Happiness

What is happiness anyway? Anyone out there who really knows the answer? Is it a deeply rooted feeling in your gut somewhere between chakra number 5 and 6, or 6 and 7, or is it a sense of real belonging. Is it maybe to have nothing to wish for or seeing dreams come true. Is it family and children or total freedom with no responsibilities. Would you put up your hand when asked if you're happy.
Basic question, totally valid, yet difficult to answer.

As far as I am concerned happiness is an image forced upon us by society. Happiness is not real, not the way we were told anyway. Like being swept off your feet by Prince Charming and live happily ever after. Or being able to afford all kinds of luxuries and looking a million bucks. That's what they told us, isn't it. Married with the love of your life, 1.3 kids, dreamjob, a townhouse, 2 cars and an exotic holiday at least once a year. Illusion, total nonsense, superficial bull, that's what that is. Boy did they sell us lemons for apples on that one.
It took me quite some time to figure it all out, I mean, I am at heart a hopeless romantic, I have this incurable faith in real love and am a sucker for a good fairytale. So, you can imagine I was way in my adulthood before I realized the whole thing was a sham. It took a couple of husbands and hard blowes but boy, did it dawn on me then.

You may wonder why I am bringing this up. Well, see, I have noticed there are a lot of unhappy and dissatisfied people around lately. Mind you, all with good reason, health problems, money problems, people problems, it's all out there and, by the looks of it, more then ever before. It got me wondering why and realized they haven't seen the light yet. They are still in Hans Andersen Land. They are all still waiting for their lives to start...

Well, wake up and smell the coffee, this is it, this is your chance, not gonna get another one! Want to know what happiness is? It's moments, a couple of moments every single day. They can last a second, a minute and sometimes even an hour, if you're lucky. It's the sun peeping out through heavy clouds for just a minute, it's the loud laughter of your child, it's the flower your partner stole from the neighbours garden for you, it's the feeling you have right after you've helped someone. But most of all it's the knowledge that your life is yours and you control your own fate. You don't like it here, get out, leave, no-one stopping you. Feel fat, go on a diet. Don't like your job, get another one or take up a course so you can get a better job later. Don't like your friends or family, just don't call 'm anymore, they'll get the point. Don't like your face, smile a bit more often, that usually does the trick. All in all, happiness is right in front of you, there for the grabbing, you just need to make an effort and stop whining. Have trouble getting started at being happy? Here are some small exercises, ,personally tested:

Smile in the mirror, the person you're looking at will appreciate it
Read a joke on-line or watch a funny video every single day
Hit the snooze button one extra time, just to enjoy the coziness of your bed
Tickle your kids or partner for a couple of minutes, guaranteed you'll laugh
Remember you were not in Haiti buried under rubble, that should make you happy
and for the die-hards of miserability:
Hold your pee till you feel you'll explode, then go to the bathroom. That kind of release is utter happiness and can be created by you any time of day.

Good luck!!