A Merry Heart goes a Long Way
An old verse says, “A merry heart goes a long way; The sad (heart) tires in a mile, …”
A cheerful man rises above trouble like driftwood; the despondent sinks to the bottom like lead. Yet, happiness dodges most of us who/try to secure it very hard, and strangely enough, it Seems to come unsought to those who make no attempt to seek It. Most people feel that happiness is the fulfillment of all their desires. As man’s desires are unending, the vicious cycle of craving after the unobtainable can never end. Thus, happiness remains an unfulfilled goal. Most people in our country live below the poverty line, with no access even to living wages. They long for the fulfillment of their basic needs can afford decent meals, desire costly dresses, vehicles and commodious houses. Most people long for material things and the absence of these makes them unhappy. Those blessed with these aspire to a more luxurious life. Man feels unhappy for other reasons too. The desire for power position and influence makes them unhappy…. Those, who are blessed with ease and comfort, are burdened with numerous worries and anxieties. Is happiness merely “will o’ the wisp” and nothing more? Man pines for what he does not possess and ignores what he does. In the words of poet, Shelley…
“We look before and after and pine for what is not…”
Chasing after happiness is like chasing after a shadow. Happiness often Comes spontaneously to those who do not seek it. There seem people in the world who are born cheerful, always looking at the bright side of things; others are,’ by temperament, inclined to despondency. Such people should deliberately make an effort to cultivate optimism and cheerful spirit, for, if you laugh, the world laughs with you if you cry, you cry alone. Even though extraneous things like love, friendship and social position do account for happiness, the most reliable source of happiness is within you, in a clear conscience and a lively, vivacious disposition.
Trees and rivers are happy in winter because they do not cherish the memories of a bygone spring or summer. They adapt to the hard times. Do not rue the past and you will feel that you are happy. Besides, one must remember that the warp and weave of life is made of sighs and smiles. In the vast arena of life, man wrestles with circumstances—both favourable and adverse. Success makes one ride the crest of happiness, and sorrow plunges one into despair, but a great man is one who knows that every cloud has a silver lining.
