"don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." - dr. seuss
All my life, all I've ever wanted was to grow up to be successful, be rich, own a big house, and live comfortably with a six-digit bank account. Now looking back on this, I feel ashamed.
I've had a turn in my life, and I've only now been able to truly open my eyes and see the world around me. I've realised that all my previous goals, all those materialistic, foolish aspirations are simply that - materialistic and foolish. Life is too short, no matter how cliched the term goes, to live constantly in desire.
It's the little things in life that are going to make you happy. You all know what I mean. That warm, steaming cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day, a long bubble bath, or even just walking to school, enjoying the sweet scent of flowers that bloom all around.
I've realised that everyone is on their own pursuit of happiness, but what if it's no pursuit after all? There's that old saying that goes, "happiness is not a destination, but rather the way of which you travel." And only now can I truly understand what that quote means.
Holding onto the past, holding onto bitterness and anger is only going to hurt you. If someone hands you a poisonous snake you don't have to take it, right? Same goes for all these bad, negative feelings and emotions. It may be so easy to hold a grudge, it may be so compelling to stay mad at someone or constantly blame yourself, but what kind of outcome is that going to achieve? A life full of self-loathe, self-pity and jealousy?
Just by changing your personal perspective can you achieve so much, and you will finally feel satisfied. As humans it's our basic instinct to want more, to yearn for more, to create more so that we can keep improving as a race. I don't know whether it is because, physically, we are quite feeble creatures, but whatever the case, it can be both great and destructive.
My father told me the other day that there was a quote, a quote that went "necessity is the mother of invention", but that nowadays it's more along the lines of "invention is the mother of necessity." Humans are greedy; always wanting the most hi-tech and glamorous gadgets, but if you really look to the balls of it, do we need it? Rich men aren't always happy men. Nowadays, the more things that are created, the more everyone feels that they need to own it.
Happiness isn't about material gain. It's not about what iPhone you have, or how high resolution your computer screen is. Happiness is a mental state, a way of which you perceive the world. You can see the world negatively, always pointing out the flaws in others, your surroundings or yourself, or, you can see the world in a positive light, accepting that nobody and nothing is perfect, but appreciating all the beautiful, little things that we are given but constantly forget about. When was the last time you took a walk, smelling the pollen and enjoying the sunshine? When was the last time you sat down in the bath with a good book, just relaxing? When was the last time you hugged someone, or smiled at someone, or complimented someone, just because you felt like it?
The more you give, the more you receive. You can live a dull, bitter life or you can make a change. I dare you. I dare you, today, to go to your mirror and instead of counting the pimples, instead of trying to reshape your nose with your fingers, instead of wishing you had a better body, just simply look at yourself, smile, and say to yourself. "You are beautiful. You've been through so much in your life, so much hardships, and look how far you've come. Look what kind of person you are. See that forehead? So what if it's covered in acne?! So what if you wish your thighs were slimmer?! Think of all the things that you are blessed to have, and appreciate.
Happiness is the lifestyle in which you live in gratitude, and appreciation.
When someone is a positive, cheerful person you'll find that people just gravitate towards them. Why? Because they exude happiness. They exude acceptance. Happiness isn't going to automatically happen right after you earn 120,000 a year. It's not going to happen when you are finally able to afford your own house, or car, or laptop. It's going to happen when you put aside all those materialistic ideas and just accept.
"Who are you, really? You are not a name or a height, or a weight or a gender. You are not an age and you are not where you are from. You are your favourite books and the songs stuck in your head, you are your thoughts and what you eat for breakfast on Saturday mornings. You are a thousand things but everyone chooses to see the million things that you are not. You are not where you come from. You are where you're going, and I'd like to go there too."
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, and that's why they call it the present. So let go, accept and love everything wholeheartedly, because tomorrow is another adventure.
- Arya
I've had a turn in my life, and I've only now been able to truly open my eyes and see the world around me. I've realised that all my previous goals, all those materialistic, foolish aspirations are simply that - materialistic and foolish. Life is too short, no matter how cliched the term goes, to live constantly in desire.
It's the little things in life that are going to make you happy. You all know what I mean. That warm, steaming cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day, a long bubble bath, or even just walking to school, enjoying the sweet scent of flowers that bloom all around.
I've realised that everyone is on their own pursuit of happiness, but what if it's no pursuit after all? There's that old saying that goes, "happiness is not a destination, but rather the way of which you travel." And only now can I truly understand what that quote means.
Holding onto the past, holding onto bitterness and anger is only going to hurt you. If someone hands you a poisonous snake you don't have to take it, right? Same goes for all these bad, negative feelings and emotions. It may be so easy to hold a grudge, it may be so compelling to stay mad at someone or constantly blame yourself, but what kind of outcome is that going to achieve? A life full of self-loathe, self-pity and jealousy?
Just by changing your personal perspective can you achieve so much, and you will finally feel satisfied. As humans it's our basic instinct to want more, to yearn for more, to create more so that we can keep improving as a race. I don't know whether it is because, physically, we are quite feeble creatures, but whatever the case, it can be both great and destructive.
My father told me the other day that there was a quote, a quote that went "necessity is the mother of invention", but that nowadays it's more along the lines of "invention is the mother of necessity." Humans are greedy; always wanting the most hi-tech and glamorous gadgets, but if you really look to the balls of it, do we need it? Rich men aren't always happy men. Nowadays, the more things that are created, the more everyone feels that they need to own it.
Happiness isn't about material gain. It's not about what iPhone you have, or how high resolution your computer screen is. Happiness is a mental state, a way of which you perceive the world. You can see the world negatively, always pointing out the flaws in others, your surroundings or yourself, or, you can see the world in a positive light, accepting that nobody and nothing is perfect, but appreciating all the beautiful, little things that we are given but constantly forget about. When was the last time you took a walk, smelling the pollen and enjoying the sunshine? When was the last time you sat down in the bath with a good book, just relaxing? When was the last time you hugged someone, or smiled at someone, or complimented someone, just because you felt like it?
The more you give, the more you receive. You can live a dull, bitter life or you can make a change. I dare you. I dare you, today, to go to your mirror and instead of counting the pimples, instead of trying to reshape your nose with your fingers, instead of wishing you had a better body, just simply look at yourself, smile, and say to yourself. "You are beautiful. You've been through so much in your life, so much hardships, and look how far you've come. Look what kind of person you are. See that forehead? So what if it's covered in acne?! So what if you wish your thighs were slimmer?! Think of all the things that you are blessed to have, and appreciate.
Happiness is the lifestyle in which you live in gratitude, and appreciation.
When someone is a positive, cheerful person you'll find that people just gravitate towards them. Why? Because they exude happiness. They exude acceptance. Happiness isn't going to automatically happen right after you earn 120,000 a year. It's not going to happen when you are finally able to afford your own house, or car, or laptop. It's going to happen when you put aside all those materialistic ideas and just accept.
"Who are you, really? You are not a name or a height, or a weight or a gender. You are not an age and you are not where you are from. You are your favourite books and the songs stuck in your head, you are your thoughts and what you eat for breakfast on Saturday mornings. You are a thousand things but everyone chooses to see the million things that you are not. You are not where you come from. You are where you're going, and I'd like to go there too."
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, and that's why they call it the present. So let go, accept and love everything wholeheartedly, because tomorrow is another adventure.
- Arya