‘Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you’

Yes. I just quoted Pharrell Williams.

‘But why this song?’, I think to myself one day as I curled up on my couch shuffling through my playlist. Is it because of its catchy tune, its peppy beats, or simply the essence of its uplifting message? Why did people instantly respond to something light, and upbeat, as opposed to a soulful, tragic song? Why are films in which the main actor dies, always "risky" because people might not like them? Is happiness what we all ultimately strive for? Or do we derive it from someone else’s misery?

Happiness, as cliche as it may sound, is something that irks my mind to its very core. Wikipedia says Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.

Wonderful, thanks for enlightening us with your incomprehensible jargon, Wikipedia.

What is true happiness, though? Yes, the unanswerable, rhetorical question all over again. When do we feel truly happy? If we come to think of it, we’ve been wired to experience happiness for generations. As babies, we clapped our hands wildly and uttered uncomprehending noises. As kids, we danced along to our favorite tunes, jumping across the floor, our happiness steering us through the way.

And of course, as teenagers, or young adults, we never really know when we’re happy.

So the perplexion begins.
Happiness:
Books.
Music.
Writing.
Travel.
Movies.
Food.
My pajamas.
The moment I see my waiter walking down the aisle with my food.
A nice, hot bubble bath.
As simple as that. Happiness in my dictionary, defined.

But referring back to Pharell Williams here, is that really the truth? Is this the entire soul of my happiness? There must be something else. Something that they all have in common. Something about the intoxicating effect they have on me. These are all rather petty things when compared to the universe and its numerous unsolved mysteries. But what baffles me, is that it is the smallest of things that usually bring me immense joy.

And of course, the abstract concepts like acceptance. The happiness I feel when I’m accepted for who I am, all my flaws combined.

Freedom. The ultimate freedom to make my own choices, to be able to soar away into the sky, with no strings pulling me down.

The love of being solitary, yet the constant crave for someone else’s companionship.
Although my life has just begun, I feel like I’ve already reached a dead end. the first dead end in my life. A confusion, a dilemma.
I know its all about stepping up and walking through hell with a smile. But it’s all way easier said than done.
I need to fight for my happiness. I need to fight for my passion.
And that’s what 19 years of existence have taught me. They've taught me that when you get a grasp on what stimulates your soul, you should never let go. And that is what I strive for.
I don’t strive for perfection, I strive for joy.

I strive to grant myself the privilege of passion, and the joy of love.
And I sit back and wonder about all the people in my life that bring a smile to my face. All the wonderful things in the world that bring me joy.
Can I ever, bring a smile to someone else’s?

I wonder, does my presence bring joy to another person? If it does, who could it possibly be? Do I possess the power to make another individual smile? Can I make this world a happier place?

If laughter is the medicine, then happiness is an antidote.
I now know why the song ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams spoke to so many people in so many countries. It was a simple, universal language of happiness.

Happiness is like one of those silent adventures that we take ourselves on. It is like the peak of a summit, the deepest point in a trench. Surmounting the difficulties takes us there, and the sweet bliss of success reminds us of who we are.
And ‘Happy’ did just that.

So clap your hands, because happiness is the truth.
So clap your hands, because one day, we’ll all find happiness.
And to conclude by quoting the wise words of Albus Dumbledore,’Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.’