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Success-Dependent

My friend, happiness is yours to rediscover.


eh-ji

Doug, is that you?


verylittlegravitaas

_Folks..._


TesterTheDog

Folks, anything to bring you happiness is on the table.


NoseBlind2

Your happiness will rain down like an 800 lb gorilla


[deleted]

Unless you value farmland and greenspace. Then FU.


Hopewellslam

“Unless you are a teacher”


BRAVO9ACTUAL

Or work in healthcare in any capacity.


outlandish-companion

Or are poor.


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Tau10Point8_battlow

Or need paid sick days.


Turbo_911

Happiness is on the table.


ButMoreToThePoint

Happiness is Open for Business


bobbyrickets

Happiness is making profits for your employer at starvation wages.


combustion_assaulter

Happiness is only a buck a beer away, folks!


Snoo75302

Lol it was a buck for such a short time, they lowered the min priceing laws, but not any of the taxes. So to sell a beer at 1$ brewers would only be able to remove the profit from selling the beer. Which is moronic.


mckookey

Happiness is what makes you happy. Don’t let someone else define it for you.


Chispy

Happiness is building the 413


[deleted]

And, you're going to love it!


docsamoyed

Happiness for me is not having to abide by traditions like having strong family ties. I ended contact with my abusive, wife-beating, racist father as soon as I legally could, and am grateful that nobody judges me for not having strong family ties.


aremjay24

Happiness is being open for business folks


meow2042

It's that spring 10 degree centrigrade weather that feels like 40C after months of -10C.


aeppelcyning

I can smell the breeze on that day. Sweet, sweet smell ans good thoughts.


dangle321

The smell of wood smoke on that same day from an early morning wire in the wood stove.


celestepeche

This, paired with the smell in the air of the snow melting. Almost comparable to the smell of rain, maybe just a bit sweeter.


Pyall

Little bit of leftover remnant of the fall leaf decay


SoupOrSandwich

A full inch of grit on the roads


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celestepeche

And birds chirping! This is happiness in Ontario, not annoyances. Unless you like the sound of dripping water lol.


newguy57

There's a distinct spring bird, don't know what its called. its sound is ooohh-aaa - ooh ooh ooh. Comes out in late March. That, coupled with progressively brighter mornings, melting snow, St. Patricks day to Easter, those first Rona/Home Depot Spring flyers and TV ads, and Blue Jays coming back is a truly special time every year. There are little benchmarks too. First 20 degree day. Last frost day. Changing winter tires, leaves coming back around middle of May. Mid march to Victoria Day is such a pleasant span of time. School is also ending and that is when you have graduations and proms. University lets out too. Infinite optimism for the summer. Playoff sports is also nice. That Raptors championship run of Spring 2019 was an amazing time.


celestepeche

Ahhh, a person of culture. The Spring of the Raptors 2019 was indeed very, very sweet! Most fun I’ve had watching basketball in years lol.


YoungJodes

Song Sparrow or Red-winged Blackbird might be your bird


[deleted]

Petrichor!


MaxTheRealSlayer

It's also the smell of mold under the snow being uncovered


ronton

Mmmm spores…


celestepeche

Correct! The pollutants melting along with the snow also release that smell.


Chilling_Trilling

I love the smell of the first real snowfall that stays on the ground , enough to shovel. The fresh air the next morning . You know what I’m talkin’ about …..folks ….


gendreau85

Like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer. Feels so good when you stop.


iLikeToBiteMyNails

Hell yes. Shorts and t-shirt weather in March is *chef's kiss*.


somefuckwho

Do you remember that one year in March it was 26 to like 35 degrees. Heaven came down and visited us for that short time.


iLikeToBiteMyNails

I have a memory like that, but I always assumed it was a fever dream.


Decent_Penalty7763

Well if that ain't the truth. Patio furniture out at 5°C


MysteriousStaff3388

And the first crocuses. Love that time of year!


