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jrscheung — Happiness
Published: 2008-08-02 22:45:19 +0000 UTC; Views: 2506; Favourites: 27; Downloads: 0
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Description
Expressing my views on the relation between wealth and happiness. Photo inspired by zemotion's The Queen and David Yurman jewelry ads.My apprentice at work seems to think that having money automatically makes you happy. He makes a point beyond the obvious--purchasing power isn't what makes you happy, rather it's the freedom to spend more time doing what you want rather than doing boring things to put bread on the table. At least I think this was the point he was trying to make. He used some examples of celebrities before he explained himself, leading me to launch a debate about these people possibly being happy because they like their work and they also have good friends and family.
I blame my cynicism on the fact that I have always been comfortable, which gave me a degree of satisfaction, but I have not necessarily always been happy. Maybe it's family values. My parents tried their best not to spoil my sister and I, and as a result I think they slightly deprived us when we were younger. Having dust allergies probably helped--I wasn't allowed to have many stuffed toys.
Conversely, my apprentice has two cell phones, spends at least three hours a day playing games on those phones as well as the computer and when he goes to college he wants his mother to buy him a gold toned laptop because no one else will have one quite like his. (Forgive the rantiness--sometimes he really gets under my skin.)
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Comments: 31
When I saw this photo first among all the other photos I wondered why did she name this pic "Happiness", somehow she doesn't look happy at all. Now reading the description gives it a totally different meaning. I wish I could see more like this on dA.
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Thank you! That is quite a high compliment!
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i come from a large family. my dad and mom had 7 kids to feed and clothed. he was a fireman and worked partime cleaning a bar. he taught me the value of hard work and a strong family tie. dinner we all ate together everyday. we had one present to chose for xmas and the limit was 25dollars. we never fought as children and still dont. we take care of my aging mother every 5 weeks. Thats how many of us still live close by. i only buy what i need, not what i want...we are all one big happy family (cept for one brother hooked on drugs, but we are working on him) everytime we get together we are all smailes, jokes and happy...none of us are well off, but we get by. as long as my car picks up the collage stations i dont care what it is....lol its always the more you have the more you spend isn't it?.........and when i'm doing art nothing else matters at that moment
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I get things that I want... but I definitely try to limit it, or only use my money and not my parent's. They're already paying for my tuition so I don't want to be too big a burden on them. My dad worked and still works hard so that my sister and I would be able to attend any college we wanted but I am slowly trying to take care of my other expenses.
Yay for happy families. There used to be a bit more fighting in my family but now we're more mellow. I am the peacemaker in our household and I have to say that my facilitating abilities have not been required for some time now.
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bravo...happy future to you
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The title adds a sad tone, ironically, and it seems like she's hiding something behind that jewelry.
I guess some of us hide behind wealth, and some think it's easier to hide when wealthy.
Wonderful shot.
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Yeah I was looking for a bit of irony. Thanks for the comment.
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First off...I love the photo as always....Money doesn't bring you happiness. For many, money brings the ability to buy things to fill a hole that can never be filled with material things. For others...it brings freedom...how you use that freedom is what can or cannot bring happiness. You can be happy with less money, but the less you have, the more you are preoccupied with surviving, and those happy moments come few and far between. Hope I made sense.
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That makes sense, but I feel like there are always special cases. Plus, everyone has different requirements for "comfort", and wealth can also be a relative term.
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I agree, it's all relative...$1000 can be rich to one, and a pauper to another. And of course...success it a totally different thing. Your thoughtfulness is a very attractive trait for a human....I love the way you make us think....
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I'm just curious about your thoughts on this >>"...I have always been comfortable, which gave me a degree of satisfaction, but I have not necessarily always been happy."
Do you wish to be living in a less comfortable environment? Due to competitive society, some maybe deprived of enjoyable & quality family time. On the contrary, without wealth... it's kinda tough to sustain your hobbies or whereever the happiness might be coming from... I wonder if i am making sense. Pls pardon me.
By the way, your apprentice sounds like a spoilt brat. pardon me.
Really nice to see your new work... at least i know you're creative mind is moving forward and better.
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In my family's case, being comfortable does not equate having more quality family time. My father is one of those people who work really hard all the time and hate taking vacations. On the flip side, my friend comes from a low income background and yet her family is really tight knit. Still, I would not like to be deprived of my comfort, but it would be nice if more teenagers realize that happiness instead of wealth should be the goal. I also think that the way celebrity gossip is treated isn't helping. There is so much focus on the extravagance and on the breakdowns, but so little notice on the link, or lack thereof between.
Yeah... he kind of is spoilt.
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There're more and more teenagers who lives in luxury that take things for granted.
just like your spoilt apprentice. Some may not even feel content.
They need to see 'shit' to grow. 
Anyway, don't be upset. Even though your Dad is busy, you can find ways and means to get in touch with him 
Cheers,
Evan
p.s: Congrats on Starlite Photo Contest #3
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Thx. Yes, I email and msg my Dad as often as I can. And talking about spoilt teenagers makes me feel old. I can already hear myself going on about "when I was growing up," etc.
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I love the angle and how you are positioned. What's eye catching about this piece I believe are the strains of hair on your shoulder and near the top of the photo. It gives that aura to the rest of the piece of the point you're making lol.
Speaking of the point you're making, I like the ornate jewlery that hides your right eye (how is it staying there... o_o ). To show just one eye on this piece is pretty impactful, considering that your eyes are one of your striking and lovely features. The viel implies that we are blind to the world of the wealth and that it's there to cover our own eyes from that which makes us beautiful. To hide such loveliness because metals and rocks does little to the burning soul that is hidden beneath, one that's shed of external things in this world to show to everyone.
Beautiful job, as always
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bah I wish DA allowed comment edits <_< "To hide such loveliness because*" should be *behind. The internet wins again against spelling <_<;;
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The very top of the jewelry is hanging by a very fine chain that is tucked under my hair. I suppose I just ruined the illusion but... oh well.
I am continually amazed by the different interpretations of my work. They are so much more descriptive than I ever would have thought.
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As surprisingly harmonious a blend of seemingly discordant elements as I've seen in a long time; you've found an unlikely balance here that's nonetheless solid, graceful, and lovely, and manages to suggest all kinds of metaphors about beauty, the eye of the beholder, protection, belongings, and obstructed views in a way that's every bit as elegant and erudite as an expressionist painting...
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Hmm I don't know about the expressionist painting part but thanks. 
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