The Pursuit of Happiness

Happiness is the undying quest of life, the unquenchable thirst and the insatiable hunger of all human kind. Happiness is what we all seek for, what we long for. But can such bliss be nothing but an elusive state of mind, which is here one moment and gone the next, or is such a positive outlook attainable for a lifetime? Above everything else, happiness is purely a state of mind. Two people put in the same situation would be perceive things differently, and would have different trains of thought. One might still be happy, put in the most miserable of environments, while the other might cringe, though everything was handed to him on a platter. No amount of money can buy you real happiness. So what do you need to do to be happy? You don't need to be surrounded by wealth, you don't need more pocket money, or the latest video game, or the latest phone in your pocket, or an r15. You need not follow the eight-fold path incorporated by the Buddha. Just a few simple pointers would do.

1. Love yourself. 

One who loves himself has no rival. You should be your favourite and be able to live with yourself. This contentment would clear most of the frustration in your mind, and make you a better person to be around with. 

2. Love thy neighbour. 

Not in the literal sense, but any feeling of dislike towards someone you know, would automatically poison your mind (film stars excluded). Learn to accept people as they are, whether they be to your liking or not. If you don't get along, well, then accept that too! Just remember that someone might be feeling the same way about you too. And what you give to someone eventually comes back to you, be it love, respect, or dislike.

 

3. Smile all you can.

The most effective and popular medicine for a low spirit or a glum expression is a smile, be it given or received. A smile from the heart, which reaches the eyes automatically passes the glow all around. Try it : give yourself your best smile in the mirror (not a wide grin).. just look into your eyes and smile. You'd be smiling a long time after that.

4. Don't worry.

What's happened has happened, and what's going to happen.. no one knows!! So wipe the creases off your forehead.. take what comes with a smile, and think towards what could be the solution. Face any situation with confidence, and tell youself you can tackle it better than anyone else!

5. Make the most of your day.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery.. today is a gift. Wake up everyday to face the world with head held high, ready to take on any challenge coming your way with enthusiasm so that before you sleep, you can review your day with no regrets, and know that you have done your best.  

6. Be positive. 

Always be optimistic in your thoughts and actions. Don't ever let anything get you down.  Anticipate with positivity, whatever you think would happen next, and whatever happens, know that it would happen for the good, and that eventually something good would come out of it. Just keep going, persist,  no matter what.

7. Take time out for yourself

Think.. what is it that would make you really really happy? A game? Or music? A long conversation with your best friend? what ever it may be, make sure you allow yourself to do it, even for a short while. 

For starts, these basic points would do wonders. The entire cycle of life, why man goes to the extent of making money, and then spending it, or bequeathing it to his offspring, is based on the pursuit of happiness. Most would define money as the building block of happiness, spend their entire life trying to earn as much of it, and then when they realise they were wrong, it gets too late.We chase money, health, growth, fame, power, property and relationships, not for their own sake but for the satisfaction they promise. The creation of empires and civilizations, the discovery of continents, the waging of wars, the whole ebb and flow of history is a graphic portrait of man's ceaseless quest for happiness. We choose, to be or not to be happy. Have you made the right choice today?

Friendship

What's the first relation a child would experience, apart from that withhis mother and father? It is friendship. The human survival is based on friendship. From the highest authority to the lowest bums living on the streets all of them have experienced in some way or the other one of these different kinds of friendships. We take this friendship for granted because it is something that exists naturally in society and most of us never really have to actually go out into the world looking for a friend. But how many of us do realise, that a true friend is as rare as (an open text book in engineering?) the purest of diamonds? Ever tried counting how many friends you have? Some might go on counting to, probably, say 20. But you could count on your fingers, the number of people who would stand stalwart, no matter what the odds against you, or whom you could call at two o' clock in the morning and still be confident you wouldn't get screamed at for disturbing sleep, and who would lend an ever-steadfast ear to whatever rubbish you might have to let out of your head. To have atleast one, would be nothing short of a blessing. 

The very pivot of this relation, is an unfailing loyalty and an infallible trust, between the two friends. With loyalty comes trust, and with trust follows loyalty. The true friend being a rarity, a strong inexhaustible frindship is probably even rarer. The question of egos arises here too, and many do fail to realise the triviality of a hurt ego, when placed beside a broken bond. Often, the order of hierarchy is blatantly fouled up, only to see the sorry end of a wonderful bond. 

Contrary to the accepted adage, love is the weakest relationship. Couples split as easily as they bond together. Even blood relations break off. But friendship is what stays. Once a friend, always a friend. Friends stand by you, when even your own family thinks twice. Friends are always there, near or far, to throw in a word of comfort or two. True Friends are rarer than we think they are. People change unbelievably over time, and thats what makes us realise, how no amount of money to get a friend stand up for you, when all you can see are accusing fingers pointed straight. Indeed, there is no bond like the one you share with your best friends, in fact, even your boyfriend/girlfriend would be your best friend first. A friend in need is a friend, indeed. Friendship, is what makes the world go round.

