Happiness is a Journey, Not a Destination

Happiness - what is it, really? Money, a prestigious job, power, celebrity status, or the joys of parenthood? Well, it's a bit like chasing a moving target, isn't it? Well, each one of us has our own unique interpretation of happiness. It evolves over time and adapts to different situations.

Thinking back to my childhood, I remember how the simplest things used to bring immense joy. I used to be a Kho Kho and Running Race player until my 2nd PUC. In Kho Kho, 5-10 minutes of matches were all it took to make our day, and winning felt like an indescribable happiness. A mid-game sip of glucose was enough to brighten our entire day. It is funny but it is true we used to be happy with one spoon of Glucon-D.

I still remember the sound of a Rajdoot bike entering our village. I used to run and scream, "Amma! Appa! Shimatte (my Aunty) is coming!" It was such a happy moment. My aunt and uncle live near my native place, about 2 kilometers from my house. They used to visit us once a month or once in two months for half an hour or an hour on their Rajdoot bike. That short visit used to make my day. Though it was a small thing, it brought me immense happiness.

I spent most of my childhood at my grandmother's house. I played with friends, enjoyed my Chikkamma's care, felt my grandparents' love, and fought with my uncles, who were 7-8 years older than me. I also loved visiting my grandfather's brother's house, which was under the same roof. A simple breakfast of Vadape (Akki Roti) could make my whole week, as it was my favorite dish. These small things may seem insignificant, but they brought me immense joy.

A new dress for Deepavali, performing Deepavali rituals at my grandparent's house, and eating Chakli (Muruku) on Ganesh Chaturthi were all part of my childhood happiness. I also loved stealing my grandfather's Beedi (a local version of a cigarette) and hiding it somewhere or keeping it away from him. Holding my younger brother and seeing his cute, innocent face, and asking him for a little bit of his chocolate or biscuits, even though I am 5 years older than him, were also moments of immense joy.

As I grew older, the meaning of happiness seemed to slip away. It was replaced by unhealthy competition, inner envy, chasing money and power, and a constant craving for what we lacked. Looking back, it all feels unnecessary. Yes, all these thoughts will jump on me even today, but I try my best to avoid them and find peace in the present moment. Can you relate to this, too?

When someone says something hurtful, those words linger in your mind for days, sometimes weeks, and you can't wait to retaliate. Even though we're all unique individuals, we compete with one another, but what for? Each day is a struggle for recognition, money, power, and more, but where is our happiness in all of this?

Many believe that acquiring money, assets, property, fancy cars and many more are associated with happiness. But is that true happiness? I recently heard someone say that their clothing, mode of transportation, and the type of mobile phone they use determine their status in society and, in turn, their happiness. I asked them if that was the happiness they truly desired. If no one cares about you without these material possessions, what kind of happiness is that? The perception of happiness is missed completely with that person I feel. I am not surrounded by such kinds of people at this point of time in my life. Also, I do not want to associate with such people ever.

Here's another scenario, someone claims they're not getting what they want in life (and maybe they're not even sure what that is), so they turn to drinking for relaxation. But will it truly give them what they desire? If it does, please tell me, because I have a lot of things I want that I'm probably never going to get.

I find this funny. If you want something, why not work hard and try to get it in a smart way? I know most of the time hard work is overlooked and not rewarded. Also, Success isn't guaranteed, but we should be happy with what we achieve.

After years of life's lessons and experiences, I've come to believe that happiness can be as simple as coming home from work and enjoying a peaceful 6-7 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Sometimes, just the act of falling asleep without a struggle is happiness for the day. In this situation, Kannada saying comes to my mind: "Chinte ilde irovnige santelu nidde" which means that a person who is free from stress or problems can sleep peacefully even in a bustling market. It is not that we can avoid stress or tension completely but the way of looking at things can be changed.

From life's teachings, I've learned that stress (sometimes cannot able to avoided) leads to nothing positive. We should strive to be as happy as we can, offer respect to others, love our dear ones, and make them feel cherished in return. We never know what tomorrow holds. If there is no tomorrow, then what? So, let go of all the unnecessary worries and find your happiness in the present (as much as possible).

For me, happiness is just as I've described. How many of you can relate to my definition of happiness?