In the Pursuit of Happiness

The end of 2021 got me thinking.
What were the happiest days of my life? Was I able to achieve all my goals?
What was it that I wanted?
What defines happiness to me?
What is this thing called, Happiness?

Now I realise it was never in the things that I thought would make me happy.

I remember 17 years back, when I just started my college in Himachal, that first taste of freedom meant happiness to me.
Getting my first article published meant happiness to me,
Bunking a lecture for a movie show with friends meant happiness to me,
Walking the forest hill road to save five bucks meant I could eat an extra plate of golgappas. Those were the happiest days of my life!

The definition of happiness however, kept changing from year to year.

Now, after a decade of being married, and being a wife, mother, and playing various other roles I realised It is the little things that gives me Joy, true Joy.
Things that I my heart and mind goes back to and brings me a smile everytime.
That it was never about a new car, a dream home, a star in the report card of my kids, more money, followers, likes, comments, travelling to an exotic destination.No.

Happiness has been about moments, people, and time. I have derived it from mundane and simple little things.
It is not in the goals we set for life.
Absolutely not! Not for me and Not for anyone.
Have you ever looked at your luxury car or whatever luxuries you own and felt as happy as, reading an old love note accidentally found in the pages of a diary?

Happiness is the earthy scent of the first rain after the scorching summers, isn’t it?
It is the high that you feel over a freshly brewed coffee,
it is in the small talk with your lover, it is the silence and peace you feel within you after a fulfilling day, it is in the midnight treat of bun- maska and chai with your friend, it is finding random notes in the pages of a book, it is in “ 𝘔𝘢 𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘢 𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘢”, it is in a baby’s priceless hearty laugh (ever heard that one!).
It is not the scent of an expensive perfume but the power that particular scent evokes bringing in someone’s memories.
It definitely cannot be bought over the counter, but found in the familiar arms that surround you every time you need a hug.

Happiness is the little things!
And, in this pursuit of this kind of happiness I, thus, came a long way until I realised it was within me, and, it is within all of us
We all just need to find it. Deep within ourselves. And that is where the meaning of it all changes.

So, here’s wishing you and your loved ones a year full of that true joy, something that will fetch a smile on your face every time.

-

𝑀𝑀.