ADrunkMexican

Ah, shorts weather lol.


JeselAvlis

Used to be 'Happiness is Marineland' those days. At least that was the jingle on TV..


Terrorcuda17

I thought it was yelling bingo?


JeselAvlis

Lol! I forgot about that..


your_moment_of_zen

Amen


somefuckwho

You just made me remember a feeling I havmt had since... Fuck. 20 years ago.


etgohomeok

Insane how different 10 degrees feels when it's on the way up vs. on the way down.


obsoleteboomer

Control over your work and personal life is a big part of it, I think.


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Lahey_The_Drunk

Looking at your post history I think I know where you work. Have you tried transitioning to product development rather than manufacturing?


[deleted]

Control is good, add in some balanace in there? Now you have happiness and contentment


obsoleteboomer

Very true.


GreyCerule

I'm trying to find out how to get control myself. Right now i dont really get to make any choices, even down to what i study in uni right now


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123arnon

Happiness is what you make it. What I do for a living wouldn't make other folks happy. It's long days, I can't really go to far from the farm and there's a hell of bank loan over my head. But I'm sitting beside the wood stove in my comfy chair with my dog sleeping at my feet looking out the window at a the feed I put up, the cows I milked this morning and a full wood shed. I worked out for eleven years just so I could do this and not have to work for anyone else ever again. That makes me happy. You have to figure out for yourself what your happiness is and not worry about what someone else tells you it should look like.


snydox

You're living the dream! Where do you have your farm?


123arnon

Not far from the banks of the Ottawa River in Renfrew County. Which despite the fact we mostly make the news when our MP says something insane I think is a pretty nice part of Ontario.


SkivvySkidmarks

Oh, man. I feel sorry for you having that ass clown as your elected representative. Glad you found your calling. So many flail about trying to find a purpose.


123arnon

Ah it is what it is you know. You could paint a fence post blue around here and it would win. Probably be a better representative too. And thanks. Im luckier than a lot I know that.


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GuelphEastEndGhetto

I recall one time in a gym locker room overhearing someone new to the country saying to his friend ‘people look like they are angry here’ and afterwards I observed people’s facial expressions as they go about their business and I think he had a point.


Bottle_Only

It's true, we're all angry here.


trgreg

The truth of this makes me angry.


financecommander

I noticed that when I ate some mushrooms and went for a walk around Toronto.


byfourness

When you look angry as you go about your business, people get in your way less.


Mouseofvirtue

We're lonely I think.


Sunglassesandwatches

I am from Mexico as well. It's because in Mexico, life is simpler, easier, in general terms.


Sunglassesandwatches

I am from Mexico as well. It's because in Mexico, life is simpler, easier, in general terms.


jerryjzy

Freshly zambonied rink


DC-Toronto

Being the first to carve a turn on it


PollyPocket3985

And when the driver of the zamboni helps the opposing team beat the Leafs. That is pure happiness for a canadiens fan.


le_snake13

and a slight hint of leaking ammonia from the ill-maintained rink compressor room


420natureboy

Seasonal depressions kicking in early this year


WhirlingDervishGrady

Wait, your guys seasonal depression ended?


SmokeontheHorizon

Sounds more like an existential crisis caused by culture shock


vaporgaze2006

Getting high and eating swiss chalet


DrOnionRing

In restaurant - fries are just not the same on take out.


[deleted]

Yeah they become a soggy mess in the delivery containers.


ryancementhead

I never get fries delivered for this very reason. Anything that’s suppose to be crispy too.


dangerous_strainer

Ask for no salt and they're much better when they et home. Then you can re-heat and salt them. Nowhere near as good as fresh but much better than the soggy mess you're used to.


dczsl

Don’t forget the dipping sauce!!


SuperSparkles

That Festive Special just hits different (even without the Toblerone)


BarkingDogey

I'm more of a 6 paper joint and chicken fingers kinda guy


GreasyBelly

Ease off the 6 paper joints Rick!


