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Jonathan Ross

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What are you happy for this past year?

Hello everyone,

I spent some time this Christmas in Seattle with my Iphone interviewing the people that live on the streets of Seattle and to ask them what they are happy for. The video is entitled 100 reasons to be happy and it is a testimonial from the people that have had it the toughest The responses were very moving and it had a great effect on me. I would love to know from others what are you truly thankful for in 2011. Much love was shared on that day and I would love to share their message with the world.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VpouZ7ZwKI


So what were you happy for in 2011?

Thank you,
Jonathan Ross

Topics: Seattle america caring education happiness homeless love support video
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    Jonathan Ross

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    Feb 5 2012: Hi All,

    This conversation is about to close and I want to thank everyone here for all your input and support. I hope we meet here on Ted in another conversation. All the best to everyone and remember, spread the love.

    Peace,
    Jonathan
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    Sojung Yun

    • +1
    Feb 2 2012: I love this conversation! thinking of good things that happened is what I always forgot to do. I am happy that I learnt the joy of listening to music. No hobby was good enough for me for long, then I found out what can please, excite, or comfort me. I found the hobby of my life;
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    Jasmin Begic

    • +1
    Feb 2 2012: I guess, I am glad that I opened my eyes to changes around me, and didn't let go of my values.
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    hou gc

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    Feb 2 2012: Just i need ,I want ,I do.
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    Waseem Hafeez

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    Feb 1 2012: This year 2011 has been a tumultuous one for my country Pakistan. Political instability, economic crisis, cold war situation in north-west Pakistan are the situations seems not to have much too happy about.


    But after all, I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful NY. I pray it will be a safe one and I also pray that we are able to take on the challenges in our work, in our country and in our personal lives that we will be faced with in 2012.


    “I am ever confident that we will”

    With sincere gratitude 


    Waseem Hafeez

  • Ethan Bell

    • +2
    Feb 1 2012: The most amazing girl showed up. Nothing intimate, just a friend. But she asked a simple question to me: "So you basically feel the same all the time?" I thought about it and realized I didn't. I felt very passionately about many things, but I ignored that, as though I had drawn a veil between me and my emotions. I realized it was there and tore it down. I was happy, and more relieved than I had been in years.
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    Harsh Bardhan

    • +1
    Jan 31 2012: I am happy to meeting with people ..... share Smiles as well as Tears.... Life is just Amazing...
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    timber maniac 20+

    • +1
    Jan 30 2012: I am happy to have good friends, to have met new nice people, and to have been exposed to TED Talks!

  • blanca costa

    • +1
    Jan 30 2012: Every single day is a reason to be happy.
    But this last year I'm particularly happy about having travelled around the world and meeting new different people.
    And for starting learning chinese!

    In the blog from EF, Universo Profesional, we try, daily, to show to young professionals, the motivation needed every day. Because every day at work or at home, with colleguees or family, in the city or the country side, every day, is a reason to be the happiest man/woman in earth.

    Happy day every body!
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    Junaid Hussain

    • +5
    Jan 30 2012: I am Happy after whenever i found sadness.

  • Ivy Green

    • +3
    Jan 29 2012: The happiest time is when I spend with my students
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    Petra Carrington

    • +2
    Jan 29 2012: I'm happy and grateful about having discovered a poem by Christian Larson "Promise yourself to be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind."

    Words, art, music truly reach us when we are open and ready to think, see, feel, and listen. The poem has found me at the right time and has touched me deeply. While my reality and the world have not changed, I feel that I found an important piece of truth and I'm much happier for it.

    Peace & Happiness to you
    Petra

  • Dana Drokina

    • +2
    Jan 29 2012: ...In 2011 I realized once again that when you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself!

    As Mother Teresa said: "If you judge people, you have no time to love them". Let's try to judge less and to love each other more in 2012.
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    lin zhao

    • +2
    Jan 27 2012: I read some books ! I thought clealy what I really want in my life ! I became cofident !

