The Pursuit of Happiness

It is the single emotion of great pleasure; some interpret it as miracle happenings in life, a rush of feeling caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying while some find it a keen pleasure or elation.

A rush of excitement discovering the unknown song ringing in my head all day. The adrenaline rush that takes over when I plug in earphones and envision being on stage with an electric guitar in my arms, rocking the crowd alive! When home alone, the comfort knowing my iTunes song compilation will keep company throughout the lonesome night.

The excitement upon discovering a blog post from another classmate about his break up - hot from the oven news to gossip about. The bursts of laughter that follows up when a junior student makes a total fool out of himself. Rumors that the Public Law lecturer is dating the Common Law lecturer. Following this, a detailed 2 week Facebook investigation on their photos together and every plausible explanation of each shot. They say curiosity kills the cat, hell, satisfaction brought it back! The way my legs automatically become enlightened the very second the lecturer says, "Alright, let’s wrap it up for the day".

From the most dramatic events of adultery and poking fun on others' unfortunate events, to the slightest gossips on who's wearing what and who's doing who, keeps ones' day going with much humorous-sarcasm. Of course, all of the other little fixation ie the certain tingling feeling I get stepping on dried leaves, the sound of it being crunched and petrol fumes absorbing into my nostrils, getting a whiff of it activates the release of endorphins. 

Others interpret joy as a source of keen pleasure or delight. Something or someone greatly valued or appreciated. When you wake up in the morning to see the love of your life sleeping soundly, right next to you. To place your head on their chest and feel their heartbeat and legs entwined with each other exchanging body heat keeping warm. To kiss their lips and know that is the very same lips you're going to kiss for the rest of your life. 

How the morning breeze can make my day in a single long, deep, breath of it. The sun beating down my skin absorbing its vitamin E, the gentle heat giving me a boost of energy to start anew. To place my feet on the cold ground and say, "Yes! It’s another great day!". And upon reaching the kitchen, the smell of freshly brewed coffee breathing into my nostrils and to my expectation, a hot cuppa coffee waiting for me to be enriched with.

To hear gratitude reply of "Thank you" the moment I place a bundle of submission on your boss' desk after a long 3 long day work on it. To receive text message that reads, "Another cheers to Jane! Keep up your work, you are reaching your goal!" which just keeps me going for the next few days. Some find joy in that adrenaline rush. The very rush that you are sure you are working hard for the right reasons and making a difference in someone's life.

Throwing on a sweat shirt, muscling into the skin fitting running tights and slipping into a pair of  Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo entices the focus and anticipation of struggle and upcoming pain with much joy of achieving the final goal of stamina and strength. I can feel my whole body working; body muscles contracting warm, gut-wrenching and heart pumping harder. After several thrusts forward, my legs became tired yet I keep pushing as the struggle now is worthwhile the happiness overcoming it.

Some find joy in food. The moment the dish is served on the table is an expression of joy, a glad feeling. Some see having desserts as a festive gaiety. To allocate an hour after dinner on a Tuesday night to enjoy a glass of vanilla milkshake, banana boat and a chocolate-butter waffle, just to satisfy the sweet tooth.

Riding on a Honda EX5 at the weight of 78 kgs with another at 67 kgs riding the pillion putting a 3 way traffic at halt as we dawdle across with thrumming engine struggling to pull through our weights. As thoughts flash back to my early high school days, the top row of my teeth peek through a faint curve to the lips moving the cheeks upward showing crease below the eyes, protruding a sign of bliss to anyone witnessing.

As Elmo wakes from his slumber he shabbily trots across the hall within 10 steps before falling flat on his belly lounging playfully with no care in the world - which really is a fact. Trudging on bent knee toward him, I bury my face on his 4 inch thick sweet smelling golden brown fur instantaneously wallowing all my worries away. This 11 year old Russian born Pekignese never fails to carve a smile to my face just by existing.

Whilst some find joy in their very state of happiness. The very fact that they have a place to return to at night, the choice to have a hot teh-tarik at the struck of midnight. The solid expectation that there is some financial returns at the end of the month, immaterial how meager. A sense of belonging to a family, a church group, college mates, the soccer team, colleagues from workplace, or even just a few close friends. The very current state of concurrency is a certain joy by some.

No matter what your definition of happiness is, at the end of the day when your head rests on that pillow with much gratitude with what you have, with no regrets of the past and much enthusiasm for the future, you know you are heading on the right track.

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened - Dr Seuss