It is said that happiness is a state of mind . In the rat race for one-upmanship where we try to outdo the other in search of happiness
we miss the wood for the trees. We overlook the small things in life that can
bring happiness instead of chasing a mirage. In our repentance on what we could
have done in the past for a better
present or our apprehension about the future we lose the pleasant moments that
we could have enjoyed in our present. A person who is content with what he has
is a saint , for lesser mortals like us we keep on striving for things we
believe would give us happiness. Once we achieve what we want we find that
happiness in what we have acquired is temporary. After some time a new struggle
begins in pursuit of happiness.
For
most of us happiness is a relative term. Many a times it depends upon how much better off we are compared to
those around us. Do we have a bigger car compared to our neighbour? Is my house
bigger than his? Do I go more frequently
on foreign trips than my colleagues or neighbour? When we discover that it is
otherwise it makes us frustrated and unhappy.
In my search for happiness once I was fortunate to listen to
the discourse of a learned sear. He told us that happiness is always there
around us. Only we fail to recognise it.
He advised us to take a holiday from what we are always doing and try to
discover happiness in small things in life. It would change our perception of
happiness. The sear’s words got me thinking. I decided to follow his advice for
sometime.
I have been a workaholic by nature . Often I would
bring my work home . The result was that
I could hardly spend time with my family. I decided to change this practice. Next day I came home on
time. My family was surprised as well as concerned to see me back from work
early. Was I feeling alright ? was the obvious question. I said that I was
perfectly in good health and for a change had decided to spend time with my
family which I had been missing. The smiles on their faces was more precious
than any wealth. The happiness in spending time with my family was unforgettable
and I made it a practice whenever I could to come back early from work .
I have been by habit a late riser as I would work till late
in the night. I decided to change this habit as well. I decided to arise early.
Next morning I got up early , put on my sports shoes which had been gathering
dust and went for a walk to a park not far away. The Sun was just rising
and the sky had turned pink in its glow.The environment was serene, the air
cool and fresh. The chirping of the birds was more melodious than any
composition. The moments spent in the park was blissful. I realised what I had
been missing all these years in my
pursuit of happiness. I decided to rise early everyday to enjoy the beauty which nature has endowed upon us.
Our weekends would always be taken up in attending to
routine household chores or going for routine shopping. For a change we decided
to do something different. We decided to go for a picnic. There was a beautiful
picnic spot a few hours drive away from our place . Next day was a Sunday. All of us got up early. We packed our basket with goodies , collected
what ever was required for a picnic and left. Driving everyday to office had
been a harrowing experience in peak hour traffic and getting stuck in traffic
jams. But the experience of driving on the highway outside the city limits was a different experience altogether. The
green wheat fields on either side of the road was a rare sight for city
dwellers like us. The picnic spot was as beautiful as expected . The blue water
of the lake , the ducks gliding gracefully in it , the sight of so many
colourful birds we don’t get to see otherwise was a heavenly experience.
On our way back we had to stop at a traffic light. One young
girl in tattered clothes came begging for alms. Normally we would look down
upon such persons. For a change we decided to do something different. My
daughter took off her jacket and gave it to her. The smile it brought to her
face made us realise that helping others also gives happiness.
I thanked the great sear who had put me on the right path
for happiness in life and taught me to look for happiness in small things in
life.
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