Pursuit of Happiness

In this day of age, everyone is so focused on their careers, we often forget to stop and appreciate the finer things in life. We forget admire even the smallest of things and be thankful for what we already have. It makes sense to be content with the immediate gratification that material goods bring, but what use does that have when it does not bring us infinite happiness? Being happy is wearing that genuine smile on your face and seeing others do the same, with that warm fuzzy feeling inside in your core - that is happiness. Happiness is more than the art of spreading positivity; it is a way of life. Being happy means you have to answer to no one but yourself.

Happiness is always there - one just has to look harder and pay attention to the finest details. Happiness is sitting on a park bench equipped with just a book and a hot cup of coffee; breathing in the smell of freshly cut grass and listening to the melodic notes of little birds. Happiness is watching that toddler holding on to his father’s fingers as he takes his first steps, and smiling as his mother takes pictures. Knowing that I will one day be in that exact same position as the mother, watching my child and my significant other grow and learn together, makes the world less crap than it already is. Being happy is knowing that it is things like these that I am looking forward to experience, makes growing up not too bad at all.

Happiness in relationships makes our day to day to life have so much more meaning. Sharing moments with our closest circle of friends, and smiling at least once a day makes a seemingly bad day so much brighter. Be it something silly a friend does to embarrass themselves, or a lame joke someone tells, instantly tugs those strings at the edges of your mouth to form a smile, or maybe even a laugh. It is these small memories that we share that make our lives have its intended purpose. Being able to reminisce as we grow older, and remember the elements that constitute to a friendship is what makes bonds last for years on end.

From a dancer and a creator’s perspective, happiness is when you see your choreography come to life on the big stage. That smile on your face, when you know you have done your best work yet and people appreciate your creativity; that Cheshire cat grin while you breathe hard after dancing as if your life depended on it; and that infectious radiating glow of optimism you have that rubs off on those around you, is the key to your internal happiness.

Happiness means something different to everyone, just like how each person’s thumbprints are each unique to their own.Happiness comes in many divergent forms, especially when you least expect it. The little surprises that life throws at you every day is what comprises of a world filled with kindness and joy.

It is inevitable that good streaks don't last long. In order to be at optimum level, one has to go through a truckload of shit before the grass gets greener on the other side. It isn't about the crap thrown at you, it's about how you crawl through that crap and come out victorious on the other side.

It is then that you sit and reflect - with a small smile - how everything seems to be

falling into the right places at the right time, where you can actually say “I am happy.”

Image credit: Anna Hirata

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