Happiness Is
I have to disclose that I am not a psychologist. But then again, I don't need to be one to write about an ancient human emotion called Happiness. I presumed happiness is one of the most talked about subject. In fact, many people have written books about this. I remember few years ago, I read a book called The Happiness Project. To be honest, the book didn't reveal anything that we already don't know about happiness. The only problem is that most of go chasing happiness as if it was an an item to be checked off our bucket list. Sounds silly if you ask me. I strongly believe to attain happiness, we need to make a conscious decision to be happy. In the words of my favorite high school Social Studies teacher, we have to practice mindfulness. I wish I understood this back then, Mr. Sharon.
Considering his rough childhood upbringing, you would think American's 16th president, Abrham Lincoln would be the last person to be quoted about the pursuit of happiness. Yet, it is believed that Honest Abe is to have said "Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be". For a moment close your eyes and envision what happiness means to you. I bet if you deiced that you are going to be happy, then you will be happy. The mind is a powerful entity if used appropriately.
This morning, I woke up feeling exhausted from yesterday's four hours drive to attend an event. Lately, I have I have started a Sunday morning ritual of waking up and listening to Joel Osteen's sermon. Normally, the morning spiritual sermon helps me to take some moment to reflect on my life's journey. Such reflection tends to keep my spirit uplifted throughout the day and Sunday would pass by, gracefully. For some reason today, I couldn't find this week's Joel's sermon and thus just like that my Sunday morning ritual was interrupted which meant Sunday would turn out to be crappy. Thank God it was not. Sunday was a superb day because I chose to be Happy. Well I guess Honest Abe was right, after all. For me becoming happy meant, sitting out in the backyard, with coffee on one had and a book on the other hand, sipping my freshly brewed coffee from my Cal coffee mug. At the same time, the smooth jazz music playing from Spotify app on the phone to soothed the mood while the black clouds looked menacingly threatening with a heavy dose of shower rain.
Forward few hours, and I decided I had enough of my place and went to the gym. Because it was an hour before closing time, there were hardly any people, which meant less distraction and less waiting time to do a set of work out. I warmed up for 15 minutes on the tread mill. Normally, I would run for 10 minutes to warm up but today I decided to take it a notch up, that is if you believe extra five minutes would make a difference to warm up the body. Nevertheless, my not so long work out at the gym, (I wonder for how long people work out at the gym?) went smoothly and got me pumped up when it was time to leave.
Earlier, I had alluded to that dark cloud and how it look threatening with rain. Well, it didn't take long before the rain poured down. In earnest, it was a relief to what has been somewhat humid day. By the time, I walked of the gym, the rain had stopped and a cool air started to blow as the trees swayed from side to side, seemingly dancing to the natural mystic vibration. I got into my car, destination home. As I was leaving the parking lot, I became overwhelmed with an urge to go for an evening drive. To be honest, I didn't even think twice and followed my desire to chase the wind at 60mph (For some reason, this though brings to mind the movie Dancing with Wolves. Oh maybe because the television at the gym was playing the movie). At that moment, I experienced pure ecstasy. I rolled down my car windows all the way and let in the the howling wind in. At that moment, I was in the state of happiness Notice this profound joy that I experienced came from not material nor possession; but rather, it came from experiencing the beautify of nature that encompassed a beautiful sunset with a musical ensemble of the howling wind. This is what I call happiness is! What is your happiness? Clap along with Pharall Williams if you know what happiness is to you.
Comments