On Sept. 4, 2017, Emily Esfahani Smith’s article “You’ll Never Be Famous - And That’s O.K.” went live on the New York Times. Smith is known for researching and reporting findings on what truly brings our lives meaning. She has written her own book on that very subject and has numerous articles with the New York Times, as well as other publications about human experiences. Many young adults today believe that in order to live a meaningful life, they must do something extraordinary that will make them a famous millionaire. Not only that, but they feel pressured to parade their possessions and accomplishments across social media to let everyone know how well they are doing, as if life is some sort of competition. Smith draws upon literature
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and yearns to accomplish some good in the world”. As for Tertius Lydgate, Smith informs us that “[he] is an ambitious young doctor who hopes to make important scientific discoveries”. Smith also states that “both Dorothea and Tertius end up in disastrous marriages.” As someone who hasn’t read Middlemarch, I knew it would be naive to believe that Smith’s character summaries are accurate without doing my own research. Turns out, Smith has also done her research and nailed both of their descriptions. According to SparkNotes, “Dorothea is a kind-hearted and honest woman. She longs to find some way to improve the world” (“Middlemarch”). As for Dorothea’s marriage, “she quickly discovers that [her husband] is not passionate enough to make her happy.” SparkNotes reveals that Tertius Lydgate “hopes to find the tissue that is the most basic building block of life,” but, “he marries Rosamond Vincy, whose expensive habits get him into debt” …show more content…
The study, orchestrated by Veronika Huta and Richard M. Ryan, had young adults complete an online survey which would “determine outcomes associated with activities motivated by hedonic and eudaimonic aims” (Huta and Ryan 735). The researchers found that “hedonic pursuits related more to positive affect and carefreeness, while eudaimonic pursuits related more to meaning” (735). To make this clearer, as long as one goes about cheering up their friend with the intent to “[seek] pleasure or comfort” and not “to develop the best in [him or herself]”, the pursuit will bring value to their life (736). An article that I found which references a study conducted by Roy Baumeister, Kathleen D. Vohs, Jennifer Aaker, and Emily N.Garbinsky suggests that “helping others in need… in relationships [was] related to meaning alone” (Hopper). Their study confirms that “happiness was linked to being a taker rather than a giver, whereas meaningfulness went with being a giver rather than a taker” (Baumeister et al. 505). Smith’s representation of Huta and Ryan’s study was accurate and also supported in this particular field of
and yearns to accomplish some good in the world”. As for Tertius Lydgate, Smith informs us that “[he] is an ambitious young doctor who hopes to make important scientific discoveries”. Smith also states that “both Dorothea and Tertius end up in disastrous marriages.” As someone who hasn’t read Middlemarch, I knew it would be naive to believe that Smith’s character summaries are accurate without doing my own research. Turns out, Smith has also done her research and nailed both of their descriptions. According to SparkNotes, “Dorothea is a kind-hearted and honest woman. She longs to find some way to improve the world” (“Middlemarch”). As for Dorothea’s marriage, “she quickly discovers that [her husband] is not passionate enough to make her happy.” SparkNotes reveals that Tertius Lydgate “hopes to find the tissue that is the most basic building block of life,” but, “he marries Rosamond Vincy, whose expensive habits get him into debt” …show more content…
The study, orchestrated by Veronika Huta and Richard M. Ryan, had young adults complete an online survey which would “determine outcomes associated with activities motivated by hedonic and eudaimonic aims” (Huta and Ryan 735). The researchers found that “hedonic pursuits related more to positive affect and carefreeness, while eudaimonic pursuits related more to meaning” (735). To make this clearer, as long as one goes about cheering up their friend with the intent to “[seek] pleasure or comfort” and not “to develop the best in [him or herself]”, the pursuit will bring value to their life (736). An article that I found which references a study conducted by Roy Baumeister, Kathleen D. Vohs, Jennifer Aaker, and Emily N.Garbinsky suggests that “helping others in need… in relationships [was] related to meaning alone” (Hopper). Their study confirms that “happiness was linked to being a taker rather than a giver, whereas meaningfulness went with being a giver rather than a taker” (Baumeister et al. 505). Smith’s representation of Huta and Ryan’s study was accurate and also supported in this particular field of