Happiness is defined as a mental or emotional state of well-being
characterized by positive or pleasant emotions. I always thought it is
just that moment or state or time when you are happy by yourself, sometimes due
to external factors and sometimes internal. It could be a walk on the beach, a
cold coffee, a book, a call from a long lost friend, a hug from a loved one, a
good old song on the FM, a happy sunrise, a new bud in a dried up favourite
plant or just a feel, when something from inside makes you feel happy for n
reasons under the sky.
Little did I know, happiness could be timed, sold and taught?
From comedy shows at specific timings of the week to exclusive channels
dedicated to telecast comedy shows 24X7. Surprisingly they fare a great TRP
rating too. The superficial laughter that momentarily makes you “happy” is their
claim. As a child, yes I did look forward to the Sunday Charlie Chaplin show on
TV and the daily dose of Tom and Jerry after school. Somehow, as I grew up this
timed happiness factor failed to keep me happy, real happy for starters.
As I grew up confused, I was told, happiness is an inner
factor and I need to keep searching for it from within. Accompanying my mother
to meditation and yoga classes and reading those books on self happiness and
the inner search, I was lost than before, definitely sans happiness.
But to my surprise, the world around, told me, it is the
happiness quotient that matters and the remainder hardly. Aren’t the remainders
commercial targets to the stressed souls-television shows, humour stories; self
help books and yoga classes that help us, rather teach us to find “happiness”?
They are marketed, preached and forced on us rather in a natural way and as a
social phenomenon.
But somehow, staring at the sky sitting on the terrace, with ice-cream
dripping on one hand has made pouring out this realisation, a happy time; let
me not forget the favourite Ilayaraja music in the background. My pursuit of happyness
continues...
