Happiness is a strange thing.
I remember, when I was in 10th grade, I lived with my uncle. One of my chores was to bike to the milk dairy and bring a bottle of milk. One day, I was a little bit late. When I reached the dairy there was a huge line. On many days milk runs out and I was doubtful if I would get milk. When I reached the counter there was just one bottle left and I got milk! I have never felt so much happiness, all that hard work to get there biking six miles each way notwithstanding.
Incredible happiness for a bottle of milk?! If I didn't have milk, no coffee for the entire day for anyone at home. My uncle and aunt would be unhappy. My nephew and nieces would taunt me for getting up late. Happiness, I guess, is because I avoided all this potential unhappiness.
In my place, the town collects recycling stuff every two weeks. One time, I didn't put it out for recycling. A lot had collected. I was very unhappy? Should I be unhappy? It would get collected in two weeks. May be I would have more cans clogging up in the garage. Should that matter? Anyway when it was out in two weeks I was happy again.
May be the lesson is:
But I think we should all strive to reach a stage when we never feel happy or sad for anything.
I remember, when I was in 10th grade, I lived with my uncle. One of my chores was to bike to the milk dairy and bring a bottle of milk. One day, I was a little bit late. When I reached the dairy there was a huge line. On many days milk runs out and I was doubtful if I would get milk. When I reached the counter there was just one bottle left and I got milk! I have never felt so much happiness, all that hard work to get there biking six miles each way notwithstanding.
Incredible happiness for a bottle of milk?! If I didn't have milk, no coffee for the entire day for anyone at home. My uncle and aunt would be unhappy. My nephew and nieces would taunt me for getting up late. Happiness, I guess, is because I avoided all this potential unhappiness.
In my place, the town collects recycling stuff every two weeks. One time, I didn't put it out for recycling. A lot had collected. I was very unhappy? Should I be unhappy? It would get collected in two weeks. May be I would have more cans clogging up in the garage. Should that matter? Anyway when it was out in two weeks I was happy again.
May be the lesson is:
- When you feel happy, experience it, don't question whether it is rational and really deserved.
- When you feel unhappy about something, question it, and see that is something that you should really be upset about.
But I think we should all strive to reach a stage when we never feel happy or sad for anything.
Comments