Happiness also needs to be learned

What is happiness? Where is happiness? Most of us have asked ourselves that question at least a couple of times. We think happiness is invisible, surreal and irrational; happiness is thousands of miles away, at the ends of the earth, untouchable. But you know, happiness is actually very small, close, right next to us every day. To awaken it, to light it up, the key is to learn to listen, feel, be grateful and appreciate. Happiness also needs to be learned.

One day, my colleague told me: Hey, lately, I've been spending 15 minutes every day writing a happiness diary. - What is a happiness diary? - It's tiny, meticulous things, so small that if I don't write them down, I'm afraid I'll forget them. - Small things? Happiness must be big things, right? - I used to think so too. But when I patiently learned how to write every day, and then suddenly opened it up to read again, I suddenly realized that I didn't need to wait for big things, but happiness was as light and gentle as the air, as the clouds... I felt so rich!

Her happiness is one morning when she opens her bedroom door, sees a rose bud, a jasmine blooming with dew, a bird singing clearly on a mango tree by the roadside... Happiness is waking up every morning to see herself and her loved ones healthy, smiling, sipping coffee to welcome the new day. Happiness is convincing grandparents and parents to boldly leave home, to join a "change of pace" tour. Happiness is also sometimes just stepping into the elevator, a friendly colleague pressing the floor number for her, smiling and asking: Why are you leaving so early today?

Perhaps because joy is quickly forgotten, while sadness is remembered for a long time, we often focus on the painful things, thus forgetting that every day we live with so many precious things. As long as we can breathe well, eat well, have bright eyes, skillful hands, agile feet... that is enough happiness. Don't think that the things you have are obvious, ordinary, or nothing special; don't wait until your breathing gets worse, your teeth hurt, your eyes are bad, you have missing arms or legs... to suddenly realize their preciousness.

That's why I say, if you want to be happy, you also need to learn. You need to learn to appreciate your body and mind, learn to be grateful for all things, learn to accept and overcome the sadness in life, learn to believe in good things. Why do many people always have bright faces, bright smiles, always think and talk about good and beautiful things? It's because they know how to be satisfied, happy in their hearts, happy with the present. They understand that no one's life is complete, fulfilled, perfect, and inevitably living in this world involves suffering, shortcomings, and regrets; but that doesn't mean losing the small buds of happiness around you. If you want to be happy, you have to learn to cherish those buds very diligently, so that life doesn't sweep you away in daily fatigue, making you run aimlessly.

I like the way my colleague practices happiness. Myself and many other friends choose to write on social networks - the trivial things of life from a positive perspective, to see that life is worth living, people are so lovable and we are so happy. Happiness, after all, is an attitude towards life, not a distant dream or expectation. Try it!

Phuoc Anh