A felicidade na perspectiva de um idoso rural: pluralidades do fazer humano

Abstract

Being happy is a feeling that has particular meanings in people's lives and manifests itself in unique ways for each one of them. Several may be the factors that interfere with how each person is crossed by that feeling, and it does not always manifest in a direct way. To investigate how an individual recognizes happiness in his daily occupations was the aim of this study. Considering that the current place where he lives is secluded from the rural area, his former residence, and his present condition is retired. The form chosen to carry out the research was the accomplishment of an interview which was narrated and written, being catalyzed by the support of photographs that were taken by the individual, making use of a qualitative research methodology called Photovoice that comes to enhance the context recognition that is presented. From the records submitted by the interviewed, we selected four images from a total of 12. In this way, it was possible to identify in the photos portrayed situations that are important and that are part of the current context that the individual is inserted. The narrative delivered by the interviewee does not offer a direct encounter with the term happiness. He does not verbalize that he feels happy, but it is explicit that these occupations generate feelings and sensations, and that they manage to give him meanings for a more active and happy life. The change of contexts from rural to urban or vice-versa can be a generator of conflicts and internal transformations, requiring an internal reorganization to be able to adapt to this new place.