The Thinkmaya Blog - Latest Comments

Re: A Simple Happiness Equation: A Picture

westernbedding — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:26:40 -0000

if you're moving the circles closer, that means lesser money but more happiness? looks confusing lol :D

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

cathlawson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:17:57 -0000

Hi Maya I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Pets become such a huge part of our lives and it's painful to lose them.

Re: Are you rich but unhappy? Or poor and happy Or something else?

sryp — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:08:05 -0000

I am a middle class guy earning a decent amnt of money. Here, if I have to call myself either rich or poor, I'd call myself rich and unhappy. There is a constant struggle in my mind to make more money and become super rich. But, I have realised lately that I am losing out on my health and happiness in the process.

I have been very careless in managing my money all my life and ended up spending on things that were very far from required. Many a time this has directly or indirectly affected my relationships with friends and family. This learning could not have come at a better time than this and in a very hard way, that it made me understand my priorities better.

Now, I am a middle class guy with few debts and proper cash-flow, looking forward to take my big step in the entertainment industry. Saving Money for that! Wish me Luck!!!

Re: Are you a storyteller? What is your story?

cindy — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:11:04 -0000

I think that after searching for a place to belong on this internet I have finally found one. I to have a story and I want to tell it to the world.

Re: Money and Happiness? My journey so far

Ramkumar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:12:30 -0000

Lovely post! You have created a really fascinating narrative out o the hodge-podge of comments to your last post. Oh, and I also absolutely love the picture you've prefaced the post with. Touche!

I have a question - what exactly do you mean by abundance? To me "abundance" suggests "having a lot more of something than one needs". When put that way, it is not a desirable place to get to, for me. I feel that having an "abundance" of something makes us lose respect for its value - in other words, it cheapens the experience. But maybe you are not talking about "material abundance" but something else.

It is neat idea to periodically re-evaluate one's relationship with money and do a reset every so often. I think I'll give that a try!

I cannot say I have challenged myself to a lifestyle not driven by money - my income is a key reason why I manage to afford my current state of affairs - but I have definitely attempted to actively disconnect money from several choices and decisions - with mixed success. Some of them actually end up being luxuries (such as choosing to organic produce and shop at a local store instead of a big box supermarket) - I can do these only because I can afford it. Other decisions included things such as sticking with our old furniture, old TV, or purchasing used stuff on Craigslist and such not because we can't afford new stuff, but because what we does the job fine, and I'd rather not contribute to waste/trash if I can avoid it.

Can't wait to hear about your money-detox program and see if there are any cool ideas I can borrow! Poor-but-wealthy sounds like a lovely state to be.

Re: A Gift for a teacher - Nominate one!

hampers — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:41:41 -0000

The best part, every story told helps raise awareness in an effort to erase teacher-funded classrooms.

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

r0b3rta — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:12:02 -0000

Maya, I just stumbled upon your blog. My condolences to you and your family on the loss of Charlie. Charlie looked like a handsome dog. My Frantz had to be put to sleep a couple weeks back. Your closing sentence "We will miss you Charlie but you will always be with us." is very true. Like you I feel Frantz is still with us when I look at the step he could barely climb when we first got him to when I eat a banana knowing he loved those immensely. Cherishing those precious things are so important.

My friend sent me this passage from the chapter "Passports" in A Useful Dog by Donald McCaig:

"Moose died here, where twelve years ago he was born and he's buried in the graveyard on the hill where I hope to be buried someday...We carried him to his grave on his sheepskin bed and set his letter underneath. My wife, Anne, writes a letter for every one of our dogs and I have never asked her what she writes. She says it's a passport and I like to think of Moose coming to the last river he will ever cross and offering the boatman his letter, 'Oh, yes, I was a very good dog.'

"But it may be, it just may be - all our dogs waiting on the far side of the river that Anne and I must one day cross - those letters may not be dogs' passports. They may be ours."

Re: Money and Happiness? My journey so far

Nicolas123 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:19:42 -0000

Hi,

interesting thoughts!

I believe it’s not possible to make a general statement on whether money makes people more or less happy. Money comes with a whole set of new elements that may have good or bad impact on our happiness, and depending on how susceptible we are to every one of them, the conclusion will go one way or the other (i.e. different from person to person).

I recently made an effort to provide a more comprehensive picture of what these ad- and disadvantages are. I invite you to have a look at http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/2009/08/money... and tell me what you think!

Thank you,

Nick

Re: A Gift for a teacher - Nominate one!

donnak4 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:49:16 -0000

My post:
http://donna444444.blogspot.com/2009/09/day-mad...

