Neil Selden and his wife Lee are currently wrapping up their first feature film, FINAL GIFTS, written and directed by Neil, produced by their company Wayhaven Productions.Based on historical events and real people, FINAL GIFTS tells the story of two courageous women-a Salvadoran peasant and a Jewish doctor–who fought against fascism in different wars and tried to save the lives of children they loved. Ten percent of all profits from Final Gifts will be donated to Doctors Without Borders, awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize.

Neil’s play SOMEONE’S COMIN’ HUNGRY first appeared Off-Broadway and most recently at the New 42nd Street Theatre. His plays SAM DEAD and OCEAN IN A TEACUP, as well as CAR and RAINCHECK, have appeared variously at the Berlin Festival, the Actor’s Studio, the Roundabout Theatre, the American Conservatory Theatre, The Producers Club, the American Theatre of Actors, etc. His play A LONG WAY FROM HOME has appeared as a fund-raiser several times in the Highland Park area. A film of his book THE GREAT LAKESIDE HIGH EXPERIMENT appeared on national television. Five of his young adult novels also have been published.

Neil’s work has been recognized by the Audrey Wood Award best play award and the Jean Dalrymple best play award.

Wayhaven’s second feature film, SOMEONE’S COMIN’ HUNGRY, based on the drama originally produced Off-Broadway starring Cleavon Little and Blythe Danner, is currently in pre-production, along with a romantic comedy drama, YOU CALL THIS LOVE?

Neil is also working on a new play entitled A CHURCH OF LOVELY LIES, and seeking a wildly creative illustrator for his novel in verse, WHEN FIRST I KISSED YOU EVERYWHERE, the richly erotic spiritual journey of a woman and man discovering the profound tenderness of meditative sexual intimacy.

1. How do you define happiness?

I am most happy when I am loving myself and the world as a husband, father, uncle, friend, and enjoying the endless opportunities to breathe, die, get born, nurture and create.

What makes me happy is to practice with every breath in and out (if I was more awake it would indeed be every inhalation/exhalation, but it ain’t yet– after all, I’m only 76 years old, meditating every morning for more years than my 36 year old buddhist monk son Michael has been alive, so what the hell can you expect?) loving kindness actions, thinking of the suffering of others (sometimes the pain can be almost unbearable), feeling the joy of others as my own (a definite Hooray!), and attempting to witness my own suffering with impartial calmness and complete tranquillity (ain’t that biting off more than I can chew?)

My cheeks are wet with tears at the heavenly gratitude I experience every day for the gifts I have been given in learning to love by Robert McCrea Imbrie (my 20 year collaborator), Buddha, Rabbi Jesus, Sri Sri Thakur Anukul Chandra Chakravorty, Ray Hauserman, Ed Spencer, the Baal Shem Tov, Cynthia Imbrie, my wife Lee and son Michael, and an endless list of other lovers of existence.

2. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your happiness now, versus when you were a child?

Most often a nine or ten, with occasional self-hatred when my egoistic desire to establish myself causes pain to my darling, adorable, funny, affectionate, creative, ceaselessly (except when her ego gets hurt) supportive wife/editor/co-producer Lee Morris Imbrie Selden (soon we will celebrate our 48th anniversary– not counting the two and a half years of separation when she so very intelligently divorced me because she did not feel loved– AH, THE WISDOM OF WOMAN!)

3. What do you do on a daily basis that brings you happiness? (and how consistent is the feeling of happiness throughout your day)

I say my mantra and try to remember to follow my breathing, so as to enjoy the Coney Island of wild and unpredictable mind-rides that flow through my inner universe.

Consistently and delightfully inconsistent, except that every unhappiness is the springboard to bounce upon and reach into the ether of gratitude’s joy.

4. What things take away from your happiness? What can be done to lessen their impact or remove them from your life?

Acting with unintelligent selfishness instead of intelligent selfishness. Meditate, meditate, meditate, and follow the 8 Fold Noble Path of Buddha/Jesus/Thakur/lBaal Shem and all those who have scientifically studied human happiness/unhappiness.

5. What do you plan on doing in the future that will bring you even more happiness?

Continue loving and creating, smashing my consciousness, learning to love what is ugly, celebrating success and failure, making each day a work of art…

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To get more info about what the Happiness Project is and isn’t, please visit the [1] Introduction Post. To see a running list of all participants, which I will be updating as things happen, please visit the [2] Happiness Project Page.