiness in what you have. I say, well done.

“ Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself.” - Victor Frankl

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#632

Im nowhere near the extreme of this guy but I cook a vegetable soup and eat it 4-6 days a week every week for dinner. I save the calories and good (edit: interesting) cooking for restaurants. I mess around with the soup occasionally trying new flavoring or techniques but its the same damn soup and I like it. Its easy to make, keeps well, costs nothing relative to output, and leaves me time to think about other things…

[deleted]

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#633

"This valley is cut in the shape of my heart". I've known farmers like him, bachelors who are mild mannered and love their lives and the extended family that comes with living an entire life in one valley. He maybe goes to Sunday service for socialization and the local pub to watch the game, and as long as his sheep are healthy and the sky does what it promises (because he knows the day before always if it will rain)…

A successful businessman on vacation was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The fisherman proudly replied, “Every morning, I go out in my boat for 30 minutes to fish. I’m the best fisherman in the…

I've heard this story so often that if I just say "the fisherman story", most people know I mean this one.

I enjoy a lifestyle similar to that of the fisherman. My humble little website works well, and though I could build other things, I'd have to start setting an alarm and making phone calls again. I'd rather not. If you reach a point in your life where you can stop turning the crank and still enjoy a good life, by all means do it.

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#634

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Humans are also great at seeing patterns in noise and we like to attribute various things to things we see. So its also likely that you remember these coincidences because of your loved ones deaths and don't remember the many other times these animals were around because nothing happened to make them memorable. Also, "later that year" is a very long period of time for something to happen.

I love how people will do anything to deny the lizard brain. We have a “spidey” sense just like all the other animals and for good reason. Ignore it at your peril should you ever have a brush with the side of nature that cares not for your “lack of studies”.

We're talking about birds portending human death. The author even suggested a likely explanation for how the old wives tale started (animals being attracted to run down places because the building's owner is being cared for elsewhere), which would seem to indicate they don't actually believe birds can tell when someone is going to die. I don't think this situation qualifies as "Spidey sense".

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#635
post #329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish I had made that decision when I could. I'm over 20 years into software development and every few years I try to get out of it, but most places won't hire someone with professional experience because they're scared you'll quit, and that problem just compounds itself over time. Instead I now work software for a few years on, then take a year off. During the working years life is a real stress, constantly thinkin…

I don't see a reason why any time is too late to get out. I was in software development and sysadmin field for about 15 years. Then started hand engraving (got quite good at it) and now I'm a full time CNC machine shop and growing steadily. Loving (almost) every day of it. Also went to college to study mechanical engineering. Of course being your own boss usually doesn't let you switch off at the end of the day, but…

Any advice for making a transition like that?

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#636
post #489

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could be a gentle way for an elder to let their grandchild know that they are passing soon. Does the Grouse know? Probably not. The grandmother would though.

We had similar sayings around the number of crows you'd see together. As I got older, I realized if you spend enough time outside you'll see any combination of crows you might need to fit the rhyme and have a little talk. One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret never to be told. We would say "Crow" instead of "for". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki…

In rural England I've heard of that for magpies (which are corvids I think), but never crows themselves.

Someone I know from Scotland sings a song with the same sort of pattern but about crows proper (like 'Ten green bottles' but for crows - "the last craw wasna' there at a'").

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#637
post #595

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a cute story. However there are vast differences in reality. The fisherman is likely an uncultured bigot and xenophobe with life experiences that reinforce this condition, and who will suffer terribly from the ailments of aging that the businessman's wealth can afford respite from. For example.

You’re assuming the CEO is not an uncultured bigot and xenophobe with life experiences that reinforce this condition.

He's almost certainly exposed to more cultures, though you are right: he could be extremely bigoted and xenophobic. It's just less likely, even if marginally.

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#638
post #340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people do enjoy grass mowing.

When we bought a home, mowing the lawn became my responsibility. I knew I could look at it as a chore that needs to be done but eventually a task that annoys me and could make me bitter about the whole thing. So I decided to learn all I could about lawn maintenance, which tools I need, and how to use them. And it became a point of pride for me and a challenge rather than a chore. So mowing the lawn, the very act of i…

Nice idea. There’s a moral there somewhere.

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#639

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It looks like elitism never changes, and rural people will never shake the scorn of city people, internet or no internet. Unless that's sarcasm of course.

I think the scorn goes both ways.

Perhaps, but what I've witnessed: (in the broadest strokes of unspecificity)

Rural: "I don't like what the city folk are doing. They should change."

Urban: "I don't like what the country folks are doing. This is how we should change them."

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#640

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is the author overweight eating what he eats, and walking around outside. That makes no sense.

He says he has biscuits at the end of every meal - he doesn't say how many!

He looks similar in size to plenty of Welsh farmers that I know. I suspect that eating a tin of beans every day isn't the best.
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