Reward and Happiness, Pt.1

I spend a lot of time with friends, as does every Egyptian, I feel. Hours every day are spent in the company of individuals who share common interests or simply enjoy the company. We group together in one apartment, working on a project, watching a mind-numbing youtube video, or simply indulging in the common Egyptian past-time: conversation.

A few days ago, that major player of procrastination was the highlight of the evening. We were five, sitting in the living room with some random album playing in the background, talking about everything you can possibly think of. Conversation ranged from creativity, idea development, resource based economy, and the likes (no politics – enough Egyptians talk about that).

Of course, there was no lack of complaining. Everyone does it, and it seems to be the common denominator in any conversation over a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Complaining about the way of life, job insecurity despite being chained to a contract, how we deal with each other as human beings in a country with over 4000 years of history, etc. Traveling and leaving it all behind is usually the end result, or just rolling over and accepting that nothing can be done. Depression sets in quickly, believe you me.

I think it was at that point, while everyone was putting out their cigarettes with a frown and an air of complete forfeit, when I realized that we might actually be looking at things the wrong way. I believe there's a lot more behind the curtain of 'the meaning of life' and what we're here to do; why we exist. And at the core of all that, I say, is how we perceive reward and happiness.

Now, just so no one misunderstands me, nothing of what I'm about to write is of my own devise. I didn't have an epiphany and come up with the solutions to the world's problems. I am merely portraying what thousands, if not millions, of people know, feel and are either too afraid to apply or simply ignore. Everything in these next few entries has been researched, written about, talked about in multiple seminars, and is actually right there in front of us for the taking.

Another quick notion I want to mention is that you shouldn't simply disagree with anything just because it's new, different, or not what we're used to in our every day lives. Open your mind a bit and give everything a chance. Remember that old saying that if you have a room of 10 people, where 7 are doing something wrong, the other 3 will most likely follow suit? I like to imply that usually there are only 3 people doing what's wrong, and the others are following suit because the right was never applied.

That doesn't necessarily mean that what I'm saying is right or wrong, depending on your opinion. It just means that you shouldn't dismiss it just because you've never seen it applied.

Just wanted to make sure we're on the same page.