Photo: Vasyl Hnyp
Happiness
It’s what we’re all out here striving to feel! AMIRITE? Sometimes when things feel like they’re falling out of place in front of our eyes, happiness can feel like this far off distant universe that will take Time Travel, the Millennium Falcon, and all three wishes from the Genie to achieve. Needless to say, sometimes it feels impossible. What if I could tell you that in those times of internal strife, there’s some ticket out of there?
The Persian philosopher, Rumi, was quoted, “When you go to the garden, do you look at the thorns or the flowers? Spend more time with the roses and jasmine.” This is not to say ignore what is happening and push off the negative emotions you are experiencing; but it is to say the more time you are looking at the “flowers” of your situation, the less pain and discomfort you’ll feel and potentially even experience some growth. Sadness is a lot easier to feel than joy or happiness. It is a much easier state to place ourselves in. And that’s why it is so important for us to give a little fight when we’re in those deep, dark emotional states because we can appreciate the light so much more when it feels so dark to us.
So when we start taking note of some more of the small things that create comfort like double-ply toilet paper (single-ply you’re still awesome too), the internet, fruit snacks, heat and air-conditioning, I mean we got a lot to be happy about. Next time, you’re feeling a little meh, you can always think about what it’d be like to not have indoor plumbing and that might make things a little bit better ;)