the flow of information and affection

Here's a little segment from an old article in the New Yorker by David Brooks that I just love:

I’ve come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences, or tasks. It happens sometimes when you are lost in a hard challenge, or when an artist or a craftsman becomes one with the brush or the tool. It happens sometimes while you’re playing sports, or listening to music or lost in a story, or to some people when they feel enveloped by God’s love. And it happens most when we connect with other people. I’ve come to think that happiness isn’t really produced by conscious accomplishments. Happiness is a measure of how thickly the unconscious parts of our minds are intertwined with other people and with activities. Happiness is determined by how much information and affection flows through us covertly every day and year.

Information and affection: my two most favorite experiences in life! And it's the ultimate satisfaction when they happen simultaneously, accompanied by a tasty snack.

Read the whole article here:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/01/17/110117fa_fact_brooks?currentPage=all