People have many different ways they like to define happiness. For reference, It’s defined as follows on Merriam Dictionary:
happiness
/ˈhapēnəs/
noun
- the state of being happy
- an experience that makes you happy
But who and what does this definition even help?
Recently, I’ve seemed to have had an epiphany. I’ve always, as most of you probably have, wondered what happiness truly is?
Well you see, I’ve wondered this my whole life – and not to say I’m not happy, but at the same time, what does that even truly mean? As we grow up, we are always told to be “happy”, be grateful, and many of us take this for granted. I know I have. I remember always thinking I want this, I need that. But you see, I don’t. We don’t. I thought being happy would be when I was able to get all the things I’ve never had. That it would be this life changing moment where I knew that I’d be endlessly happy. But it’s not.
But by nature, as humans, we’re always hungry for more, always wanting things we don’t have. Always comparing our lives to other people's, but why? Why can’t we be satisfied with what we have? Why can’t we be satisfied for being alive or being surrounded by the people that love us?
I hate to admit this; I truly do, but I remember when I was a bit younger than I am now. I would say, “Money is really everything”. "Why?" you may ask. Why would someone say such a foolish thing? Well, in my simpler-minded days, I saw it as "we need money to buy food, for clothes, for shelter, which is needed for survival." I get it, in a simple, young-minded way. But I was young and dumb. I clearly didn’t really understand what I was saying then because you see, you can’t buy love, you can’t buy support, you can’t buy knowledge, friends or family and you most definitely can’t buy happiness.
I’ve realized you can’t ever be truly happy unless you are content with what you already have and content with yourself. You aren’t going to be miraculously happy when you become wealthy or famous, maybe temporarily, but not for the long run. It’s the little things, it’s the simplicity of life that brings the greatest and most memorable joys to our lives.
And no, I’m not sitting here saying everyone is in the greatest of situations or that you shouldn’t strive for greater things, but what I am saying is that you should be content with your current life, because it’s the only one you will ever have. Embrace and appreciate everything that is now and cherish it.
I’m also not going to sit here and say it’s easy to do, being happy, because I need to work on this myself, but it’s okay because I believe it’s doable. Happiness is not something you go and find, no, it’s genuinely all about perspective.
I think I’ll end it here with a verse from OneRepublic, who I believe put it best, “Well, all I need / Is the air I breathe / And a place to rest / My head.”
