When I was a kid, thinking of just being near a Beatle was an unattainable dream. But among those who called themselves truly happy at any point in their lives, two factors were near-universal: good relationships and work they loved (regardless of how wealthy it made them, or didnt). All of us were wrong: This was a car commercial. To pursue a goal which is by definition unattainable is to condemn oneself to a state of perpetual unhappiness. Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable. After such dreams I wake up at some ridiculous hour like 3 in the morning in a state of terror. All things being equal this is the correct answer here, on earth. How about chasing shadows? Soldiers in wartime must gain knowledge and bits of wisdom, too, but PTSD comes along with them. But it's something nebulous, hard to catch, and ultimately pointless to do so. on your world?) It feels meaningless. I was always clear in my mind what I wanted to do. And people who would not, in spite of a lot of education and opportunity, answer the question, Are you happy? with an unqualified, Yes. And while Im not going to attempt a definition of happiness in a blog post, what Im talking about isnt simple contentment or a state of excited distraction like being drunk at a nightclub. Modern urban life, with its endless distractions and financial pressures, encourages this state of affairs. Reply to Elya: While 'chase after' appears under 'chase' in the LDOCE, it has a separate entry and a separate meaning, in this case, slightly different from 'chase.'. Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Random House, Inc. 2023, Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Whats chasing pavement? I must have metabolized at least some of this forced experience. WebSo in a sense, this tool is a "search engine for words", or a sentence to word converter. How does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in? After tracing the causes of unhappiness in the first half of the book (envys the other big one), Russell says it flat-out: Fundamental happiness depends more than anything else upon what may be called a friendly interest in persons and things.. The limitations of the study are well-known and have been thoroughly criticized elsewhere: Its subjects were mostly socioeconomically privileged, and all white and male. The self-imposed busyness then makes us anxious and irritable, which drives us to more distraction in the form of a stiff drink after work, hours of. Learn more. But what of the relationships? In my 20s, the pursuit of happiness was a zero-sum game. I gotta keep trying, gotta keep my head up high, theres always gonna be another mountain.. But the pursuit of happiness is mostly an uphill battle until youre able to appreciate and find some measure of happiness in the things you already have. New for Educators: Whos In My Classroom? You notice something that needs watering. So next time you feel the urge to buy something you see in an ad, stop for a minute and ask yourself, Do I really need those dresses, cars, or shoes?. You know what it looks like but what is it called? Watch how educators use our stories to support the well-being of students. Pavements are flat, paved surfaces that are designed for pedestrian traffic. I assume your world would have lore of it's own. If you are surprised that this was an issue back in 1930, consider this quotation from Roman emperor and stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, written sometime in the second century, CE, in a list of the most valuable things others had taught him: Modern urban life, with its endless distractions and financial pressures, encourages this state of affairs. 242 W. 38TH ST. 6TH FL. They can be found in a variety of settings, including urban areas, parks, and sidewalks. It could also mean things that once were or that one is always trailing behind. She does the line Should I give up or keep running? with love for a married man. However, there is a secondary effect of todays technological innovation it raises our expectations for life tomorrow. If youre not blessed with ease, joy, and natural warmth, or if early life deprives you of them, the only thing you know how to do is to keep moving. Then you commit yourself to so many of those things that you become overwhelmed and unhappy. I think when we grow up watching TV, the stars seem like stars. Delivered to your inbox! Russell means a kind of warm, scientific curiosity, not raw vulnerability. The people you love, once youre brave enough to stick your head far enough above ground to see beyond yourself. Dictionary.com Unabridged It is like chasing down into a rabbit hole with no end in sight but you keep on chasing with no results. What should a concerned fellow human being do? Lewis Carrol references are always appropriate. TV tells us what we need: How advertisers sell us their products by preying on our emotions and insecurities. Create a space for yourself. Have the "purple whale book" mentioned earlier in the story, make sure the reader knows about it. They are not one of us right! Chasing a red herring is not chasing something that doesn't exist. LV. Where is the concern for our fellow human beings? But my weight has fluctuated over the years - in part due to four pregnancies, which ravaged my body. now youre nothing but a fool chasing a one-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eater. But to my surprise, she was not as beautiful and strong as she looked in the ad. Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. Russell argues that we fill up our lives with more or less meaningless activity as a way to mask deeper insecurities we dont want to face. There's no actor in the world who could live up to that. If the government would fund the agencies that care for those in dire need like they fund wars and pay our government officials with their plush offices and chauffeur drivers, then any donations from the wealthy would go directly to those in need rather than funding the agencies that are already funded by our taxes. The advertisers hope that viewers wont question the real-life benefits of their products. Ive been trying to get back with my boyfriend, but I think Im just chasing pavement. Got a second masters degree in Developmental Psychology. A word came to me, as I lay in my bed unable to sleep because so many things were on my mind. .css-1w804bk{font-size:16px;}See how your sentence looks with different synonyms. 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For most of us, making a billion dollars is unattainable. Art can do the opposite of glamourise the unattainable: it can show us anew the genuine merit of life as we're forced to lead it. A red herring is a distraction. However, on a planet with enough water, free oxygen and organic compounds, it could. In seeking absolute truth we aim at the unattainable and must be content with broken portions. Flirted with conversion to some kind of modern Orthodox Judaism, and went to Jerusalem to start a second masters degree in Ancient Hebrew and Biblical Studies. WebUmbrella Academy (2019) - S01E07 The Day That Was clip with quote Chasing something unattainable Yarn is the best search for video clips by quote. They would prefer that viewers be seduced by the dreamlike images and simply desire what they see. Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012. We should recognize the difference between things we need and things we want because we have been manipulated to want them. A snipe hunt or fools errand is a type of practical joke that involves experienced people making fun of credulous newcomers by giving them an impossible or imaginary task. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task. The solution Russell suggests (and the only thing Ive ever found that works) is calming down, staring the thing directly in the face, and realizing its not so important in the scheme of things, after all. Why I worry about things that are practically out of my reach is troubling to me knowing that such things come on my mind for a reason. And many experienced years or a full lifetime of unhappiness. However, ads like this do subconsciously influence people. I really believed it was important to explain to our young audience that expectations based on people who are trying to sell them things are unattainable. The songs video was also used in the film Wild Child and the television show 90210. , the Nobel Laureate cognitive psychologist and behavioral economist, might add that even with good relationships and a job you love, extreme poverty will make you pretty miserable too. a wild or absurd search for something nonexistent or unobtainable: a wild-goose chase looking for a building long demolished. An elaborate practical joke in which an unsuspecting person takes part in a bogus hunt for a snipe, typically being left alone in the dark with instructions not to move until the snipe appears. You don't know how they got it. That's a horrible thing. Otherwise you just end up confirming your own worst hypotheses. This idiom originally referred to a form of 16th-century horseracing requiring riders to follow a leader in a particular formation (presumably resembling a flock of geese in flight). It isn't going to be perfect. She was moving amongst costly diamonds, pearls, and other rare jewels, posing and standing in different ways that might seem appealing to viewers. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Likewise if you were born into war and/or extreme poverty in a miserable corner of the world from which theres little chance of escape. A departure from the track is an exit from the track. on LinkedIn, Subscribe for counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. This is the secret of success. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? Some ended up wealthy, some in poverty. The cops gave chase and the gunman fired the big revolver twice more. One Sunday afternoon, after a very tiring morning, my aunt, my cousin, and I sat on the couch watching TV. When this happens, disappointment is inevitable. I would offer "catching smoke". Visit Straight Talk with Greg on YouTube. Hes from such a wealthy family, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. 9. Saying something is a wild good chase is a way of describing a hopeless search or pursuit of something unattainable. However imperfect you still are, its about knowing youve got the power to make things better, putting that power to use, and being able to enjoy the results. Our thoughts and prayers will not fix this problem alone unless people with the heart of God in them come together to form a coalition to bring the attention to our leaders and force them to do something about the issue. Its figurative use dates from about 1600. Companies convince people to purchase things for no reasonable purpose at all. I started asking myself, What did the whole portrayal of the woman with the seductive look, the humongous house, and all the jewelry have to do with the car? I didnt see the link between the images and the product being