Being happy

Happiness. When do you say that you are happy? I put up this question to a few people. “Happiness is when I reac

h the top”, said one. “Happiness is having no stress”, said another. “Happiness is when you get what you want”, said a third. “Happiness is when you are satisfied”, piped in my 8 year old cousin.

Happiness. A common word yet completely elusive. We all are happy, yes, most of us are. But are we entirely so? We are plagued by our thirst to achieve, to beat everybody else and reach the top. In this race of life, who is happy? How can we be happy if we are so discontented?

I recently saw a picture of a coal miner from Afghanistan. He, a man of a small Arab community, poorer than the poorest, still laughed in such a delightful manner in the picture that it was immediately transferred upon me. How can a man so poor be so happy? On the other hand, those blessed with all the riches in the world are often the ones who never smile. Why? They have everything, yet they want more. And this craving will never be satisfied. Happiness evades them at every corner.

Only with contentment creeps in happiness. And with happiness on your side you will laugh heartily at every joke in the world. Not everyone can do that. Only a happy man can. And a content man is a happy man.

So be content with your life. What will you do by accumulating all those riches? If you are content you will be a king even if you live in a shack. Smile more. Stop your race to accomplish success. Take a look around at the beauty of life. If this doesn't make you happy what will? Forget your goals for a few moments. For life is not a goal, it is a journey to your destination. Live it. Love it.