What makes you happy

After years of hard and dedicated service to his company, Rahul was being appointed at an elegant reception as the new Director.

It was a small function where his wife Anita, a Home Executive and some of the wives of the other persons in top management were also present.

In an adjacent room, Ann, the wife of the CEO of the company, asked Rahul's wife a very odd and usual question, "Does your husband make you happy?"

The husband, Rahul, who at that moment was not at her side, but was sufficiently near to hear the question, paid attention to the conversation, sitting up slightly, feeling secure, even filling his chest tightly in pride and hope, confident that his wife would definitely not publicly lower or degrade her husband, would answer affirmatively, since been there for him during their marriage and generally in life.

Nevertheless, to both his and the others' surprise, she replied simply, "No, no she doesn't make me happy..."

The room became uncomfortably silent, as if everyone were listening to the spouse's response. There was a sudden coldness in the air. The husband was petrified. A frown appeared on his face.

He couldn't believe what his wife was saying, especially at such an important occasion for him. To the amazement of her husband and of everyone!

Anita sat up firmly and explained in a modest but stern tone to the other wives who were present, "No, he doesn't make me happy... I AM HAPPY. The fact that I am happy or not doesn't depend on him, but on me. God has granted each of us intellect and discretion to reason, interpret and decide. God made me the person upon which my happiness depends.

I make the choice to be happy in each situation and in each moment of my life.

If my happiness were to depend on other people, on other things or circumstances on the face of this earth, I would be in serious trouble!

Over my life I have learned a couple of things: I decide to be happy and the rest is a matter of 'experiences or circumstances' like helping, understanding, accepting, listening, consoling and with my spouse, I have lived and practised this many times.

Honestly true happiness lies in being content."

Relieved and reassured, a smile was clearly noticed on Rahul's face.

Happiness will always be found in contentment, forgiveness and in loving ourselves and others.

To truly love is difficult, it is to forgive unconditionally, to live, to take the 'experiences or circumstances' as they are, facing them together and being happy with conviction.

There are those who say I cannot be happy:
- Because I am sick
- Because I have no money
- Because it's too cold
- Because they insulted me
- Because someone stopped loving me
- Because someone didn't appreciate me.

But what they don't know is that they can be happy even though sick, whether it is too hot, whether they have money or not, whether someone has insulted them, or someone didn't love or hasn't valued them.

Being happy is an attitude about life and each one of us must decide!

Being happy, depends on us!

It depends on me.
I fall. I rise. I make mistakes. I live. I learn. I've been hurt but I'm alive. I'm human. I'm not perfect but I'm thankful.