What do you want out of life?

I adore your humble definitions. Exactly what I was looking for in trying to decide for myself. Best always to you, you romantic fella, you! :)

Lust is temporary and selfish, love is something more permanent and selfless.

The kind of love I'm looking for is that I'd be the first one to someone, the most important person in his life. I have a couple of friends, but all of them have more important people around them :p Having three siblings I can't even say I'd be at the top of my parents' list either :lol:

There are those who claim that lust is more important than love. Any thoughts?

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Originally Posted by isidro

There are those who claim that lust is more important than love. Any thoughts?

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I can't remember ever hearing anyone say that. But then again I don't go out much :lol:

Happiness and love. thats all i want.

Perhaps some people just show it by their actions - they may love a significant other but will cheat on that person shamelessly. Or the person who believes that lust is a sport having nothing to do with emotions. Or perhaps the fact that the less a woman wears in this society the more attention she gets while a modest lady gets far less. We don't have to say it directly. It is often in a person's behavior. In fact I might say there is more compelling evidence in behavior than in language. No?

i'm pretty sure that the "pursuit of happiness" to the american colonists, did not translate literally as.. the pursuit of being happy.
i study the american revolution and.. correct me if i'm wrong, but the term actually means that one has the right to protect their property from those who intrude on it, with any means available e.g firearms.

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Originally Posted by Maximilianus

Only if every Finn guy is hopelessly blind, and even then, there are non-blind prospects around many corners of the planet. The only problem I spot in distance is to get close enough to get a hold on whom may have spotted us :)

Love is realistic enough... though more elusive to be found and grabbed.

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They're not blind, maybe that's the problem. I look pretty hideous these days because of this damn skin. I'm literally falling apart, and it's not a pretty sight. All the rash and a super dry skin is a combination which makes me repulsive to anyone who sees me.

Then there's the fact that I'm too different from other people of my own age - it scares them away. I'm interested in all the wrong things, I read too much, I know too much about many things and far too little about others. At the same time I'm really mentally middle-aged yet still naive and innocent, if that makes any sense :p

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Originally Posted by Maximilianus

I am currently writing my autobiography, so far entitled "Max Willful Hooves, there and back again" :lol:, though I haven't thought about my nom de plume :p
More than an autobiography, it will be an award-winning epic tale, in the line of Beowulf, the Kalevala, the Norse sagas and the Lord of the Rings itself. It will combine love and war, deception and hope, and the unremitting pursuit of justice and peace. It will be a story of trial by fire, brave knights seeking payback, damsels in distress and bad guys getting their punishment... Wow, wait, my life is not that exciting!! :( I'll be telling a fake :lol:

However, I feel it's going to be a bestseller, so I will need someone to do the Finnish translation (I pursuit fame in Finland as well :brow:). So... want to join my eclectic epic adventure? I guarantee its lifetime success and even a Nobel prize :lol: and we may even include a couple Peppi Long-stockings if you feel like :lol:

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Okay, when your book is a success in your part of the world I'll translate it and we'll try to make a deal with some Finnish publisher :nod: I trust Valkyries will be involved in this book?

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Originally Posted by isidro

I adore your humble definitions. Exactly what I was looking for in trying to decide for myself. Best always to you, you romantic fella, you! :)

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:D :D Who? Me? :p :p

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

Lust is temporary and selfish, love is something more permanent and selfless.

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:thumbs_up

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

The kind of love I'm looking for is that I'd be the first one to someone, the most important person in his life. I have a couple of friends, but all of them have more important people around them :p Having three siblings I can't even say I'd be at the top of my parents' list either :lol:

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This be the right time and place to say it, so hold on :D ...... Of all Finns I know, and we both know who they are, guess who I have at the top of my list! How's that, uh? Now you won't be able to anymore say you were never at the top of anyone's list :D

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Originally Posted by isidro

There are those who claim that lust is more important than love. Any thoughts?

