Happy living

The search for happiness is an universal one. The world tells us that we should always strive to be happy and being unhappy should be eliminated (“Don’t feel happy right now? That’s normal”, Nov. 1, Gulf Today).

Thus, everyone in the world avoids unhappiness as if it is the plague. It’s wrong not to be happy, we are taught, through various media and ads that promise instant happiness through food, coffee, shopping etc.

The pandemic has put a stop to all these actions that purportedly lead to happiness. Because of lockdowns, people can’t shop. Thus we are left to our own devices.

And that brings us face to face with the stark truth. Happiness is within. And thus, it depends on each person to be responsible for their own happiness. The external happiness is fleeting. And we can thus always find ways to be happy even in these times of pandemic.

Joyce D
By email