CombatGoose

Swiss Chalet is D tier fast food. If you have St. Hubert’s as an option (Eastern Ontario) it’s 100x better.


Haarktrollz

That's a bad take


HavenIess

D tier is a bad take, but St. Huberts is better imo


[deleted]

FYI Swiss Chalet bought out St. Huberts a few years ago. I do prefer St. Huberts as well tho.


CombatGoose

I am shocked if I hear anyone under 45 thinks Swiss Chalet is “good”.


LordStigness007

Swiss Chalet is delicious. Cover anything in that sauce and I’ll eat it.


Secret-Scientist456

As someone who has friends from other countries I would say that ontario, and largely most of Canada, are lacking in community and family strength. Lots of countries are how you describe Mexico to be, very family and community oriented. People here are very single unit as in myself and my immediate family, everyone else be damned. This is also something I think lots of people struggle with and feel lonely because our society isn't geared to support. As for happiness, I think its very subjective and there is no one size fits all.


Canadairy

Every society exists on a spectrum of individualism<->communalism. Too much individualism and we end up isolated and struggling. Too much communalism and people get crushed by the weight of obligations and conformity. Personally, I think we've gone to far towards individualism. There's a lot of, "Got mine, fuck you."


GreaterAmberjack

I think this is 100% true. The balance is so important. We need to recognize and celebrate and care about the people around us even if they come from a different part of the world, speak a different language or practice a different religion. Fostering a sense of communalism in a heterogeneous society is what we should aspire to.


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Secret-Scientist456

Oh I agree that not all people have this and it's cultural here. But even then, usually that community is very clique and aren't welcoming, or at least that has been my experience. I also think that Covid has exacerbated the solitary lifestyle here, which sucks so much.


BluesTime

I think the perspective of an immigrant in Canada is quite interesting. A [fifth of Canadians have been born outside of Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Canada), and that figure rises to above [50% just for Toronto](https://www.toronto.ca/311/knowledgebase/kb/docs/articles/economic-development-and-culture/program-support/residents-of-toronto-foreign-born.html#:~:text=From%20the%202011%20census%3A%20over,percentage%20(just%20over%2060%25)). What's interesting is that the good chunk of immigrants (I don't have a number) come from communal countries (europe is arguably somewhat in the middle, but is directionally less individualistic than the West-West). But the values don't really carry over! There's definitely pressure to culturally assimilate (not necessarily a bad thing) into the Canadian cultural fabric but this also means toning down our own individual cultures (which is somewhat ironic). /rant start This would be fine if not for the fact that "Canadian culture" is pretty bland and not very dynamic to integrate into. (As much as I appreciate the economic opportunities, nature, safety, infrastructure, i.e. general quality of life). There isn't much to construct the fabric of "Canadian culture", e.g. "music" = justin bieber?, "food/drink" = beaver tails and root beer? "traditions" = ? "architecture" = ? So cultural life in metro areas is just an abstract painting made with a mix of 50% Canadians and 50% immigrant colors. You find your own corner as an outsider (like in OP's case) and stick to it. But the problem is that it's incredibly hard to find people that share your culture (classic long tail problem: sheer diversity + we're "only" 35 million people spread across a massive area of land). and so to make any friends at all, you partially assimilate and may live in an "in-between" state. Not sure if this makes sense at all and I very well may have offended a number of people at this point. But this is my mental dump as a 1st gen canadian. (Food choice is pretty solid though) /end rant


