It is an old tradition to associate a symbol with happiness, and that Japanese way has kind of caught on in modern English society, or should we say American society. Over the years, our society has taken to Chinese and Japanese symbols to portray happiness. We often see household shelves portraying trinkets and statues of all kinds, and we barely give a second thought as to where they come from or as to what their origins are. We often dismiss them as just things people keep!
Signs and symbols have been a part of every society that man has known. Some may call them old fashioned or even prehistoric, while others take them seriously enough to put them up around their living area. The Japanese took their symbols very seriously and associated every emotion with one symbol, if not a combination of two or more. Now, we all know that wide spaces are associated with unending glory. But it is the Japanese who still give testimony to this by making their unfolding fans.
Maybe even the modern Japanese do not know this, but this is the story behind those Japanese fans. Taking things a little further, Japanese brides carry fans as a symbol of their undying capacity to make their husbands happy through out life. And when some Japanese gets a folding fan as a wedding gift, it only means that the person gifting it hopes for the undying love between the couple.
In this day and age we all know that it is not lifeless objects that can exuberate goodness. On the other hand, the beliefs that people have in these can very well make the world of difference in their lives. This is as simple of feeling positive when positive things are around you, or should we say, things you believe are positive.
On the contrary, the reverse is true for negativity. Especially when things are looking bad, an object that you believe is of goodness can make you feel positive and give you comfort in times of sorrow. Even in these fast paced days, people still remember to place a statue of the laughing Buddha on their desks or on the mantle pieces at home. Just one look at the smiling face is sometimes enough to make people realize that there is a higher power taking care of tem.
Another example of a symbol of happiness is the Lotus flower. This can give you peace and happiness in the most troubled situations. Why it happens is beyond what we are trying to say here in this article. The point is these symbols do succeed in giving us peace, if only sort lived.
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Grieving process for a 12 year old
By: petunyabug | 10-07-2008
What is the "normal" grieving process for a 12 year old? (It was his dad) I'm sure that is why he is sleeping a lot and staying in bed and being smart alecky. (yes, I know part of that is his age in general) I just need to know signs to look out for that there may be trouble brewing. Thank you!!
Dependent Personality Disorder?
By: wendi | 09-07-2008
My ten year old stepdaughter was adopted. Her adoptive mother died when the child was 3 years old. Now she can't do anything on her own. She can't make even minor decisions like what to wear. When she is asked a question or is asked to do something she will just stand there and stare like you are speaking another language. She constantly wants to be near her dad. I understand that it was hard losing a mother at three years old, but how do i get her to become more independent with minor decisions?
Describe someone who is your opposite number
By: qzmaster591 | 09-07-2008
Try to describe someone that's the opposite to you, in every detail.Then ask to yourself: may he/she be your friend?
Is 20 years to long to have problems?
By: Jangle | 09-07-2008
My wife was raped at 13 years old by four of her classmates. Since then she has had 2 marriages. The sex in the first marriage was non-existant. The sex in the current marriage is semi-regular and both parties are "mostly" satisfied. However, she cannot bring herself to touch any part of my sexual anatomy. It is quite clear that she enjoys the actual intercourse part. She also enjoys foreplay performed on her. I am not aware of what happened exactly during the rape, other than that their where four misguided boys. What can I do? I am very happy with my marriage and she says that she is also. We are both around 40 years old. Our current sex life is Ok, but I need a little variety. I kept hoping that the 40 year old female sex drive would snap her out of it, but nothing yet. HELP!
Breaking Into Pieces.
By: jmdillon | 09-07-2008
Hi all. All I can't say is, help. About a year and a half ago my father was diagnosed with stage IV bladder cancer. Since then it has spread to his lungs, liver and abdomen. Nurses say he has several months. My family is in Ohio and I am working in Washington, DC. I am 23 and my dad is only 55, unfair if you ask me. My dad and I have always been close. He is ordained in the Methodist Church and has worked in the church for years so our family has always been involved together in the church. The last report we got from the doctor is that the masses in his lungs have doubled and tripled in size in the past 2 months since he chose to stop treatment (it was doing more harm than good). So, at 23, i'm dealing with something way beyond what I am prepared for. But, on top of this, my boyfriend of 2.5 years, with whom I live, has decided to go to Cornell (500 miles away) for a graduate program. Sean, my boyfriend, has been my stronghold, my shoulder, my rock since my father was diagnosed. As poorly as I may be handling my father's condition, it has definitley been better than had Sean not been with me to support me. My support system of friends and family are all in Ohio, so Sean is all I have here. My question is, how do I do this? I personally don't think I am emotionally capable of maintaining a healthy long-distance relationship with half of my heart being in Ohio with my family. I need someone to BE there for me. What do I do? How do I end a relationship I never thought would end, and live to see the next day? How does pain like this not kill a person?
Can you answer
By: voterperson | 08-07-2008
see reply box for the entire thing
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