In pursuit of Happiness-A Paradox

What is the pursuit of happiness?

The paradoxical feeling called happiness intrigues me a lot. In this context, I am not a happiness ‘guru’ nor am I here to give life lessons. What is happiness? How happy are we all? Why do people run after it? Do people actually get it? These are some of the questions I sometimes ponder upon! I feel it is a highly relative term and varies from person to person. One person’s happiness may be another’s sadness or indifference towards it.

More we anticipate happiness, more it seems harder to achieve. It cannot be achieved by planning, power or anything we think would bring happiness. We don’t even know for sure, what can actually give us true happiness. Now, even in my prayers, I ask for an overall happiness and not to achieve any particular thing. We might not get actual happiness even after achieving ‘that thing’. I have understood that, even the smallest things can give a lot of happiness compared to a big achievement.

By God’s grace and lots of hard work and support from near and dear ones, I had achieved a certain goal in my life which seemed impossible even a couple of years ago. Believe me; I am not really happy even after attaining it. Lots of other life-problems got associated en-route the process. And, also I lost a few things while achieving it. Okay let’s get over this serious stuff, the post is about happiness. So, in this post, based on my own experience till date since I was a kid, i will list a few instances which made me really happy.

As a kid:

• Favourite Guests/ cousins coming to our place. No studies.. only playing. Yay!!
• Going to visit our grandmother.. during school vacations. Unlimited fun and lots of gifts.
• Making my own kites and flying them.
• Food made me happy. It still does.
• Playing cricket with friends. I really loved playing cricket as a kid. Have even represented school in Inter school tournaments.
• Drawing and painting.
• Reading comics
• Having variety of fruit orchard from our home grown garden.

As an adult

Eventually as I grew older and busier, a good night’s sleep / a surprise afternoon nap gives me immense happiness.

• Music (Listening, playing live and composing (with a bunch of like-minded musicians).
• Drawing and painting. It got rekindled after around 24 years sometime in 2018 (Will share some of my recent artworks). The best part about art is that it is very good for your mental health and you have an output that is priceless and stays with you for life. A Win-Win situation
• Gardening and see each and every plant grow. (Thanks to my mother and wife for inspiring at various stages of my life).
• Food (It still does).
• Thought of having a cute pet dog (Hope it will materialize someday). I even like the ferocious ones. GS and Doberman are some of my favourite breeds.
• Thought that if I could converse and could understand the language of birds and other animals other than the language of love which all of them understands.
• Long drive with loved ones and close friends.
• A small trek along a picturesque hill/mountainside.
• Cooking and baking (amateur) . I owe it big time to my wife for her constant inpiration such as “Anyone can bake”. Baking is so soothing and stress buster. And good part- you can eat it too.

Happiness varies with age

It varies with age. The things/events that made us extremely happy might be of no consequence now. I will give you a small example.

Back in those days when we did not had a refrigerator at home; I used to see it on magazines, and TV ads. I used to be amazed by the fact the mystery box comes with all the goodies inside as it is shown in ads. Just the thought of owning it made me feel happy and excited. Eventually, when we got one at our home, I was highly disappointed and sad to see an empty box with plastic racks. LOL.. See, what I mean!

Some fun facts about my happiness

Happiest Rs. 10/- spend
What a Rs. 10 note would fetch during early nineties. (Pure bliss)
4+1(extra golgappa) – Rs. 2/-
Mixed Chana chaat- Re. 0.5/-
Aloo chaat – Re. 1/-
Jhaal Muri Re. 0.5/-
Sweetened Elephant apple(a.k.a ou tenga, a.k.a chalta)/ Olive pickle Re. 1/-
Samosa+Jalebi at Rs. 2.50/-

You are still left with Rs. 2.5/-. One Softy for dessert and you are still left with Rs. 1.5/-. Bring toffees/chewing gum (boomer/big bubble) for your sister back home and blow bubbles with her.

Earlier whenever our relatives used to give us some money as parting gift, or as Eidi, it made me/us extremely happy. We used to go to a designated goodie store and have cylindrical cake, Thums up and Uncle Chips. I have a vivid memory for the same. and have many more experiences. I will share them when I can remember or feel about writing them. So, that’s it, for now. Inviting all my readers to share their experiences for such fun facts/insights on what made them truly happy. Take Care!

This post is part of  #BlogchatterA2Z challenge and this is the I– post.

“This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter.”