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We can fairly imagine the only thing they have in their thoughts, can't we? Poor people, I pity them :(

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

I can't remember ever hearing anyone say that. But then again I don't go out much :lol:

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They say it in many different ways. They even use a set of several unspeakable metaphors, though very likely they don't even know what a metaphor is :p :lol:

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Originally Posted by isidro

Perhaps some people just show it by their actions - they may love a significant other but will cheat on that person shamelessly. Or the person who believes that lust is a sport having nothing to do with emotions. Or perhaps the fact that the less a woman wears in this society the more attention she gets while a modest lady gets far less. We don't have to say it directly. It is often in a person's behavior. In fact I might say there is more compelling evidence in behavior than in language. No?

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This is utterly true :nod:
Lust is practiced very much as a behavioral sport, more than a sport of language. However, I know many who practice the speaking of the aforementioned metaphors as an everyday routine, as though they had nothing else to talk about. Well, they just can't have a plot of their own, so we'd better don't ask that much from them, right? :sick:

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

They're not blind, maybe that's the problem. I look pretty hideous these days because of this damn skin. I'm literally falling apart, and it's not a pretty sight. All the rash and a super dry skin is a combination which makes me repulsive to anyone who sees me.

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Real repulsiveness runs skin-deep and, often, it cannot be seen until rather late, though it's always better late than never. Equally, beauty also runs skin-deep. I know really repulsive fellows, none of them has skin issues and even if they did, it's a condition unrelated to repulsiveness :nod:

That being said, I can see you without fearing the repulsive feeling. However, I confess I feel a little repulsiveness against aliens... well... not exactly against them... It's their laser weapons and surgical experiments what I fear the most!! :lol:

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

Then there's the fact that I'm too different from other people of my own age - it scares them away. I'm interested in all the wrong things, I read too much, I know too much about many things and far too little about others. At the same time I'm really mentally middle-aged yet still naive and innocent, if that makes any sense :p

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It's what happens with smart girls; they can read :p :D
If it's good for something, when I was at school, no matter what level because it was always the same story, it was just me, with myself and I! :nod: I survived attacks of different kinds. Someone even tried to push me down the stairs because obviously I was so "repulsive" to them that they must have wanted me dead, so it hurt, but only until I became the powerful viking you now know :D

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

Okay, when your book is a success in your part of the world I'll translate it and we'll try to make a deal with some Finnish publisher :nod: I trust Valkyries will be involved in this book?

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:D DEAL!! :D

Valkyries always, be it thoughts or stories. They'll never be one too many. I just need their sole existence to be a happy viking :nod:

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Happiness is, in my eyes, like a garden one keeps. If you don't work at it round the year, it is bound to go wild and lose its beauty.
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I like wild gardens... I think they are the most beautiful. I don't WORK at happiness, it ebbs and flows of it's own accord, depending on what I'm doing with my life. It's up to ME to get my life to a stage where everything is in harmony and working together for my happiness, so that I don't have to anymore. You shouldn't have to work for it your entire life. Changes always need to be made and **** will always happen, but I think once you reach a certain point in your life, you should not be ACTIVELY working to obtain/maintain happiness anymore.

I voted for love. True love, that is, not cheap. That's easily found and damaging.

I think our approaches are rather different, Becca :)

I have found that when one stops working at one's own happiness, life quickly detoriates and stagnates. We are not one dimensional beings that once developed into a certain form to stay like that. We keep developing, changing and, dare I say, improving... So what might be enough to make us happy at a certain point in time may not do the trick at a different time. Hence, I believe, the need to keep working at our changing selves at a "happy" state. However, as I said, before, this is my take on it. :)

Re. wild gardens... Even the wildest looking gardens need control to make sure that they are getting enough rain, sunshine and "food" from the soil.

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Originally Posted by Maximilianus

This be the right time and place to say it, so hold on :D ...... Of all Finns I know, and we both know who they are, guess who I have at the top of my list! How's that, uh? Now you won't be able to anymore say you were never at the top of anyone's list :D

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Oh sure I'm on top of several list if we narrow down the number of people who'd fit the list. I know I'm my parents' favourite daughter, as I've got three brothers and no sisters :D But yeah, I'm proud to be your favourite Finn, even if there isn't much competition :lol:

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Originally Posted by Maximilianus

They say it in many different ways. They even use a set of several unspeakable metaphors, though very likely they don't even know what a metaphor is :p :lol:

(...)