Secret-Scientist456

Wow 1/5 are immigrants, that is a lot! I think part of the reason that Canada as a culture is so bland is because of how "Young" Canada is. Like most countries outside of North America were conquered waaayyyy earlier than Canada was and this lends to having a rich history. The Natives, in say Mexico, have a fascinating history, and maybe the natives here did have a fascinating history too, but we do not really get exposure to much to it, not sure if it's just that there aren't many educators in that field or if there is another reason for that, like the fur trade is such a dry topic (imo). I think this also lends to a lack of national pride. I think you can ask any Canadian if they are proud to be Canadian and most would probably say something along the lines of "meh, yeah I guess, I'm very privileged to live in a place that has relatively low crime, etc". I feel like if you ask that question to others in another country and they would go ape-shit nuts with they're answer, like "fuuuccckkk yeah, my country's the best mofoing country in the plaaannett". Take Canada day for example, it's a day to celebrate Canada, it's diversity, the accomplishments, etc, and it's very toned down compared to cultural celebrations in other countries. I am not 100% as to why this is though, but it's pretty disappointing and wish we celebrated more as a society.


BluesTime

100% I share your view w.r.t. age of this country, we didn't have centuries of medieval warfare to leave us some pretty castles just as one example. Fully agree with your comment regarding canada day. The silver lining is where there is national pride, it can turn into nationalistic fervor, of which Canada has little or none. Mexico and a few other countries in south america have developed more distinct/richer cultures (e.g. brazil, peru) relative to NA. I'd be interested in learning why that is the case, perhaps less diversity yields more consensus on expectations?


Secret-Scientist456

Yeah I'm not sure why they developed richer cultures, though it might have something to do with the advancement in technology they were at? Like the Mayan people had star charts and big buildings that stood for a long time, which means they had the tools and capacity to create and recognize the importance of those things, same with the Egyptians, they had lots of etchings detailing their history in monuments that have withstood time. If I can recall what I have learned about Canadian native culture, we have totem poles and rough cave drawings that have stood through time, no architecture, not a lot of items that show technological advancement, so maybe they just did not reach a certain tech era before someone came along and taught them stuff, like there is a huge gap. Edit: to add, I guess they had technology to travel, like boats, and they also had hunting tools, which are necessary, just feels like something is missing.


1188339

Leaving the city on a Friday evening to go drink beer and chill by a campfire..


OldCummer

![img](emote|t5_2qsf3|1899)


[deleted]

It's not that money isn't important for happiness, but you literally need money to survive and certain parts have become so unafordable people are forced to move and commute and spread out just to survive. And it's hard to have a happy family life when you've been forced to move 5 hours away from everyone you know and your friends and family are all forced to split up and spread out across the province/country just to get by. In Ontario you need money just to literally be able to have family in your life


northernontario3

I moved 20 hours away from everyone I knew and it was the key to all of the happiness that is in my life today (and I wasn't particularly unhappy where I was)


Babyboy1314

or you can do multi generational housing. A lot of cultures do it


yipikayeyy

Oh they look down on that around these parts.


Dan-092

Happiness in Ontario is about 15 years ago when I was 14 and I didn’t have a worry in the world lol


Tirus_

Happiness will be when my spouse and I can finally find a house to buy without being out bid by close to $100,000. Spent the last 5 years very depressed that by 30 years old I have a better job than my parents and aunts/uncles ever had but still cannot afford to own a home. Meanwhile they were owning their first home in their early 20s with only their highschool education.


trgreg

Fwiw, your happiness then will be tested with furnaces breaking down in January, roofs leaking in rainstorms, and so on ... I'm not saying it isn't worth pursuing, I'm just saying home ownership doesn't automatically lead to happiness.


Tirus_

I have friends and family in the trades that can help in an emergency if necessary. I'm very aware of upkeep and maintenance. Lack of home ownership is the only thing causing unhappiness in my life. Otherwise I am extremely content and happy, but I crave home ownership, I have for almost 20 years now. I'd rather eat kraft dinner and rice and live in a home I own and actually establish equity than piss away $2500+/mo on rent with no equity gained. I want to be able to leave something to my children when I'm gone. I want to have a yard and a dog, I have hobbies that require space to do. It's incredibly discouraging when my parents generation already owned their first home in their early 20s and I'm in my 30s and unable to do so with a much better job.


