Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for June 15, 2023

I’m happy when the Mets win, so I’m miserable most of the time.

For the first(1st) time EVER, “goat” has been proven WRONG, WRONG, and just plain WRONG!!!! Dan aka….

Can I say “Happiness”?

Mmm, chocolate! I’m happy just thinking about going to get a piece. Don’t make things so complicated, Goat.

Goat loves being the contrarian…he has a lot of knowledge but maybe not as much wisdom…

Stoicism versus chocolate. Not much doubt which will win.

As I reach for my Hershey mini bar. I get a frozen one a day

Cheez-wiz.

Definitely have to agree with Pig on this one. I don’t have to choose if chocolate makes me happy.

Wait why was the amazing food of cheez not chosen

Chocolate is good. Tequila is better. I’m sure Rat would agree with me.

We choose how we react to chocolate. Always a good thing! (And beer)

Things may not make someone happy (by themselves) … but they can help. Chocolate can help. Ice Cream can help. A nice warm shower can help. Fresh sheets on the bed helps.

“It is by opinion that we suffer. Calling a suffering slight makes it slight; grousing about it makes it worse.” — Seneca

What a coincidence, Pig! Chocolate is how I choose to react to almosty everything.

Goat? I love you, but sometimes you need to put philosophy to the wayside.

Pretty sure that doesn’t apply to having fire ants in your shorts.

What makes me happy? Knowing I am loved unconditionally. Without love, of yourself and people loving you, the world in our eyes seems full of bitterness, hate and war. A lack of love breaks away peace, instilling fear, anger and guilt, which snowballs into the forbidden. Having a life of love reconciles and heals the deepest wounds we have. Over time, we can feel happy and at peace.

Goat you get a Rat Bat for that response …

Puppies always make me happy.

Chocolate! The answer to everything.

Panel Two is correct.

Love you, Pig. You make me happy.

I once dated a woman who claimed that other people can’t make you feel bad; you make yourself feel bad through how you choose to react to them. I eventually concluded that this was her excuse for her complete lack of regard for other people’s feelings.

In original usage, “happy” means that good things have happened to you. Thus the word. “Joy” is the internal response to things.

Chocolate is always the right answer!

Seeing a lizard in my yard always makes me happy.

Obviously Goat’s observation went right over Pig’s head as usual. However, Pig is right in that something on the order of Toberlone white chocolate will make just about anyone quite happy. Cadbury white chocolate or the old Nestle Alpine White (unfortunately now unavailable) would also do the trick.

Goat’s read Viktor Frankl.

Happiness is a very complex process and emotion.

If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad – Sheryl Crow

I’m with you, Pig, it’s the simple things in life.

Good call. Rat would have said jamming a stick into Jeff the Cyclist’s spokes on the Loveland bike trail. Also a good call.

Charlie Brown would have said a Warm Puppy and Rat will bash anyone with a negative or snarky reply over the head with a baseball bat which would make both Rat and The Count Happy.

Chocolate works for me.

I’m in 70% agreement with Goat; yes, things will happen and we choose not just how to react but how to act. Ordinarily, we act towards something that is happening (something happening to us or something we are doing), and this is influenced by our expectations, assumptions, feelings, emotions, circumstances, etc.

Many things can make you happy. When it’s a beautiful day and I am relaxing on my patio, reading a good book, in the company of my cats I am very happy. It’s often the simple pleasures that make you happy.

I bought a gumball machine at an auction and have it full of peanut M&Ms. My wife was against it until she saw how happy it made everybody. I leave several quarters in the tray so everybody can turn the knob themselves.

I’m with Pig. Chocolate is the GOAT of candy.

Hostess SnoBalls

One aspect of humor is surprise which you have no control over.

its my birthday

Wow! I have been saying this for decades. Nothing and no one can “make” you happy. Happiness comes from within. Same with love, hate, anger, and joy. It is up to you what your internal response will be to external forces. For me, bird song will always bring a smile to my face.

Goat should replace Wise Aessess on the Hill immediately.

Aristotle and Plato would say that the possession and exercise of virtue is the core of happiness. Aristotle would also say that virtuous actions express correct (right) reason and are acquired through practice and habituation.

Goat is a real Richard

Unless you’re allergic to it, chocolate usually makes everyone happy.

Wait until he hears about the pending chocolate shortage and the expected hike in prices…

I think most of us knows what makes us happy, but of course occasional surprises are always welcome.

Victor Frankl observed that no matter how bad the situation, one always has control over how one reacts to that situation. That attitude allowed him to survive Auschwitz.

STOP MAKING THIS JOKE.

Chocolate, dachshunds, a good old movie.

Chocolate covered bacon is actually quite good.

I like what Goat says.

Goat just stated the aim of EST.

Finally, goat gets it.

Chocolate stimulates the production of phenylethylamine in the brain, which is also produced when you’re in love. Also theobromine, tryptophan, enkephalin, each with its own psychological effects. Chocolate is a mind-altering drug, and a good one…

If you can make someone else happy, it might come back to you.

How about cheese? There’s a cheese called “le petit Doruvael” in the Netherlands, which is delicious! :)

Chocolate’s a safe bet!

great choice

Right on, Goat!

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

Yeah, chocolate.

chocolate for the win!

Very wise, Pig! The supercilious yet empty speechifying by Goat is too pompous (not to mention illogical) for words….