Appreciation

If you ever hope to enjoy your life, you must learn to appreciate as many of its component parts as you can. Not only that, but you must appreciate those aspects deeply and fully, not in the superficial way to which you are accustomed. For instance, an opera is only loud singing without an understanding of the art and a keen ear; in the same way, great modernist painters are only splattering paint if you don't look closely and understand the context of the work.

Now, it seems to me that there are two keys to appreciation: active perception and understanding. You are not skilled at either of these things, though you have the capacity for both, particularly the latter. Regarding the former, you must constantly struggle to remain attentive to the here and now - to the thing being appreciated - if you ever hope to live a full life. Regarding understanding, you have been lazy up until now where it comes to understanding things which are difficult or strange to you.

Pay attention to the details of your work and your habits and your pastimes. Learn what other people have said and done, understand the details and context of your actions. If you do these things, you will not only appreciate the work of others, but you will appreciate your own life's work. And that is the best definition of happiness - long-term happiness - that I can think of.