Lust is practiced very much as a behavioral sport, more than a sport of language. However, I know many who practice the speaking of the aforementioned metaphors as an everyday routine, as though they had nothing else to talk about.

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Oh in that sense, yes, but I've understood it more like the whole lust thing is just something to do while waiting for the true love (which may or may not come, so "why not have some fun while waiting"), but still I think they'd rate love higher than lust. I don't believe in that approach, thinking that love and lust are two separate things that don't have anything to do with each other and that lusting other people is okay and won't affect loving someone else, but obviously many people do.

I don't think there are that many people who couldn't care less about love and think that lust is the most important thing in life, but of course I might be mistaken. I just tend to believe the best about people until I'm proven wrong :)

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Originally Posted by Maximilianus

Real repulsiveness runs skin-deep and, often, it cannot be seen until rather late, though it's always better late than never. Equally, beauty also runs skin-deep. I know really repulsive fellows, none of them has skin issues and even if they did, it's a condition unrelated to repulsiveness :nod:

That being said, I can see you without fearing the repulsive feeling. However, I confess I feel a little repulsiveness against aliens... well... not exactly against them... It's their laser weapons and surgical experiments what I fear the most!! :lol:

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I hope I'm not that repulsive, but I often feel like I am. And hey, you can't really see me :D (Which is good. And most of the photos I've got are a couple of years old, from the time when I didn't look this bad.) I know real beauty lies beneath the surface, but with an ugly surface people are easily scared away before they can see the hidden beauty :p

Let's hope the aliens have the good sense to stay far away from you! :lol:

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Originally Posted by Maximilianus

If it's good for something, when I was at school, no matter what level because it was always the same story, it was just me, with myself and I! :nod: I survived attacks of different kinds. Someone even tried to push me down the stairs because obviously I was so "repulsive" to them that they must have wanted me dead, so it hurt, but only until I became the powerful viking you now know :D

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Outch. At least I never had to face violence (unless you count a well-aimed tennis ball targeted at my face and one metallic key-chain that I mostly managed to dodge), it was mostly verbal abuse and leaving me outside of things, like being the only kid in the class who didn't get an invitation to someone's birthday party. But I'm glad you managed to get through it all and still became such a nice person who's always trying to cheer other people up :)

Wait, wait, wait- I changed what I want from life. All I want from my life is a zebra.
See my note!

Everything on that list can fit into my pursuit of happiness.

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Originally Posted by MSDGreen

Everything on that list can fit into my pursuit of happiness.

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Very diplomatic :lol:

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

Oh sure I'm on top of several list if we narrow down the number of people who'd fit the list. I know I'm my parents' favourite daughter, as I've got three brothers and no sisters :D But yeah, I'm proud to be your favourite Finn, even if there isn't much competition :lol:

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DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE YOURSELF. YOU DON'T DESERVE IT :) Besides I haven't said how much competition there is, have I? :brow: :D
In my case I'm the favorite son at home... because I'm the only one :lol: though I'm so special that I feel I'd be a favorite no matter the amount and quality of siblings :p :lol:

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

Oh in that sense, yes, but I've understood it more like the whole lust thing is just something to do while waiting for the true love (which may or may not come, so "why not have some fun while waiting"), but still I think they'd rate love higher than lust. I don't believe in that approach, thinking that love and lust are two separate things that don't have anything to do with each other and that lusting other people is okay and won't affect loving someone else, but obviously many people do.

