> People who think being alone is great are right,
I think the critical part is the "only thing" in the quote.
The same thought expressed as "she makes me happy" and "she's the only thing that makes me happy" are different because of the implied loss of everything (that you will give up everything else that could make you happy to have this person stay).
> until some point after the slide begins that has slowly eaten away at your own ability.
I'd say that is pragmatic, but a very selfish thought.
My parents were taught that by their society ("successful kids" == "retirement plan"), but they didn't follow through with that thought during our upbringing - if anything, they thought they were paying it forward.
For an american comparison, the silent generation of America were a lot like my parents in their attitude towards the future (bright, but built for the kids).
> I think the critical part is the "only thing" in the quote
This is editorial added by the commenter, which is incidental to the point and does not purport to even hold the meaning of "she's the only thing that makes me happy". This is not literally meaning "the only happiness I feel". Ostensibly, the man still finds happiness in sleeping, eating, etc but a good partner fills a particular kind of happiness that is near impossible to replace.
I think the critical part is the "only thing" in the quote.
The same thought expressed as "she makes me happy" and "she's the only thing that makes me happy" are different because of the implied loss of everything (that you will give up everything else that could make you happy to have this person stay).
> until some point after the slide begins that has slowly eaten away at your own ability.
I'd say that is pragmatic, but a very selfish thought.
My parents were taught that by their society ("successful kids" == "retirement plan"), but they didn't follow through with that thought during our upbringing - if anything, they thought they were paying it forward.
For an american comparison, the silent generation of America were a lot like my parents in their attitude towards the future (bright, but built for the kids).