'Those only are happy... who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness... Aiming this at something else, they find happiness by the way... The only chance is to treat, not happiness, but some end external to it, as the purpose of life'

John Stuart Mill

'You're so lucky'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/feb/22/weight-gain-diet

I read the above article on the Guardian website the other day. When I saw the title I was pleased that the paper, or rather Lucy Glennon, had written about something that appears preposterous to most. The vast majority of writing about weight involves scrutinising people for being overweight, or just being of an average weight. The rest of the tripe obsesses over weight loss diets and ways to be thin etc. People who are underweight, for whatever reason, are often considered to be 'lucky' as many others, whether they are actually overweight or just believe themselves to be, see thinness as a goal which, if reached, can be the solution to some of life's problems- and I believe it can be, in terms of confidence etc. The point is that we often want to be what we are not, and when we see people who are what we think we want to be, we are jealous, envious and often disrespectful of what they have been through to achieve their own goals. Personally, I take it as an insult when people who don't know me call me 'thin', 'skinny' or 'lucky'. Maybe, for example, I have had a long-term illness, maybe I have a problem, maybe I dislike being the size that I am- they have no idea. Being underweight can affect someone's life negatively just as being overweight can, but it is not seen this way because our society's ideal is to be thin, but that can bring as many health problems as the opposite. It was just nice to see an article which doesn't see weight loss as a solution, but as a problem.

Nights at the Circus

'Does that seem strange to you? That the caged bird should want to see the end of cages, sir?'







Angela Carter.

The Sky At Night

I watched Sir Patrick talk about the sky.
I wonder if he thinks his life matters.