I find myself wondering... is there a link between happiness, and social inadequacy?
Okay okay...let me explain. I work for the benefits agency in the UK ('Welfare' to our American cousins), and I am beginning to notice a strange correlation.
I see people every day, the smilers, the mumblers, the twitchers, the starers, the gigglers, and ultimately, the unsanitary. They come in through our doors, step up to the reception desk (or, in one or two memorable cases, squish up), leaving a trail of wilting plant life and whimpering, gagging, retching civil servants behind them. I take a deep breath (through my mouth) as they approach, and then endeavour not to inhale again til they have left.
The odd thing is, in many cases, they are intelligent, articulate, literate people... who just seem to have mislaid the mental map reference to soap and water.
But here's the thing...
They are, almost to an individual, happy. They are smiling and cheerful and VERY polite (for a given value of 'polite') and have none of the mental anguish and hang-ups that are so enjoyed by you, me and Dupree.
.
..
...
Sorry, dunno where the hell the 'Dupree' thing came from, I'm on mood altering drugs.
Would I be happier among their number? Just letting all responsibility slip for my life? Drinking Buckfast/NightTrain/Cough linctus from a brown paper bag and quietly soiling myself?
It certainly has its attractions.
I wanna be happy, like the strange people.
Okay okay...let me explain. I work for the benefits agency in the UK ('Welfare' to our American cousins), and I am beginning to notice a strange correlation.
I see people every day, the smilers, the mumblers, the twitchers, the starers, the gigglers, and ultimately, the unsanitary. They come in through our doors, step up to the reception desk (or, in one or two memorable cases, squish up), leaving a trail of wilting plant life and whimpering, gagging, retching civil servants behind them. I take a deep breath (through my mouth) as they approach, and then endeavour not to inhale again til they have left.
The odd thing is, in many cases, they are intelligent, articulate, literate people... who just seem to have mislaid the mental map reference to soap and water.
But here's the thing...
They are, almost to an individual, happy. They are smiling and cheerful and VERY polite (for a given value of 'polite') and have none of the mental anguish and hang-ups that are so enjoyed by you, me and Dupree.
.
..
...
Sorry, dunno where the hell the 'Dupree' thing came from, I'm on mood altering drugs.
Would I be happier among their number? Just letting all responsibility slip for my life? Drinking Buckfast/NightTrain/Cough linctus from a brown paper bag and quietly soiling myself?
It certainly has its attractions.
I wanna be happy, like the strange people.
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Would I give it up? Hell no unless someone could match my final salary pension scheme , annual leave entitlement and flexibility.