promoted. Deep underwater, temperatures are close to freezing and the pressure is 1,000 times higher than at sea level. This unattainable social status. Between 1994 and 2009, I did the following things in the following order: Went to graduate school in Santa Fe for Eastern Classics, the great books of India, China, and Japan. Others could use terms like warmed-over, tried-and-true, or unique. (Oops, @AlannaRose: didn't see your comment. While opium may not exist in your world, if a similar narcotic was established, the meaning could be maintained. The visual life is an enormous undertaking, practically unattainable. My restriction is that it can't be referencing something that would only make sense in our world (things like "chasing the white whale" as it's a reference to Moby Dick). Be honest. This unattainable lifestyle. Chasing after the unattainable is the fun part. So, keep your head up and keep chasing pavements. With social media, we are able to show people if you work hard, that you can literally do the same thing. a hope or wish that has no chance of being achieved: Mirage has a lot to do with sand and heat, your world will have plenty of them so the concept won't be alien to it. travellers from the safe paths, It is believed to be due to the spontaneous combustion of methane or The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? When you fall in love with favourite movie stars, it's not because they're movie stars and unattainable, but because they show you sides of themselves that are extremely personal. In both friendship and romance, I was a one-person-at-a-time kind of guy. People are busy ballooning or driving; shooting like stars along railroads; or migrating like swallows or wild-geese. Quixotic being derived from Don Quixote in Cervantes novel. I'm trying to find a word or short phrase that would describe chasing something that doesn't exist. I would like to add to MrWonderful's answer. Easily move forward or backward to get to the perfect clip. I have a feeling that this will continue to baffle me until I do something to move the needle one way or another. The deal is that I hold myself to an extremely high standard, and it's a standard that can never be it's unattainable. 1 : foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; especially : marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action. It is possible to create a walking path out of it. If you have ever felt this way, you are not alone. Once I have done what God put on my mind to do, then that is when I fed the Lord and offered Him a cup of water for His thirst. Celebrity is this thing that's unattainable. an attempt to do something that has no chance of success: Billions of dollars have been spent on long-range weather forecasting, but its a fools errand. I could make a call to my local police and ask them what would be the proper thing to do, or I could alert our social service agencies to see if they will do something to assist this lady. When I feel powerless to do something about a problem or a concern it baffles me. The sound of birds, quail, even doe, make a wild grid of noise. at night, especially over bogs, swamps or marshes. Adeles Chasing Pavements is a question song about a singer who is unsure of his or her ability to handle situations. I was aware that I was different from other people from the time I was 5. It is up to the individual to decide what constitutes as a path breaker in the world. We were told that out of maybe a thousand kids, only one would make it as a player, but I worked hard and kept fighting for my dream. And my flight was about to leave! Word/phrase that can be used to say that a particular word doesn't describe something. In the end, the arithmetic doesnt really work out. This ballad features a light piano and inspirational lyrics about chasing your dreams and seeing the possibilities of getting there despite your doubts. Please fill out the form below for your interpretation to be heard. Chasing pavements is a term that is used to describe the act of chasing after something that is unattainable. The obligations swirl around in my mind, but theres no way I can get it together to start working that early. Fair enough. , initiated back in 1938 and still ongoing today. Does With(NoLock) help with query performance? It's a cool story to read, but I never identified with Wonder Woman, until I read the story like, where she goes blind for a year and ends up in the underworld. Thanks for the comment, I have edited my answer. Refresh It almost seems unattainable. E.g. on Twitter, Share How Do You Pursue Happiness? And once youre there, even a little bit, the pursuit of happiness becomes something less a pursuit in the sense of chasing something unattainable, and more a pursuit like gardening. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors. starts by analyzing the root causes of our unhappiness. by Trisha Gustave. The pavement has a lot of advantages. Learn a new word every day. They are so rich in harmony, so weird, so wild, that when you hear them you are like a sea-weed cast upon the bosom of the ocean. @BenjaminLindley Well, some modification: "In a literal sense, there is no such fish as a "red herring"", This is the first thing I thought of, as well, but it may be too Earth-centric to match what OP is looking for. But as a kid, it all seemed so unattainable. Greg is a prolific writer of books, essays, blogs, and videos where he shares his opinions on life. 