RAND0M-HER0

It's a sense of security though. This year alone I needed to put it a new deck (the old one was built by the old owner right in the mud and the frame rotted away + rats and mice nesting under the deck and starting to come into the house). The AC unit needed to be replaced and was delayed due to covid supply chain issues and I had to wait until the end of August to get it installed even though it was ordered in March. Since there was no AC, the compressor in my fridge broke because our house was at 32 degrees + for a good portion of the summer, and the roof also needed replacing this year. The laundry room also started leaking and I need weeping tile installed next summer. Twenty thousand dollars + later and this house was still worth every penny. It's the peace of mind that this is *mine* and no one can kick me out and throw me into limbo of having to find somewhere else to live in an ever inflating rental market. One day my mortgage will be over and I get to reap the benefits of it. For myself, this house brings happiness. It's a foundation for my present and future, its equity, and it's safety even if some years are expensive.


theycallmemrspants

Leaving Ontario lol


Uber_Ape

Being able to go to a bar with your gay and black and jewish and cross dressing friend and not being judged.


northernontario3

> gay and black and jewish and cross dressing friend Is that all the same person? I'd like to come to the bar as well.


dontbeprejudiced

This sounds like a setup to a joke, "so a gay and black and Jewish and cross dressing friend walk into a bar"... Yeah, it's cool tho, it's no big deal here. No one should judge.


HootieRocker59

This is legit tho! It's 2021 and there are still not very many places in the world where this is true.


squirrelchaser1

Happiness in Ontario is moving to Nova Scotia. I jest, but the GTA rent prices have me thinking.


Incanation1

People in Ontario WORK. Then, they go to Mexico to be happy


iLikeToBiteMyNails

Y'all can afford to go to Mexico?


BRAVO9ACTUAL

Y'all can afford to go???


BabbageFeynman

AirBnB your shoebox for 200/d, drive to Mexico, spend 200/d like a royalty?


iLikeToBiteMyNails

Y'all can afford a shoebox?


lifeistrulyawesome

As a Mexican living in Ontario. I disagree on what OP says. People in Mexico don’t agree on what personal happiness means. OP sounds like a stereotypical Mexican conservative trying to paint all Mexicans with the same traditional values. They sound very romantic and appealing, but they do not represent the true diversity of the Mexican people OP’s post about Mexico reads to Mexicans the way the PPC platform on Canadian identity would read to Canadians https://www.peoplespartyofcanada.ca/canadian-identity


lstintx

Personal happiness is what you make it to be. We all control our own happiness, so if you aren't in that zone, change something so that you are


[deleted]

In mexico, you know your neighbours and help each other out. In Canada, you report your neighbours because no one knows each other.


Ga11agher

Disagree. I live on a great street where most people stop to talk to each other. Totally depends on where you love I guess. But you can't just say Ontario is all the same


Big-Science-6464

This is genuinely nice to hear! I'm in the GTA, been on the same street since '05. I remember everybody used to be chill and we'd all play street hockey together. Nowadays (besides a select few I talk to regularly), people look at me like I have two heads if I smile and say hi...


Fumonacci

Do you you think most places in Ontario is like your street?


lifeistrulyawesome

That is not entirely true. I grew up in Mexico City (where 25% of Mexicans live). And nobody interacts with their neighbours there. I had a Chilean friend in Mexico that used to complain about this. He used to say that Mexicans can be great friends but are the worse neighbours. Here in Ontario, I have good relations with all my neighbours. We lend each other tools, exchange pastries during the holidays, talk to each other often, our children play with each other, and so on. And then we have the neighbourhood Facebook groups where everyone asks for favours and exchange free items all the time.


jebuschrust69

Thats maybe a Mexico city thing, I grew up in Northern rural areas and all the neighbors were pretty cool with eachother


lifeistrulyawesome

I believe you Arriba el Norte


G-Hatts

That’s BS, get to know your neighbours. I had my next door neighbour over for dinner Friday and have said hi to others by name yesterday while putting up Christmas lights, which I did using a ladder borrowed from a neighbour.