My tweets:
http://twitter.com/donnak4/status/4621404499

http://twitter.com/donnak4/status/4621718488

http://twitter.com/donnak4/status/4621359291

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

bhejakhol — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 07:32:17 -0000

very touching post .. sorry to hear about the loss of charlie ..

Re: Money and Happiness? My journey so far

bhejakhol — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:34:11 -0000

hi ma'am ... i keep asking myself the aforementioned questions all the time and i think the last few days have forced me to think harder .. i have just returned from a wonderful vacation to jaipur, which was made wonderful partly because we stayed in a 5 star hotel ( not boasting here .. we're just lucky coz my dad is in the finance ministry and has contacts).
Nevertheless, i was lectured by my parents during the whole trip about how money/power can buy you so much and hence i should work harder and build a good career.. i remained unconvinced by most of their arguements, but later that night before i retired to my bed. i thought honestly and realized that i like to explore places, explore life in general. for example, had it not been for my stay in that hotel, i would never have known about the latest bathroom fittings( which took me 10 minutes to understand how to use) , i would never have known how people behave socially the way they do, i would never have known how 'cheese souffle' or chocolate mousse' tasted .. the list can go on ..

i have always liked a simple lifestyle, but the standard of that simplicity keeps rising .. i dont know, im quite confused .. wish i had a magic wand which me made me visit places, explore life and got me back to being poor/austere .. maybe, i am coming round to the view that apart from meeting your requirements, you need money to increase your knowledge about life,people,the world.. and to improve your personality..

there are no general rules of course as everyone has different tastes and opinions .
regarding the challenge to lead a completely non-materialistic life.. that is hard ... in my opinion, if you are interested in something that is not very financially rewarding , you will still enjoy your job more than a guy who is minting millions but curses his life every single day..

having said all of that, i am just 22 years old.. maybe, i have to experience much more to actually form a solid view about the importance of money.. because i may not have seen all the facets of life yet.

PS: this subject is always debatable !!

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

sushmita — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:48:15 -0000

Hi Mayu,

Am so so sorry about Charlie...it must be incredibly hard on you both and the girls..my heartfelt condolences..
I loved my neighbour's dog when I was a kid..about 15 years old and I took care of it from when he was a puppy..and he would listen to me..wait for me to get back from school..he was my best friend..and my support and friend indeed..and all he ever wanted to do was walk with me , cuddle and eat aloo fry:-)..he died on my lap..and i miss so him so much even after all these years...
so so sorry Mayu..its a hard time for you all now.

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

thinkmaya — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:34:28 -0000

Warm hug Neeta and love back to you too.
I hope I get to meet you sometime!

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

thinkmaya — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:18:57 -0000

Thank you Vered. It is amazing to me how you are everywhere... I am touched. Thanks so much.

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

thinkmaya — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:18:10 -0000

Wilma, thank you so much.

It is such a contradiction to me - how much he gave us - how unconditionally he loved us.
It aches in my heart that he was my baby but it seems like he did all the giving.

thank you for stopping by.

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

thinkmaya — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:16:23 -0000

Thank you So much Natalie. Appreciate the *hugs*
I hope you are well :)

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

Neeta — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:43:53 -0000

Words are so inadequate in the face of loss, just sending you a big warm hug and all my love.......
xxx
Neeta

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

vered — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:00:51 -0000

I am so sorry for your loss.

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

wilma_ham — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:06:21 -0000

Hi Maya.
I loved your tribute to your gentle giant and I love how you let him harvest his love.
Remembering their unconditional love is the best gift I can give my pets.
Lots of love to you and thanks for sharing moments with Charlie and your completion with his passing, Wilma

Re: Money and Happiness? My journey so far

BillionaireWoman — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:24:37 -0000

I love the photo! Without money, we'd all be rich. I'm constantly working on my new "relationship" with money. It's an ever evolving thing for me, and for most people I think. :) Being aware of it is half the battle.

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

BillionaireWoman — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:21:52 -0000

I am so sorry to hear that Maya! Sending you lots of love in this time of grief. I know how hard it is, yet it's never the same again. *hugs*

Re: A Gift for a teacher - Nominate one!

thinkmaya — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:21:29 -0000

Thank you SO much for the nomination!

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

thinkmaya — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:18:06 -0000

Thanks Davina, I do appreciate you being around now. Thank you so much.

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

thinkmaya — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:17:34 -0000

Dani - thank you SO much.

Re: Goodbye My Gentle Giant

Davinahaisell — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:57:25 -0000

Hi Maya. I'm very sorry to hear about Charlie. He does look like a gentle giant -- has a kind face. Losing a pet is difficult; I've been there and understand how you must be feeling. Hugs to you and your girls.