A Puddle of Happiness

It's raining since last night. As I looked at the window, I saw the cobbles were wet and puddled. Oh puddles! They remind me of my childhood days. After the rain, I used to go to the front yard to look for a puddle. In it, I could see the sky and my reflection. Then, I stamped on it with my feet alternately. Left and Right! Oh, I was so happy. With full of enthusiasm, I was like a little explorer that discovered a lake. I owned it and all I wanna do is to stamp on it, over and over again. It was a splash of huge happiness on a shallow water. Hmmmm, that's what kids are. They are markedly joyous. Back when we were kids,we giggled with our playmates while blowing bubbles, running around the house, jumping here and there, tagging each other and role playing (Ako si Nanay ikaw si Tatay) . It's amazing how we become so happy with simple things. As we got older, we realized that there are many things or other people that have become vital sources of our HAPPINESS. With the numbers and the degree, sometimes we don't even know how to find it. Perhaps, because we don't know its definition? Or we are too overwhelmed chasing it. It was so great that we tend to build intricate schemes around it. Where in life, problems and challenges, often go together. We overcome them in order to achieve happiness. However, we usually overlooked simple solutions and end up battling with something more complicated which definitely keeps us away from what we called happiness. The pursuit of it is like taking a maze instead of passing through a labyrinth. Does it? A wrong approach of achieving it? But how can we possibly go wrong if we know the meaning of it? Or do we really know?

Happiness? Any dictionary will tell you that it is a range of positive emotions conveyed from different experiences. Yeah! It's a state of being happy. And how to be happy? Is it collecting many keychains as you like? Or drinking your favorite whiskey? Perhaps earning more than 10k viewers on the vblog that you just recently uploaded? Receiving a Prada bag from an admirer? Replacing your old car with Lamborghini Aventador? Gaining thousands of likes from one of your FB posts? Building your dream house? Being emotionally reciprocated by the person you loved?Whatever it is, it is somewhat that gives us satisfaction, contentment and joy. And when we look back to it, it is something that gives us a smile, making us think repeatedly. However, pursuing it is not always straight roads. Most of it are rough. But don't worry, we are born to be happy. With it, we have the capacity to create and achieve it. How?

The following are some of the many ways to achieve it.

1. Be thoughtful. Sometimes we are too busy and forget to be thoughtful. Greet your friends on their birthdays. Offer a small pack of biscuit to your officemate who is doing an OT or make a coffee with a sweet note to your husband before he gets to work. I remember, when I was working in a school I used to prepare my baon for dinner and whenever I have spare, I usually bring one for one of my co-teachers and she loved it. Once we do these, we get their smiles back. Such smiles are great sources of happiness.   

2. Be grateful. Everything you have is a blessing. Waking up in the morning is already a grace, God's grace and don't forget to thank Him first thing in the morning before you hook yourself in social media. Always say "Thank you" even to little things. If you think your adversities is eating you, look around you. You are blessed with your family and friends. Thus, people with grateful heart feels more happy with their lives.      

3. Be free from grudges. Life is too short for you to dwell on it. Easy to say but very hard to do. Indeed, so hard and it takes time. I suggest for you to be freed from it, you have to acknowledge its presence. Denial is no good. It will only prolong your agony. Accept it by identifying the outcome. Don't play as the victim of your circumstances. Stop being interfered by your past mistakes. Then, perform an act of forgiveness. Lastly, forget it. Let it go. As Confucius said, "To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it."  

4. Be fit. Take time to exercise. Dancing is good. Lock yourself in a room, play a loud music enough to move your body with the beat, wear your favorite night dress, face the mirror and dance crazily. Crazy idea? Yet it helps. Or do Yoga with a self-healing sound. If not, walk around the park, enjoy the scenery while playing your favorite music. Indeed, music makes you feel better. It does not just lift your spirit or soul. It also gives positive effect on your body. Try it, listening to a classic reggae while you are on the shore. Then, dance with your bare feet on the sand. Perfect happy scenario!

5. Be a collector of memories than things. Life is more than material things. They just give you a momentarily burst of joys. Yes, buying a new phone makes you happy but eventually you get bored with it. These memories I'm talking about are priceless and are not subject to taxation. No one can steal them from you not even Alzheimer's. Don't let yourself tied to what is temporary. Stop buying things that you do not need. Where did I learn this? 
- First, I learned it from a Filipino adage. It says, "If you make a habit of buying things you do not need, you will soon be selling things you do.” (becommingminimalist.com). Which is right. 
- Second, In Laudato Si, Pope Francis appealed to us to change our lifestyle in some of the little ways called the Laudatoway to save our planet. One of these ways is to change our habit of consumption such us buying things that we really don't need. Admit it, where do these things go of we don't use them anymore? To the trash bins? Such a throwaway perspective! He is trying also to tell us that to live life in abundance is not to live it with wordly materials. As simple as that, why do you have to buy more shoes if you can still use your 5 pairs of shoes?            

- Third, from the two special persons who greatly influenced my way of living, my lola and Tatay. I grew up with my Lola, she lived with us after my Lolo died. Everyday, she told me stories of her life. Mostly, it's about her struggles during the war, how she met my Lolo, how they raised their kids from scratch and how my Tatay met my Mama. It's all about love. With her stories, I was inspired to collect little things that remind me of my past experiences and tell stories about them. And my Tatay? He is a simple man yet I could tell he is smart. He is updated with recent news, both local and international. He likes to socialize and known to many as kind-hearted. With his simplicity, I learned that life is not defined by how cool your car is or how expensive your clothes are. Life is living with your passion such passion he has for the people in his baranggay. I know he cares too much for them which somehow makes me proud of him.   
- Lastly, from the schools I attended. Holy Cross taught me simplicity, to see beyond wordly things, that life here on is temporary and one must live his life to the fullest by acknowledging His presence. While Ateneo taught me to excel in life's challenges with strong faith (Fortes in Fide). Explore life and learn. Travel and be a storyteller to inspire others. 
  

6. Be kind. Yes, especially to those people who cannot repay you. Even if you don't have money you can still be kind by simply holding the door for the person. Perhaps, compliment your loved ones by letting them know how they look great today. Then, smile. Or if someone hits you a stone, hit them with a freshly baked rye bread. It means that if someone shows you rudeness, treat them with kindness. Not fair though? Perhaps, but if you look at it on the other side of the ridge, you are teaching the person to be kind. Sadly, some people tend to abuse this line. They like to cast stones because they know they'll gonna get bread (LOL). Lastly, SMILE. Some would say Smile is said to be the most beautiful gesture one could have. While others would say it is the most powerful weapon that one can break an ice with it (figuratively). As for me, smile is like a chocolate, it induces pleasure. It generates positive emotions. It keeps you younger. It's not a hard thing to do and it's contagious. When you smile to others, they return the favor too. 
According to Connie Stevens, "Nothing you wear is more important than your smile." 

Aren't these things make you happy?

Thus, happiness is like finding these puddles of experiences emanating from great challenges of life. No matter what don't give up. Hold on to it. 

Spread happiness this 2017!