  • David Grammer

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    Jan 26 2012: On an individual basis, I am in favor of any philosophy which leads to a more fulfilled life. I think we differ only a semantic level; you see some actions as altruistic, I see them as self-interested. The action is the same, the result is the same. We both celebrate the act and result. Semantics only come into play when attempting to communicate with someone from a seemingly opposed end of the spectrum. I'm searching for a language which meets the needs of all parties and facilitates co-operation towards a shared goal. The languages of the right and the left seem to have taken on lives of their own which are separate from any intended meaning. I think we spend too much time trying to convince others who already agree with us and not enough time trying to build bridges to those who only seem to be in opposition.
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      Jonathan Ross

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      Jan 27 2012: Hi David,

      Well said I can't add anything to that. Thank you for your thoughts and time.

      Peace,
      Jonathan

  • David Grammer

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    Jan 26 2012: Even the desire to "make the world a better place" is self-serving in so far as it supports the individual's self-image. Pure altruism is a myth in that every act serves a personal need first. I don't see this in quite as negative a light as you seem to. I think most people define what they "should" do based upon cultural values and self interest. Otherwise, there would be a consensus on what people "should" do. I still see myself as clearly liberal in my ideals, but more pragmatic in my approach to solutions. I think a broad brush is precisely the correct tool to use when attempting to identify basic human motivations. At the most basic level, human behavior is not that subtle in terms of motivation.
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      Jonathan Ross

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      Jan 26 2012: Hi David,

      Super reply! I appreciate your philosophy but I have to disagree. I have found many people that believe what you are saying but if you follow other philosophies like the Buddhist philosophy they will find issue with your view point as well. However they will also embrace your view point as a form of enlightenment on their own path to reach a higher plain of consciousness.
      In the past I have followed the same philosophy as you and I can understand what your are saying as it does apply to a great deal of people. Once again i think it is to broad a stroke to lay on every person. There are different philosophies and they differ, one not being any better than the other just different perspectives.
      That asks a question do we help our own family for the same self serving reasons. If so why does a boy who was beaten by his father cry at the loss of him when he passes and still has love in his heart for the person that was so abusive. Love is an amazing thing.
      Daram Sali said after being imprisoned for 40 years, upon his release his first message to his people was " Treat your enemies as if they were precious jewels because it is your enemies that build your tolerance and patience on the road to your enlightenment ". This can be viewed in your philosophy as being self serving and protecting their own survival but I believe his words are trying to spread a different message. Everything is as it should be for a reason and it is how we accept or decline these issues that leads us to a better state of mind a happier place which in turn makes the world a happier place for everyone you co exist with. Just my two cents but I do love a good debate.,
      Thank you for sharing your perspective it has helped me to embrace my philosophy to an even greater extent so everyone has found their silver lining. All my best to you my friend and to all you love.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan
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    Astra Singh 20+

    • +3
    TED Translator
    Jan 26 2012: Dear Jonathan,

    I had a great year. I am happy for the insight that we all get presented challenges throughout our lives. Not to set you back, but to make you stronger. Small ones, big ones. They are all necessary parts of life. And that the quality of your life depends on how you deal with them. You have the choice to let them knock you down, or you can look at them and deal with them as best as possible.

    In looking back at 2011 I can say that I have had my challenges. Yes, relatively minor ones (e.g. frustration over finding crucial parts for my beloved vintage car :) and relatively major ones (e.g. job issues, illness and then death of my mother and then my father, and then dreadful family issues surrounding those events). Soooo, why do I say I had a great year? Because I have dealt with my challenges to the best of my ability and I have personally grown from that. Someone else may have a different opinion about it but that doesn’t concern me. It means that I have experienced the pain, anger, desperation etc (all ‘negative’ feelings) that the events brought with them….and am proud of the fact that I dealt with them as best as I could. It is liberating to know that I can look at any given event in my life as a challenge to look at, to trust that the lesson is there (and even if I don’t see it yet to be comfortable in just ‘Being’), and deal with it to the best of my ability at that time, enjoy the heck out of it and move on.
    And also…I feel exhilarated and grateful for the many, many positive things that happened last year too. They outweigh the ‘bad’ things by far :)

    Thank you for your question.
    Kind regards,
    Astra
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      Jonathan Ross

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      Jan 26 2012: Astra,

      This is so true and so beautifully written. I could not agree more, adversity leads us to become who we are meant to be and it is how you receive these messages that makes all the difference. You have the magic gift, to realize all things be them good or bad lead us on our path in life. Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed response.

