People have different lifestyles. Some only pursue self-oriented happiness without considering other people. They get happiness from wielding political power and economic influence over others. They seem to think they are happy. But they are actually disappointed after all: since man's desire is endless, nothing can satisfy their needs. They must remember that the first step to happiness is to restrict one's desire.
Priests, monks,nuns are the outstanding examples of those who try refraining from wordly passion. They think they're happy because they're living the way God orders them to live. For them, however, one question also remains. Are they "really" happy if they have no personal autonomy?
A third group consists of very ordinary people. They have no political or economic power. They're at the mercy of political ups and downs and the economic situation. But they treasure their families and value little things from which they can get happiness. . They're happy if they have three meals a day, a car, a summer vacation, enough money to educate their children. They feel happy when they play tennis instead of golf. They're happy with a compact car and never worry about driving a sedan.
Who are the happiest people? Who knows? If you think you're happy, you are. Happiness is how you think about yourself and the world you live in.
Try to learn these words:
- to pursue
- monks
- conpact car
- to wield
- autonomy
- ups and downs
- to restrict
- mercy
- desire
- to refrain
Questions:
- What types of social activities do you do?
- What do you think about becoming a priest, monk, or nun?
- What religion do you have?
- How do you spend your free time? Do you prefer spending it alone or with friends?
- Do you think the quality of your life is improving or getting worse?
- What musical instruments can you play?
- Do you enjoy singing?
- Have you ever done any volunteer work?
- Are you usually on time for appointments?
- How do you relieve your stress?
- Are you forgetful? How do you cope with being forgetful?
Opinion Samples:
The quality of my life is worsening. I agree that material wealth grows as the economy expands. But I don't think money is everything in terms of a quality life. What are the really decisive factors? I think quality depends upon environmental concern, stress, crime rates, education, etc. Economic wealth comes after these. We all know our environment is becoming dirtier and crimes are on the rise. Everybody suffers from stress, caused by a variety of sources, which shortens the life expectancy of our generation. Even material wealth may be a source of stress. The quality of life can't be measured by material wealth.
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Traditional sex roles used to be clear-cut in our society. Men didn't try to understand women's work, and vice versa. For example, men didn't pitch in on doing domestic chores , and women were not allowed to interfere in men's jobs. I think this might have been an obstacle to understanding. But, now, society is rapidly changing. Women are making money outside the home, while men seem to be ready to help their wives with household chores. This not only helps men and women understand each other better, but also eases other problems that exist between spouses.
Useful Expressions:
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Traditional sex roles used to be clear-cut in our society. Men didn't try to understand women's work, and vice versa. For example, men didn't pitch in on doing domestic chores , and women were not allowed to interfere in men's jobs. I think this might have been an obstacle to understanding. But, now, society is rapidly changing. Women are making money outside the home, while men seem to be ready to help their wives with household chores. This not only helps men and women understand each other better, but also eases other problems that exist between spouses.
Useful Expressions:
- Learning goes on throughout life.
- She spent her life helping the poor.
- Life is too short to worry about money!
- He doesn't know what he really wants in life.
- He ran off with her life savings.
- They were investigating her private life.
- Drugs and violence are deeply rooted in American life.
- We don't know much about his private life.
- In real life, crimes are seldom solved by the police.
- My grandfather was troubled with a lung disease in later life.
- Teaching has been her life.
- It's a life and death issue.
- Maria led a full and happy life.
- Tom dreamed of getting rich and living a life of luxury.
- According to this book, the life of a rock star is not a happy one.
- After 25 years of married life, they got divorced.
- They emigrated to Australia to start a new life there.
- Miss Kate thinks her life is in danger.
- A seatbelt could save your life.
- Two firefighters risked their lives to rescue the children.
- Thousands lost their lives in the earthquake.
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