I remember the first time I saw the movie 'The pursuit of happiness' starring Will Smith and his son Jaden, who also played as his son in the movie. I am a big Will Smith fan but I avoided seeing the movie as everyone who had seen the movie said that they had cried. I only saw it some months ago when I thought I was 'big' enough not to cry. Ummm...I cried. Not because Will Smith interpreted the role perfectly, which he did, but because the movie depicted real struggles of life. The struggle for even the most basic of things, especially food and shelter.
We wake up daily and pursue different plans to make ends meet and/or achieve success in life. Going to school, work, or other business places are all geared towards this purpose. We make sacrifices, make investments, join various saving schemes, just to secure our future. When all these have been taken care of, we go back to the hustle, while some reward themselves by going on vacations, shopping, and/or hanging out with friends. Some of these rewards are what we sometimes base as happiness.
Was seeing a program on the television some time ago where the show's host went into the streets, asking people what made them happy. The responses ranged from weekend relaxation with family and friends and going on vacations, to getting promoted at work and moving into a newly-owned house. That got me thinking. What really is happiness? How and where do we find it?
Some people equate happiness to prosperity, good fortune or luck, even bliss. Many believe that the rich are the only happy people. A 2013 report published by an international media agency reported that Nigerians were the saddest people in the world, basing their calculations and statistics on the insecurity issues that plagued us at that point. Then, and now, with the situation of things in Nigeria, economically, the insecurity issues, corruption, and all, I beg to differ. I have not travelled around the world like some, but thanks to social media and networks, I know that Nigeria is blessed. Through all the insecurity, corruption, the state of our economy, flooding, even the fight against Ebola, we stood strong. We still stand. And we party through it all. Like rockstars! *Hello Lagosians* Through various parties and events during the week, weddings on the weekends, we celebrate. Now pause. I'm not equating happiness generally to celebrations. I believe it comes from somewhere deeper. We, jointly as a nation, and severally as individuals, have fought battles to be where we are. Regardless of all that, we still get up daily in pursuit of that 'thing'.
That is true happiness. Joyful, not because we have little now, but because we have hope for the future. Not looking at the evil that face us daily, but at the possibilities before us. Not looking at the casket going six feet under, but in the tear-filled eyes of that new-born child. Not looking at the job that was lost, but at the power in us to create, to do better. Happiness is deep within us. If only we can open our eyes and hearts to it. We have power over everything, especially how we live.
In reply to my question above, happiness is more than a feeling, it is a way of life. We have it in us. All of us. Daily challenges may contribute to making us bury it, but if we see and live life beyond the 'now', we can live daily in happiness and greater hope for the possibilities in the future.
- The Lady
“Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”
Philippians 4:17
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