If somebody asks me how would you define ‘Happiness’ I would like to pass on this question to my three year old daughter who can answer this far better than me. I have noticed that while we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. They can teach us to be happy.
How? I would like to share this occurence. Once my ‘always very keen’ daughter was insisting to have water from a big pitcher to which I strictly refused assuming she’ll spill the whole thing on herself. But I had to give in when she sweetly asked ‘ Mumma, please let me try.’ And to my utter surprise she didn’t tip out a single drop of water. Isn’t that remarkable?
But what was even more remarkable was the beauty of her happiness which she derived from that little task. One should have seen her elation, her sense of triumph over having done it excellently. If I may be allowed to exaggerate her exhilaration could be compared to Neil Armstrong on being the first man to land on moon.
Her demeanor compelled me to ponder over my life. I begin my day running around, getting things in order, taking care of the kids, finishing my emails, and heaps of other matters only managing to complete six out of ten as per my target. And finally concluding my day, all bushed out, looking at the four things that I could not complete. That is my daily schedule.
That is true for all ‘we’ grown-ups. We are so busy, all our days are so eventful and our minds are so industriously engaged that we forget to be HAPPY. And to complement our already tedious monotonous life, we unlike children, wait for THE moment in life to make us feel happy which, unfortunately, will never arrive. I say this because the moment is right here; Right in your mind.
Never have I, in recent past, seen myself enjoying a small thing. When was that last time did I take time to enjoy a small scoop of icecream? When was the last time you took time to play a prank on your friend and laugh your lungs out or when did I enjoy simply doing nothing? Frank Clark, an American screenwriter said; ‘Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of little things.”
Happiness is not something which will arrive someday. It’s not the time or size or price of the thing which can make us happy. It’s our philosophy which gives us happiness or deprives us of any pleasure.
Actually, it’s children who can rejoice little things and little moments. Like Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960 said; ’Women gather together to wear silly hats, eat dainty food, and forget how unresponsive their husbands are. Men gather to talk sports, eat heavy food, and forget how demanding their wives are. Only where children gather is there any real chance of fun.
My daughter can feel like a winner from almost anything. She can get almost as much fun out of an expensive toy as she does out of finding a small green bead from under the bed. I sincerely desire that she remains my role model for this simple and vital lesson she has taught me. And hope I do not destroy her spirit as she moves on in life as we parents feel the moral pressure to present their child as best.
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