      All my best,
      Jonathan

  • Shraddha Nanavaty

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    Jan 26 2012: I don't think I could be more blessed... I would not have been what I am today if it was not for my mom. She is the closest to God that I have ever believed in. Just wish she was here with me in London. She is back home in Mumbai and i am really missing her.
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    Shweta Verma

    • +2
    Jan 26 2012: I am happy that I was able to take some difficult but necessary decisions at professional level! Also, that I started enjoying the slow pace of life for a change!
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    Elizabeth Gu 30+

    • +1
    Jan 25 2012: Spending my daily lives with my family more than ever before.
    I didn't realize the value of it, and the fact that I was really happy, but in retrospect, I think I should have been more grateful for spending time together.
    That was meaningful and precious moments to me.

  • sanghun lee

    • +2
    Jan 24 2012: Happiness is a peace of your mind^^
    In 2011, I got married and my wife was with pregnancy.
    There were lots of affairs and events... for my loving people.
    It is likely to be happy.

  • David Grammer

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    Jan 24 2012: Not nearly enough I'm sure. I suspect that the things I should be most grateful for will only become apparent with time and perspective. For example, becoming homeless a few years ago has turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me, but it was far from apparent at the time.
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      Jonathan Ross

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      Jan 24 2012: Excellent post David, I could not agree more. The things that happen to us are not always clear at the time they occur. I am so glad to hear life is well and I am sure you do not pass a homeless person without reflecting on your own past. Thank you for sharing.

      Best,
      Jonathan

      • David Grammer

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        Jan 24 2012: You're right that every homeless person I see does resonate with me, but probably not in the way you might expect. I think a great deal of the one-on-one giving is done to alleviate the guilt of the giver more than to meet the needs of the recipient. Too often that kind of giving merely reinforces self-destructive behavior and validates a dysfunctional life style. Nothing changes until you hit bottom and having others help you float just above the bottom is not necessarily an act of generosity, whatever the intent.
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          Jonathan Ross

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          Jan 26 2012: Hi David,

          I have to disagree with you that the giver does these things to alleviate guilt that is not why we are supposed to help. I don't see it as clearing my own mind but growing by understanding more and more about what is taking place around me. You said you have been on the streets I hope that everyone that did something nice for you you don't look at as being self serving. What then is helping, you seem to feel that if a person helps another it is only to help themselves. I see what your point is I just don't think that is the case all the time. To broad a brush stroke, kind of an assumption and categorizing people. This is a mistake I think far to many make. Some people want to help just to make the world a better place.

          Best,
          Jonathan
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    karen ahnemann

    • +2
    Jan 20 2012: Going to the land of happiness, Bhutan, made me happy to know such a place exists!
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    Jonathan Ross

    • +1
    Jan 19 2012: Hi All,

    We are sitting in a foot of snow here in Seattle which we are not prepared for. The people on the streets are in real trouble anyone that lives in the city please grab as many pairs of socks as you can and head outside and pass them out. The most desirable item to the homeless are fresh thick socks. Thanks for everyones support.

    Best,
    Jonathan
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    Laszlo Kereszturi 500+

    • +3
    TED AttendeeTED TranslatorAssociateLanguage Coordinator
    Jan 19 2012: In 2011 we spent ten days in the mountains, on holiday.
    No Internet, no cellphones, no shopping - just the family reunited.

    In 2011 I met some of my fellow TED translators at TEDGlobal in Edinburgh, what a team!

    And I kept my workplace - it looks silly to be happy for this?

    I reckon it was a good year.
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      Jonathan Ross

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      Jan 19 2012: What a wonderful holiday, nothing better than friends and family to spend one on one time with. Good for you.
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