The Name Is 'Happy'! =)

Coke's tagline reads, "Open Happiness". And the myriad of things they came up with to make any one happy, says it all =)

It's a good word to hear, feel, and say out loud. A common misconception that does the rounds is, that happy people don't have problems. Wrong! They have just about the same problems as "regular" people do (even more, sometimes) except that they don't exhibit it. This lot of happy people is so, because they choose to be happy. They choose to deal with problems without moping about them. They choose to make the most of what they have. And these qualities are definitely worth admiring. They seem so easy, but in reality it is rather difficult to smile when you have a mountain of problems!

Truly speaking, happiness is a state of mind, that I recently discovered. Yes, recently, and it's anything but simple to keep your mind away from thoughts that easily douse it. It takes a lot of mental energy. The key lies in not giving up. To ward off unpleasant thoughts is a task. To keep your chin up at these times, can prove to be very difficult. But, in all of this, I chose to look over all of that. Took me quite a while, but I succeeded in doing so. I'm 'happy' that I did =)

I won't say that it's an overnight miracle. It's perseverance. Persevere and we shall be happy. Not just with what we have or don't, but with all that isn't even ours. It's being happy for others. Being happy for the goodness in other people's lives. Being happy for the neighbour with a new car. Being happy for the new day you wake up to. Yasmin Mogahed, a freelance writer and international speaker, in many of her lectures has stressed on the concept of  happiness. She says, "The secret to happiness is to never make it dependent on that which can be taken away." And I think she's right when it comes to our love and happiness for materialistic objects. True happiness comes from being happy for your fellows.

At times, expectations fail us too. We go out to share good news with everyone, and sadly only a handful seem to be truly happy and mean us well. Expectations are mere stones on your path to happiness, never treat them as obstacles. It's just a matter of going over them than fearing them. Choose to make life simple, by choosing to be happy. Happiness will always be an option, and no, that doesn't mean we 'tra la la' away. It simply means that we took the route of life that makes it, if not all, then marginally better =)
In all, happiness comes from within, from our actions.

"If you want to be happy, be." - Leo Tolstoy

What We Could Learn From Christopher Robin.

Christopher Robin: "Pooh Bear. What if someday there came a tomorrow when we were apart?"
Pooh: "As long as we're apart together, we shall certainly be free."
CR: "Yes, yes, of course. But if, if we weren't together... if I were somewhere else?"
P: "Oh, but you really couldn't be, as I would be quite lost without you. Who would I call on those days when I'm just not strong enough or brave enough?"
CR: "Well, actually..."
P: "And who would I ask for advice when I didn't know which way to turn?"
CR: "Pooh, we..."
P: "We... we simply wouldn't be."
CR: Oh, Pooh. If ever there's a tomorrow when we're not together, there's something you must remember."
P: And what might that be, Christopher Robin?"
CR: "You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
P: "Oh, that's easy. We're braver than a bee, and, uh, longer than a tree, and taller than a goose... or, uh, was that a moose?"
CR: "No, silly, old bear! You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is even if we're apart, I'll always be with you. I'll always be with you. I'll always be with you."

This post, although familiar, compels me to share it, again. This dialogue always manages to tug at my heart-strings and certainly does teach a thing or two. And my! How beautifully it twines friendship, loyalty and togetherness, all in knots of warmth. Such words of wisdom by Christopher Robin...

It's amazing how children always manage to astound us with their innocence. You see, as adults, we often lose sight of the small things (which usually are the defining moments in any relationship), unintentionally though. Like keeping up a relationship. As hard as it may be at times, one must learn to accept each other's shortcomings. Why do we so easily let go of them, especially that matter, when we work so hard to build bonds? Why don't we strive to strengthen them? Just because, it's "complicated"! No, nothing is complicated till we make it! Agreed, circumstances sometimes don't churn out the way we would like them to. But, that doesn't mean we stop sorting out the issues. Why do we cease to love what once upon a time was dear to us? It's alright to make mistakes and it's absolutely alright to forgive too. It's alright to learn from those younger, because learning, as we say, is a two-way road. It's alright to disagree, but it's even better if we make things up. Ties that are worth making the effort for, shouldn't be left unattended, assuming that they will heal with time. Those very ties are the ones fighting for. Fighting, to make them work. And even if some seem unworthy, it's alright to try once, because that would ascertain things.
Another astounding fact, which comes from 'Pooh's Little Instruction Book; inspired by A. A. Milne, is,"You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." A highly unique perspective, I must say =)

"Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live." - Marcus Aurelius