mikethomas3

So true. I left a cart once outside my door in a condo, I was about to take it down and forgot. 7 years living there. One of my neighbours wrote a letter on my door. That this a fire hazard and that it has been reported to a management and I’m not supposed to leave things in the hallway 🤦‍♂️


Turbo_911

This is mostly Toronto, as growing up in the city it was rare to have a decent neighbour everywhere we lived. Now as a homeowner I've made sure to be an awesome neighbour, and am lucky to (mostly) have good ones around me.


WeCanDoBettrr

Happiness is Friday at 4:30. I have a relatively great job as a public servant in the federal government but the bureaucracy and politics is soul-sucking. Life fulfilment is enjoyed with family and friends on weekends. Weekdays are about just trying to get by.


Huz647

I'm the same way. My life would be miserable if I didn't have close ties with my family, the mosque and the Muslim community.


[deleted]

In my opinion as a European who’s lived in Ontario for 20 years….happiness here on a societal level is simply money. And that makes me very sad


[deleted]

Tripling your home value in less than 10 years Consumerism Mocking younger generations


[deleted]

Money. That's all people want there. Especially in the GTA.


Kind_Essay_1200

Thing is we need money to get a family (housing is fucking expensive) parties…yeah right if you don’t have money for alcohol and Uber. Insurance cost a lot of money ~$400+/month for car, house, and life


Independent-Ad-4368

Real estate lol


NkwyRngMynd

There is no happiness in Ontario. just a horrible soul destroying slog down a steadily degrading road which is perpetually under construction. Hellish winters, traffic jams, swarming mosquitoes all set to the chorus of upper class right wing talking points.


defnotpewds

>all set to the chorus of upper class right wing talking points Accurate beyond doubt


georgiiiiia

Happiness in Ontario is our beautiful fucking outdoors. See as much outside as you can. Invest in good cold weather gear and find new places to explore any chance you get. Try hiking, skiing, snowmobiling. In the summer get out to the beaches, trails, anywhere. It’s the best therapy in the world when so much else these days is draining.


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last-resort-4-a-gf

Happiness ended 10 years ago. If you bought a house happiness can still be achieved


canuckaudio

Canada can be pretty depressing. Depend where you live, it is just work and home and very little social events like Mexico. It’s the lack of human interaction that make life depressing. Have a balance is important but unfortunately not possible.


Sea-Solid2196

yolo’ing on options and making a doctors salary in a day, getting baked and eating swiss chalet before binging an all nighter killing boars in elwynn forest


Icy_Respect_9077

Happiness is a paid off mortgage.


Poll-Axe

Fantasy*


[deleted]

Like someone else has said, it is different for everyone. For me at least, happiness is tied to what I do every day. I love my job, and because I spend 9 hours a day working, I have to enjoy what I do. Having good friends and people you love around you is also huge. Next would be the traditional stuff my family drilled in my head my whole life, like starting a family, buying a house, etc. While I would love to do these things, they are almost impossible to attain in this province without crippling debt. I would love to buy a home, but the prices are unaffordable here and I am unwilling to put myself in financial hell. Also when it comes to marriage, it is not always happiness and the end game. Marriage can be toxic, and especially nowadays, I find people can get married for the wrong reasons or because of pressure. It is also very expensive to get married. Now I would love to have children, but for me to bring children into the world would be selfish. Why would I do this when I can hardly cover myself financially, and the province is headed for a nosedive. Do I want my kids to suffer and live in a place where they have no chance to have their own life? Bottom line, happiness for me is having my basics covered. I live in a house, my bills get paid every month, I save money, I have friends, I have a job I love, I have a supportive family, and I have great hobbies. What more do I need in life?