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Completely agreed :)

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

I don't think there are that many people who couldn't care less about love and think that lust is the most important thing in life, but of course I might be mistaken. I just tend to believe the best about people until I'm proven wrong :)

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I do the opposite. I expect the worse and if I happen to be wrong I get happy because I was wrong. That way I avoid deceptions, but that's just my way of life... I may be wrong :p :D

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

I hope I'm not that repulsive, but I often feel like I am. And hey, you can't really see me :D (Which is good. And most of the photos I've got are a couple of years old, from the time when I didn't look this bad.) I know real beauty lies beneath the surface, but with an ugly surface people are easily scared away before they can see the hidden beauty :p

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I cannot be scared. I'm an epic hero, remember? :lol: besides, you haven't seen me either ;) and besides... I can see it all :brow: :p

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

Let's hope the aliens have the good sense to stay far away from you! :lol:

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They'd better, or I will call my muses to protect me. Never did before, but I feel they'd come if I call them :D

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

Outch. At least I never had to face violence (unless you count a well-aimed tennis ball targeted at my face and one metallic key-chain that I mostly managed to dodge), it was mostly verbal abuse and leaving me outside of things, like being the only kid in the class who didn't get an invitation to someone's birthday party.

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I went through this too. Social rejection often assumes its most hideous forms, be it all of them together or one at a time :(

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

But I'm glad you managed to get through it all and still became such a nice person who's always trying to cheer other people up :)

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:) You know where to find me whenever you need to be cheered up :D

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Originally Posted by Maximilianus

I do the opposite. I expect the worse and if I happen to be wrong I get happy because I was wrong. That way I avoid deceptions, but that's just my way of life... I may be wrong :p :D

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:) You know where to find me whenever you need to be cheered up :D

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I can't help it, I'm so naive I always trust people, because I can't understand why someone would lie, as I'm honest myself. I know it's not always wise, but that's me.

I know :D Thank you for that :)

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

I can't help it, I'm so naive I always trust people, because I can't understand why someone would lie, as I'm honest myself. I know it's not always wise, but that's me.

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Okay, but be very careful :)

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Originally Posted by Annamariah

I know :D Thank you for that :)

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Anytime :D

I am thoroughly enjoying the interplay between the two of you. By the way, how old are you guys? Just wondering.

Love and all that it entails: to give it and to receive it, and as such, a husband, a family, good friends and a home with plenty of food to share.

A job that makes a difference and wisdom and knowledge to pass down.

And at the end of the day..a nice soul soothing peace.

All of us want plenty of things and but hardly life can provide you with all you want, and as an economist we must make a rational choice out of scarce resource.

I voted Life!

The joy is in the journey...

:nod: Very good topic, Isidro!

Liberty, without it we cannot pursue any of our other needs and desires. We take our freedom to talk on this website, find friends, love who we wish as something that comes naturally; yet it is something that people die for everyday.

I voted Love since you didn't have the option of "Retire" on here.

Life is a giver and of course a generous giver and all I may ask from life is a very lively and vital life

The OP:

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Originally Posted by isidro

In two sentences or less.

Me?

Love, life, liberty, pursuit of happiness and a clear conscience. A little salmon sushi and hot chocolate wouldn't hurt, either.

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I want those little moments of joy. They are preferable to a plastic life of endless happiness.

"My God, a whole moment of happiness! Is that too little for the whole of a man's life?" - Dostoyevsky

Ah, the original poster has gone; but the thread and question lives on...

Well, right now I want someone to fold my laundry! A nice young masseuse would be good to give me a massage...I wonder if that falls under love.
Then, money to pay the masseuse and get rid of my rickety car...or fix it up...
Then the freedom to carry a machine gun to the grocery store; just to see the looks on people faces...excuse me miss, do you have any bavarian cream yogurt...:icon_bs:

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

The OP:

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Yes, nobody quite like Isy...though, I haven't had quite as many of those highway assault nightmares in the last 6 months:reddevil:

A machine gun for soundos, and a thug to give her a hand: http://smiles.kolobok.us/artists/mot...ose/MG_229.gif

:p

I want life to give me what I want instead of what it wants to give according to its whims of the moment http://smiles.kolobok.us/remake/angry2.gif

I wouldn't mind having an herb garden one day. Besides that, I just want to learn about stuff and have David stay alive for as long as possible (hopefully even longer than me).

I want a few things:

To be happy (i generally am)
To have my book become well-known, and have more published
To have good friends

I think that is all :)