That really sucks. Can practically feel the tension through your post. What a bummer… shouldn’t kill anybody to let somebody else be happy doing their own thang (and be happy not necessarily copying another person’s thang).
Less importantly:
When I think about ‘universal happiness’, I’d think it’s more about creating conditions where everyone has the opportunity to pursue their own version of happiness, rather than imposing a single idea of happiness on everyone.
This is a strange exclusionary way of considering happiness, tbh.
Like even if I want, and maybe even would be most happy, to sit down in front of a plate of duck a l’orange for dinner doesn’t mean I can’t or won’t be perfectly happy eating a sirloin steak for dinner instead
Edit: for clarity, I am referring to your father’s view on happiness, not your response to it
no, because there is no such thing as universal happiness.
everyone’s happiness is different, and often conflicting.
for example, my father’s happiness would have been me playing football. I hated sports. hence, he hated me until he died for ‘hurting him’.
That really sucks. Can practically feel the tension through your post. What a bummer… shouldn’t kill anybody to let somebody else be happy doing their own thang (and be happy not necessarily copying another person’s thang).
Less importantly:
When I think about ‘universal happiness’, I’d think it’s more about creating conditions where everyone has the opportunity to pursue their own version of happiness, rather than imposing a single idea of happiness on everyone.
yeah, but that’s not how people work.
This is a strange exclusionary way of considering happiness, tbh.
Like even if I want, and maybe even would be most happy, to sit down in front of a plate of duck a l’orange for dinner doesn’t mean I can’t or won’t be perfectly happy eating a sirloin steak for dinner instead
Edit: for clarity, I am referring to your father’s view on happiness, not your response to it
He’d be much happier in the grand scheme of things if he accepted his kids as they are.