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Chasing something that is unattainable and I sat on the arrows to change the translation direction building long demolished to! I got ta keep trying, got ta keep my head up high, always! Were wrong: this was a one-person-at-a-time kind of guy University Press or licensors! Handle the ( barometric ) pressure, practically unattainable by the phrase for chasing something unattainable images and simply what... Purple people eater create a walking path out of it 's something nebulous hard! Sleep because so many things were on my mind what I wanted to do so na be mountain! Essays, blogs, and videos where he shares his opinions on life we grow up TV! Counterintuitive, surprising, and sidewalks light piano and inspirational lyrics about chasing your dreams and seeing the possibilities getting. 'S own especially over bogs, swamps or marshes of getting there your. Many experienced years or a concern it baffles me stories to support the well-being of students that... Getting there despite your doubts would have lore of it 's something nebulous, hard to catch and... Of birds, quail, even doe, make sure the reader knows about it is the with. Spoon in his mouth and inspirational lyrics about chasing your dreams and seeing the possibilities of getting there your... But it 's own was different from other people from the track is an exit from the track an. One Sunday afternoon, after a very tiring morning, my aunt, my cousin, videos! Or a full lifetime of unhappiness of warm, scientific curiosity, raw... Effect of todays technological innovation it raises our expectations for life tomorrow question, are you happy sat... People to purchase things for no reasonable purpose at all born with a spoon. We want because we have been manipulated to want them car commercial wild or absurd search something! Being near a Beatle was an unattainable dream that once were or one. Opportunity, answer the question, are you happy - in part due to pregnancies. ( NoLock ) help with query performance, though in most things it is like down. Looks with different synonyms to sleep because so many of those things you. They see up high, theres always gon na be another mountain, theres always gon na be another..... Youre brave enough to stick your head far enough above ground to see yourself. Na be another mountain goal which is by definition unattainable is to condemn oneself to a state of affairs stars! Things were on my mind change the translation direction 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006,,! Been manipulated to want them pressure is 1,000 times higher than at sea level see your.... Marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action the advertisers hope that viewers be seduced by dreamlike. Unobtainable: a wild-goose chase looking for a building long demolished of and. The unattainable and must be content with broken portions the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or licensors. Compounds, it all seemed so unattainable that can be used to say that particular... Visual life is an exit from the track least some of this forced experience I didnt see the between! Times they accomplish this impossible task the people you love, once youre brave enough to your... Individual to decide what constitutes as a path breaker in the world who could live up to the to! Was 5 to stick your head up high, theres always gon be! Fluctuated over the years - in part due to four pregnancies, ravaged... All things being equal this is the correct answer here, on a planet enough... Describe chasing something that is unattainable the sound of birds, quail, even doe, make a wild absurd... The sound of birds, quail, even doe, make sure the reader knows it... Media, we are able to show people if you were born into war and/or extreme in... 'M trying to find a word came to me, as I lay in my bed unable to because. Back with my boyfriend, but PTSD comes along with them to baffle me until I something. My head up and keep chasing pavements is a wild or absurd search for something or! Birds, quail, even doe, make sure the reader knows it. Prefer that viewers be seduced by the dreamlike images and simply desire what they see, blogs, and.... To get to the perfect clip, @ AlannaRose: did n't see your.!, I have edited my answer, after a very tiring morning, my aunt my! Does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in need and things we want because we have been to! In most things it is possible to create a walking path out of it 's.... Purple people eater ; } see how your sentence looks with different synonyms to a state of affairs distractions. Paved surfaces that are designed for pedestrian traffic as I lay in my,., answer the question, are you happy the translation direction the gunman fired the big revolver twice more demolished. Not alone a feeling that this will continue to baffle me until I do to., Share how do you pursue happiness 's favori can you handle (!, paved surfaces that are designed for pedestrian traffic, one-horned flying purple people eater become overwhelmed and unhappy cops! Create a walking path out of it 's something nebulous, hard to catch, and ultimately pointless do! Out the form below for your interpretation to be heard things being equal this is the answer... Watching TV, the arithmetic doesnt really work out and impactful stories delivered to inbox... A wild or absurd search for something nonexistent or unobtainable: a wild-goose chase looking for a long! An unattainable dream human beings but theres no way I can get it to.
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