Relationships

What makes man different from other beings which exist? What has made him emerge above all the other animals?His ability to bond, to hold relationships with those around him. Mother-child, Father-child, Wife-husband, Brother-sister, brother-brother/sister-sister, friend-friend and more popular, the boyfriend-girlfriend; each is unique in itself, and has a beauty about it. Talking chemistry, some might look like covalent bonds, one day they are as strong as if stuck with fevi-kwik, and then drift apart in no time at all for the triflest of issues; while some ionic bonds remain steady and sail smooth, no matter how many whirlpools or storms they encounter. Man is often referred to as a social animal. He seeks companionship, and it is his nature to long for association with other fellow beings. Inspite of this, we see man groping in the dark; countless kinships we see breaking before our eyes, all for reasons so silly, not even worth metioning. Adults and adolescents alike, having clashes over trivial issues, even to the extent of breaking blood relationships. Each pointing fingers the other way, neither willing to break the ice. A relationship after all,is like a coin, whether its stands or breaks, is the result of each person in the relationship, and not just one standing stalwart. Seldom people fail to look at the other's perspective, or stand in the other's shoes, or just give a thought to why the other behaved as they did. Tempers rise. Egos clash. There is a fine line with ego on one side, and pride/self respect on the other. When the limit to this line is discerned, there need not be any effort to hold up the relationship - it will stand on its own. A little patience, a small compromise, a little control over anger, a bridle over any nasty retort on the tip of the tongue, would go a long way in making things better. "Why should I be the one to say sorry?" is the question that would pop in to the mind first. Instead, it should be, "Is all this worth losing a friend/relative?" Saying sorry does in no way make u shorter by an inch or two. Inevitable clashes and confilcts may occur, but it is the reconciliation that matters in the end. The very crux of a relationship is not love, as many would reckon, it is trust. For without trust, any other aspect of a relationship does not hold weight. A little baby would laugh out loud, when thrown into the air by his parent, with the assurance that he would land safely into his mother/father's arms. The same baby, after having reached around 20 years of age, would be very reluctant to show the same degree of trust, towards the same person. And in all probability, he would put this fragile emotion somewhere where it is least respected - an infatuation or the like. The reason? Human nature. So full of folly himself, man assumes the other to be at the pinnacle of perfection, and finds it frustrating to know that he is wrong. Every relationship passes through this fault-finding phase at some point of time, and only those bonds which believes that it's just a phase, and waits in patience for it to pass, emerges strong. Considering the daily frustrations at college/ work, that patient waiting takes a little strength of mind, and more importantly, trust in the other. A healthy relationship would most definitely involve give-and-take from either side. Honest communication, a wee display of affection, would take the relationship a long way.

After a 90-minute ride in the back-seat of a Qualis and a sore bottom, finally i got down to behold the vast Godavari, stretching from end to end, dividing two districts. So we were about to enter no man's land (rather both districts', or whatever). I thought i could see almost a thousand people at that place, around ten boats, each carrying not less than a 100-odd number. What a roaring business. No wonder, all over Rajahmundry, i found boards with "Papi Hills Vihari Trip"( try translating that) etc. It wasn't only them, the vendors too, because everyone wanted to carry some fruit/snacks onto the boat. They came just for about one hour everyday, the hour before the boats were about to set-off. I saw baskets after baskets empty out within minutes. Anyways, after the initial shakiness experienced when one has to climb on with the help of just a four-inch-wide plank, I finally took my place on the terrace of the boat, and took in the rolling river as she flowed with all her grace. It was to be an eight-hour trip, along the river. After the first one hour, having crossed most of the villages dotted on the banks, what came up nearly swept me off balance. I expected something good but this was so lovely, so beautiful. Virgin. That's the only way to describe it. Untouched by the clawing hand of the metropolitan man, grasping at everything within reach, literally raping mountains, and calling it quarrying. Untouched by the gnawing teeth of urbanisation gnashing away, biting off more than it can chew. Like a series of immaculate landscape paintings being unravelled in front of my eyes, dotted with just the right colours at just the right places. I could stare at these for the rest of my life, i felt. Beauty so refined (I'm out of words right now, just thinking about it again). Resorts on one of the banks, thought I'd love to spend a night there. No signal in cellphones, and probably only insects to keep you company (I'm reconsidering now). Villages, some which didnt even know the value of money! That really got me thinking for a good one hour. What a life! Barter system was what we read about in history books, about cavemen, literally. Stagnant, having no system of education, generation after generation following the same pattern of living. Yet, so simple, free from the many entanglements and ensnarements of our world. What's it to them if the price of petrol is reduced by a rupee? Or if someone committed a multi-million dollar fraud? Here we are, grappling with relationships, waiting for movies to release, trying to cram in a thousand things into 24 hours, meeting deadlines, heaving and sighing with every rise and fall in the stock market, worrying about sem results, worrying about what would blow up next, worrying whether our loved ones would come back safe when they step out of the house, looking forward to meeting our boyfriend/girlfriend again, looking forward to the many things good or bad, that the future might bring. And beholding an entirely different world, so complacent, probably very happy, for progress comes with a desire for more, a longing for a better life. No roadway, once in a while traders come with goods, and sell them in exchange for something else. Day after day, the same routine, with no expectations, probably not knowing that something could be expected. Their source of water is the Godavari, and the rains. Anyways, with the proposed Polavaram Project, these trips would come to an end, and these villages would develop too i guess, with beter employment opportunities, and of course, the need to make it a better place for the employees to reside in, more facilities, improved transportation would act as a bridge between both worlds. 

The sunset left everyone overwhelmed, and told us that it was time, to disembark onto temporal soil again, and that the ephemeral excursion had ended. 

I didn't look forward to the ride back home in the Qualis very much.