Once upon a time, I chanced upon a question, one that I am sure would be visited and stumbled upon every human being in some point in their lives: what IS happiness?
Many would say it is a relative term, that one can never be happy, but only happier than, or not as happy as. In that sense, I thought to myself, wouldn’t the chase for happiness be an unattainable desire which runs in an endless loop, resulting in nothing but a tiresome routine which fatigues the soul out of it’s lustful hunger?
The answer to happiness, has to be contented-ness. To be happy is to be contented. It is when one draws the line of being full from hunger, when one determines exhaustion from restlessness, when one finally and willingly commands the body that we had enough, that we had all that is desired, and that we are now at peace. Happiness is fundamentally a non-relative term, but a baseline, where all basic needs are met and the requirements that we physically set are fulfilled. A point where after which anything excess would be a surplus, where anything less would cause misery. Upon that realization, I re-emphasized to myself: I want to be happy.
From then on, I was a cheerful young man. Everyday was the same to me, regardless of festivity and celebrations. I seek joy in the simplicity of life, in the glamour of non-glamour, in the extravagance of basicity. Like a child receiving candies, like a retiree with an evening smoke by the park, like a teenager with the first fish on his hook, like a mom with the first glimpse of her child, like a groom with a first kiss from his bride… Life was beautiful. It was crystalized with an outburst of emotions, but innocent, and simple at heart. It was extremely beautiful.
As time passed, I still find myself being unhappy from time to time. Am I not contented? Is my baseline too high? Have my philosophy changed? I searched and searched and find the answers were no. I then realized that being easily contented does not equate to happiness directly. There is an element which is often so obvious yet hardly thought of. Simply, the lack of sadness could bring one into a state of peace, and together with contentedness, one would be free of burning pursuits, of unrequited endeavors, of unanswered prayers. One would be in harmony, and one would be happy.
Happiness, is the lack of sadness.
Happy birthday myself. Wait, let me rephrase that…