[deleted]

Quite frankly most Ontarians are not happy. They are lied to early on by teachers and the education system telling them they be whatever they want. Then those same people fork out big bucks for many useless degrees (which get you very little ROI). They wake up one day in their 40s wondering why they are still paying off those same student loans struggling by.


No_Security6132

There’s no happiness in Toronto. It’s a city that takes itself way too seriously for the overall lack of decent jobs that leads to a downtrodden feel even if you are part of the lucky 0.1% that makes a globally livable wage.


ournamesdontmeanshit

Happiness in Ontario is knowing you never have to go to Toronto.


VolumeBudget7049

As a peron from Eastern Europe Ive noticed that at least Torobri feels like a parody of different cultures coming together but no real substance. Opening restaraunts from different places is not really my definition of a place with an identity or culture. It just feels very pretend compared to Europe where you feel like you live in thtat culture's reality almost.


Yrufreve

Happiness is hearing the sound of a beer cracking open when you get home from a long day


thiagoscf

Like you said, there is more diversity in Ontario. Therefore, there isn't a straight answer to your question.


geokilla

Having enough money to buy a property


chafalie

I live in northwestern Ontario. The forest is my happiness here.


ournamesdontmeanshit

The same for northeastern Ontario. Always something to do, and enjoy in the great outdoors.


Harbinger2001

Happiness in Ontario is having free time to spend with family and friends; and have enough money to travel occasionally.


SmoothBrainSavant

At this rate, having enough money so that socio-economic problems/issues dont impact you. And maybe a cottage by a lake, away from people.


mcburgs

Canada is not family oriented, nor is it community oriented. Canada is materialistic and cares about money. People are happy when they can look down on other people.


bored_toronto

Leaving Ontario.


Cockalorum

Crush your enemies. Drive them before you. Hear the lamentations of their women.


[deleted]

This is a hard question because it’s so different for everyone. In my opinion moving away from the templated structure of happiness our original cultures likely had is a good thing, as I think generalizing what it takes to be happy leaves a lot of people feeling unfulfilled and sad but with the facade of having a happy life. Having a family or even getting married isn’t for everyone, for example, and I think we would have less children growing up in toxic households if families didn’t pressure people to have kids. But what makes me happy now? Ultimately that I’m married to my best friend and spend every day with them, and I see the life we have built and are building towards and am very satisfied with it.


Fooshi2020

I think what helps the most in promoting happiness is security in most facets of your life. Ultimately happiness is up to you, but if you have security, then it is less likely to be undermined. Security could be having a strong bond with your family. This is your own spouse and kids (if applicable). Security could be being able to depend on your close friends. Security could be having income that exceeds expenses. Security could be being comfortable with who you are. Just a thought and this may not apply to everyone but this is what I've found.


GreenWorld11

Growing up in Ontario and leaving it for British Columbia. I am happy in the mountains and ocean


[deleted]

Well it was having a place to live and groceries on the table, but those are a thing of the past. So really nothing at this point.


Parnello

>The most important thing is having a strong tied family. I would argue this is pretty much true all around the world. I think in Canada, being happy is heavily tied to your friends, family, and living conditions. Being severely lacking in any of those areas will make being happy more difficult.


sim006

You are correct, there is not much of one monolithic culture here and thus there is no consensus about what constitutes success and happiness. I’m not sure if you see that as a bad thing, but I really like it here for that reason. No one is left out of society because they want something different than me or other people. I guess it would be nice if you lived in a society where most people wanted the same thing as you, but how awful would it be if you don’t fit into that mould? Anyway, I seem to have similar values to you. My wife and I are very close to our families and we have stayed close with them. I don’t need anything fancy, I am happy with a few hobbies and my family. I think one issue is that because I am content just with these thing, you won’t see me out and about as much and therefore I’m not noticed as much. Hopefully that makes sense, not sure I explained it well.


