If Happiness Happens

Photo Courtesy - www.grassroots.org

This August somethings are going to get better for some people. It is not because it’s August. Life has lots of months that are not August. So when August comes, it is like that for everyone. “August is the best month for me always in my life... Let it get better this time,” one of my friends added.

My ‘these days’ are heart threatening days, colorless days.  There is absence. A lot of window gazing. I count each rain drop that falls, wishing that a happy day will come. Surviving 12 months is hard. They are almost the same. It’s all about exams, mostly, one after the other. That’s too much to think about.

I was left with a comment by my friend.

‘You are depressed. Don’t hate August when all months are the same for you. Exams are a decision you have taken in life. The month is not to be blamed’

There were tears running down my cheeks. Grief isn’t shared. Only happiness is shared. There was a happy smile at the end of her comment. I knew I‘ve got to tackle the rest. She is right, I think.

There is trouble in my happiness department and I’ve got to sort out things.

The word ‘happiness’ is confusing. We find happiness in different ways. There is happiness in food we eat, a drink that we have, a dress we like or a place we like to visit. Happiness can be just a vehicle that we drive, a pet dog, a cat, a glass of wine, sometimes a cigarette, a book or at least, a little break or sleep. These are simple things that satisfy us.

Happiness is a pursuit. Does happiness actually matter? Happiness is a tremendous advantage in the world. It improves performance and achievement. On average when people are happy about what they do, they get better performance reviews and satisfaction in every way, whether it’s a job done or the social life. It is not justifying things to the world. Plenty of parents see a meaningful life defined by accomplishments and success, not happiness and positive emotions. Money, power, status quo or a way of living is action. They are not the real feelings that make one happy. Only you will know what makes you happy. Once you reach that world you need, life is peaceful and better.

Naturally, when we become lonely, we start pondering over cracks and broken shutters. The daybreak is the ideal time that wakes up all demons. It’s by night we see our true desires. Night is when we plan what is really needed to be done to find happiness. It’s when we form profound hatred over people who have hurt us. It’s a time we choke on tears and have deep sobs that the rest of the world will never know. But the dark pillow cases will.Happiness matters. It makes living worthwhile, instead of loathing life. It adds purpose to life whereas unhappiness makes you feel that you are just a piece of wood floating on water. It’s empty.

Happiness for me is always the momentary things shared with people I meet every hour and everyday. Some people become the most wanted in life, because their caress has terribly orphaned in the most needed times. And those moments spent become happiness. Sometimes we crave for more. It’s a combination of knowing and adoring. I like to call it that way. Finding the people with whom we like to be is critical for our ultimate happiness. If we cannot reach the people we like, in least romanticizing such relationships is important.

I think. Happiness isn’t a frivolous notion. It is an important thing we have to foster in ourselves, because it contributes to every other thing we do in life, like academic and professional accomplishments.

Featured in "The Nation " newspaper on 10th August 2014