Comments on: Actors, Astronauts, and That Thing We Call Happiness

By: Asia'h Epperson

Asia'h Epperson — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:27:56 +0000

Totally agree, As a celebrity you need to do more than just sing or act. The exposure you get allows you to do many more things to people not so lucky.

By: X-Day Challenge – Recommended Reads for 2008-02-01

X-Day Challenge – Recommended Reads for 2008-02-01 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:39:11 +0000

[...] Actors, Astronauts, and That Thing We Call Happiness [...]

By: Blake Wiles

Blake Wiles — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:31:22 +0000

This is such an excellent post! It would seem to me that those four words define who we are– and, how we are vieved as “happy” or not.

Thanks for the great post Peter!

Blake

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:31:47 +0000

Marty,

I agree with you that one shouldn’t jump to the assumption that Heath didn’t help others. Judging from the reactions to his death, it seems he had a major impact on the lives of many people. For example, I know he was considered a “gay hero” here in Vancouver. In any case, there is more to finding meaning than helping other people. In fact, it may not even involve helping other people at all. We each need to find our own meaning in life.

Re depression: as I said in my conclusion, depression is a complex matter. I’m not really satisfied, though, with just using the label depression and leaving it at that. I want to know why it is that people are depressed. I picked some are common reasons for unhappiness and have tried to show why they may be relevant here. But I certainly don’t profess to know exactly why Heath was depressed (as news reports are indicating he was).

By: Marty

Marty — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:47:55 +0000

What makes you think that Heath didn’t help others? The people who knew him said he was a kind and generous person to everyone he came in contact with. People couldn’t get over how great he was with his daughter. He battled depression and anyone who knows anything about real depression know that it’s not something you just get over. Pleasure, meaning, and goals DON’T MATTER when you’re clinically depressed.

By: Rudy

Rudy — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:16:21 +0000

Jen is right. One of the purpose in life is to help others. If Heath would’ve put his fame & fortune towards helping others in need, I think he would have a more fulfilling life and still be alive today.