fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Success

by Susan Barnett
August 6, 2020
in Village Voices
0
Success

A new article in The Atlantic discusses success and happiness. There’s a lot of good stuff in there, but the basic gist is that chasing success is a direct route away from happiness. It’s an empty prize box.

I believe it. Money alleviates worry. But at some point, the law of diminishing returns kicks in. Prestige and fame feel great, but they come at a price.

There are some pretty obvious examples in the headlines every day. So what’s the answer?

Relationships make us happy. Gratitude makes us happy. Living in the moment can make us happy.

I just had a very happy couple of days. I stayed with my two favorite toddlers while their parents got out for a very well-deserved and badly needed mini-break.

The door closed behind my son and daughter-in-law and I happily surrendered to my temporary reality; I was going to do nothing but hang out with my granddaughters for the next 18 hours or so.

It brought back my time as a young mother. Days were spent playing, cajoling, explaining, cleaning, and cooking. But there was so much freedom in that limited frame. We could go for a walk. We could jump in the car and chase a rainbow. We could dance in the kitchen. We could have very serious conversations about things both silly and essential. Each day, my son and daughter taught me something new, and I have never enjoyed anything more than I enjoyed watching them grow.

I danced with my granddaughters this weekend, one of them on my hip and the other twirling around the floor. We sang as I made breakfast. They tried to snap their fingers and whistle. We played hide and seek and we had a good talk during an early morning walk.

At one point, Little Miss Sunshine, the big sister, hopped on my lap. “I’d like to snuggle with you for a little,” she said.

We sat and rocked quietly. She’d had a busy day. She suddenly looked up. “I like you, Gaga” she said.

And her little sister, The Deep Thinker, playing with blocks on the floor, smiled.

Now that’s happiness.


Read more installments of Village Voices by Susan Barnett.

Tags: Susan Barnett Village Voices
Before you click away... grab a free month of HV1. Get unlimited access. Get the news you've been missing. Get connected to your community. Keep local journalism alive at $5/mo., or cancel anytime. And enjoy summer!
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher
Previous Post

Letter: Worried about heating bills?

Next Post

It is all a conspiracy

Susan Barnett

Related Posts

Village Voices are on hold
Village Voices

Village Voices are on hold

November 17, 2020
A liberal education
Village Voices

Keeping it all together

August 24, 2020
Writing about oneself
Village Voices

I need a day off

August 24, 2020
Saugerties initiative combating addiction and suicide adds more events
Village Voices

Time travel

August 24, 2020
Where to buy face masks locally
Village Voices

A story of three states

September 2, 2020
The kids talk politics
Village Voices

Stories on the ballot

August 23, 2020
Next Post
It is all a conspiracy

It is all a conspiracy

Trending News

  • Woodstock planners suspect possible bait and switch 1.9k views
  • Mayor encounters “biggest black bear I have ever seen” 1.2k views
  • Ulster County reports first confirmed case of Monkeypox 1.1k views
  • Saugerties High School student dominates Ulster BOCES lookbook 1k views
  • Property owner defiant as exasperated neighbors appeal for help 659 views







Latest HV1 Podcast

Weather

Kingston
◉
70°
Fair
6:01 am8:00 pm EDT
Feels like: 70°F
Wind: 5mph NNW
Humidity: 61%
Pressure: 29.94"Hg
UV index: 0
SatSunMon
81/54°F
82/59°F
81/61°F
Weather forecast Kingston, New York ▸

Ulster County COVID-19 Active Cases

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing