The air is heavy, dense monsoon clouds hang in the sky, ready for the piercing rain to burst through. The mind is heavy with lots of thoughts too. It all feels so ominous sitting in an Uber on my way back from work. 1.5 hours of travel gives you a lot of time to introspect. New city, new job, old friends, life is good and there should be no cause to feel otherwise.
But happiness tops the list of all things elusive. Counting our blessings does not come easily to humans. The grass is always greener on the other side. May not be jealousy always, but any materialistic purchase made by peers does induce a bit of guilt and pressure. Its a known fact how social media has only added fuel to the flame, but perfection is what we all have set out to achieve. Perfect bodies, outfits, homes, holidays, kids. Even if you are not guilt trapped by these, how many of us can say we are truly happy?
Relationships are hard - spouse, parents, siblings, kids - our happiness is intertwined with theirs. Someone says or does something which does not go down well with us, and we fall into an abyss of melancholy. Why do we forget they are all individuals in their own right, and their idea of happiness may be very different to ours.
Nirvana is passe, Ikigai is the buzzword. We hear of Nordic countries ranking highest on the happiness index, and cannot really fathom the real reason: is it because they have better social security, or fully paid childcare leaves. Japanese secret to a long life is said to be a 'purpose' to which you devote yourself wholeheartedly. Maybe relocating to a 'developed' country will bring more joy. Or maybe we are just not getting the message.
As I age, my introspection leads me to believe, finding happiness within is the essence of life. Philosophers and yogis have chased the idea for eons, but saying it is one thing, achieving it is another. As social beings, we are affected by events and people. A microscopic virus brought the whole world to its feet for 2 years, and we are slowly finding our ground again. Times are tough and will continue to be so. At the end of the day, we have but one life, the narrative is ours to write.
Looking for small pleasures, breaking the routine, helps me. Not picking up the phone for an hour seems like a victory. A good night's sleep is a premium. Visiting a new place is a bonus. Picking up a new hobby can be a life saver. Baking / eating a cake always helps.
