(He) said that happiness is what happens when you go to bed on the hottest night of the summer, a night so hot you can’t even wear a tee-shirt and you sleep on top of the sheets instead of under them, although try to sleep is probably more accurate. And then at some point late, late, late at night, say just a bit before dawn, the heat finally breaks and the night turns into cool and when you briefly wake up, you notice that you’re almost chilly, and in your groggy, half-consciousness, you reach over and pull the sheet around you and just that flimsy sheet makes it warm enough and you drift back off into a deep sleep. And it’s that reaching, that gesture, that reflex we have to pull what’s warm – whether it’s something or someone – toward us, that feeling we get when we do that, that feeling of being sad in the world and ready for sleep, that’s happiness.
— Paul Schmidtberger, Design Flaws of the Human Condition
Notes: Quote: from liquidlightandrunningtrees via Last Tambourine. Photo: forward to forget
A relatable post and a just renewed experience of last night. Heavy thunderstorms and heavy air, hard to breathe. Only a bit of cool at around 3 or 4am…. fantastic juxtaposition.
Yes. For me too Kiki.
That feeling is delicious, peaceful, sigh-worthy…I don’t immediately arrive at happiness though – contented perhaps?
I agree!
what a beautiful description of this natural phenomenon/yearning to find comfort
Sure is!
That’s called “painting with words”…. and I guess not everyone has AC?
No!
Who doesn’t like potatoes??? This man is questionable!
Potatoes? Are we reading the same post?
Author’s biography. You linked it.
You win! The award for totally Random Comment of the Day. Prize coming in the mail.
Me: last night. But how I wish I could describe the feeling as beautifully as Paul Schmidtberger does. Wow.
So agree Pam. He swept me away…
Gee … now if only I could drift back off into a deep sleep after waking up, I would be a happy man. And less tired too!
Me too Keith!
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Know the feeling … “And it’s that reaching, that gesture, that reflex we have to pull what’s warm – whether it’s something or someone – toward us, that feeling we get when we do that, that feeling of being sad in the world and ready for sleep, that’s happiness.” … Paul Schmidtberger, Design Flaws of the Human Condition.
What a beautiful description of something we have all experienced…
So true Jim.
Beautiful 🙏🏻
It is!
Deep sleep…whazzat?
All jokes aside. That it delicious. I vaguely remember experiencing such.
funny. me too…but last night, 7 hours!
Wow! But yanno what? I got 6 hours and 40 minutes – with no wake-ups! Haven’t had that in years.
VERY GOOD!
I know! I was thrilled; still tired, but thrilled!
It’s a sign.
🙂