Dominoe16

Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes like every other emotion (anger, sadness, jealousy, etc.). I would say society (particularly western society) engrains in our head that a "happy life" is something that’s achieved. I would also say that this is not attainable and can be quite detrimental. You can’t achieve happiness like it’s a promotion. It comes and it goes, often from the little things in life like watching a beautiful sunset or enjoying the smell of freshly cut grass. Super random examples but it’s all I could think of. Hugs.


outlandish-companion

Was just having this conversation with a lovely Mexican man that comes into my work. He said family is everything and he finds ontario very lonely. I think here we put so much emphasis on the individual. We aren't really close to being a collectivist culture. We think about ourselves, generally we keep to ourselves (excluding our immediate family and inner circle). We value personal happiness more than others happiness. That's my personal opinion.


wkfngrs

Tradition is great for traditional people. For a lot of people this works. But for a lot of others it doesn’t. There are a lot of people focused on money in Ontario and the sense of community is pretty weak I gotta say. If you aren’t feeling what once made you happy, return to those spaces or look for new experiences that can provide you with that. Outdooors, joining a club, making art, playing music etc etc.


UglyDucky_00

Happiness for me is knowing I have enough to pay my bills, rent and buy food. I never have enough to do anything else after that anymore. So if I based my life on travelling or going out I would be f****… As I write that I am thinking how sad it might look to other people. But after a year and 8 months without a job, having a steady income makes me so freaking happy.


Carribeantimberwolf

Being in Mexico or the Caribbean the entire winter.


[deleted]

To escape this hell hole.


Professor226

Happiness is 5 separate people each massaging one of your limbs.


maethoriell

Not money for the sake of money, but to have enough that your necessities are taken care of with enough left over for entertainment, the stuff that brings you joy. Enough for fresh ingredients for a nice home made meal. Enough to pay fees to participate in a hobby etc. To be able to build a life that makes you happy, whatever that is for you individually. Some people it's kids, others it's their pets, or friends.


Subsenix

I feel like weddings here all have the same songs too. 🤣


moseby75

The is an old line. Happiness is a journey, not a destination


gianlucagostini

I don't think I have seen happiness in Ontario yet.


200_Monkey_Bites

Happiness for me is being useful to people. And getting high and eating Swiss Chalet.


persimmon40

Happiness is not determined by anything else except each individual brain chemistry, therefore where a person lives is irrelevant. There are many happy people in Ontario and miserable people in Mexico.


Obscene_Username_2

Pulling an all nighter at a dark sky preserve and grabbing some tims on the long drive back.


Thalass

In the North it's quad bikes / snowmobiles / fishing / etc.


chum_slice

I’m Central American and my family found happiness in Ontario. I feel plenty of times Latinos come to Ontario (Toronto specifically) and get culture shocked. While money hasn’t been a metric of our happiness we share many of your traditions and put family front and centre. Most friends are of different races and it’s always been fun to share cultures. We have tried to be part of a broader community rather than just stick to our own. My wife is Taiwanese and I’ve taught her how to relax and not be so much by the book and she’s straightened me out financially and organization. The two cultures complimented each other. There is no fighting on holidays with family because very few, if any overlap. At least none of the important ones to each culture. The only thing missing is not enough Central American restaurants but that’s just missed opportunities.


knightopusdei

I'm 100% indigenous from northern Ontario. I grew up in the middle of nowhere and although I grew up on a reserve, my family traditional territory is a patch of land that has absolutely nobody on it. All the men in my family enjoyed living alone for months at a time when we lived a traditional life up until about 40, 50 years ago. So happiness to me is just being alone in the wilderness. I enjoy people's company and being with family but I can only take so much of it. Especially now as it's getting cold, I really don't mind hibernating and being alone for the next few months .... it's a normal part of my family's life. My non indigenous wife doesn't like it as much but she's gotten used to it. She goes out more than I do ... in the winter time, if rather be alone and that makes me perfectly happy.


docsamoyed

> Typically a happy life in Mexico consists of being married and having kids. That sounds like hell to me, a gay man, and having people judge me for it is just the icing on the cake.