WHAT IS HAPPINESS?

By:  F. Kong

An English newspaper asked this question: “Who are the happiest people on earth?” These were the four prize-winning answers:

A craftsman or artist whistling over a job well done.

A little child building sand castles.

A mother, after a busy day, bathing her baby.

A doctor who has finished a difficult and dangerous operation, and saved a human life.

Notice something? No millionaires among these. No kings or emperors. Riches and rank, no matter how the world strives for them, do not make happy lives.

Here’s something from the Internet.

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough and we’ll be more content when they are. After that, we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are  out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.

It’s better to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Alfred D. Souza said, “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life”. This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness.

Happiness is the way. Treasure every moment you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, and remember that time waits for no one. So, stop waiting until you finished school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first of fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you’ve had a drink, until you’ve sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

The Nazis in World War II imprisoned Dr. Viktor Frank l, author of Man’s Search for Meaning, because he was a Jew. His wife, his children, and parents were all killed in the holocaust.

The Gestapo made him strip. He stood there totally naked. As they cut away  his wedding band, Viktor said to himself, “You can take away my wife, you can take away my children, you can strip me of my clothes and my freedom, but there is one thing no person can ever take away from me - and that is my freedom to choose how I will react to what happens to me!” Even under the most difficult of circumstances, happiness is a choice, which transform or tragedies into triumph.

So you said you got a difficult boss? Your savings is running low?

You’ve got problems? Welcome to the club! It’s your choice. You can either groan, moan and whimper or you can choose to appreciate God’s blessings and be happy.

Your kids? They’re gifts from God. Your wife? She’s your helpmate. Your family and loved ones? You’ll never find people who would care for you the way they do. Yes! And that includes your in-laws! Don’t take these daily miracles for granted.

Work like you don’t need money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. And dance like no one’s watching.