Happiness is…

Everything changes during this pandemic. We’re forced not to have our usual activities outside, not to hang out with our dearest friends, not to hug our parents. We’re getting stressed. Everything seems so biased, confusing and frightening. We’re questioning everything. Including, when will we be happy again? Or even worse, will we have that same old happiness again?

There is an old saying from Latin proverbs, “He is not happy who does not realize his happiness.” One thing I learn from this pandemic is that the happiness is already within us. We just need some times to find and realize it.

I used to think traveling makes me happy. It indeed makes me content. Meeting new people, exploring new places, finding hidden gems, learning about history and culture, tasting local cuisines. I feel like I’m living the life to the fullest every time I go traveling. But, am I happy enough after traveling ?

I always love reading books. It’s my short get away, especially after a long tired day full of meetings and deadlines. A short escape. I always read a book before I go to sleep, after having a nice hot water shower and light dinner. For awhile, I can merge into a whole new world, by only wearing my pajamas. I’m relaxed. But, am I happy enough once I close the book every night?

I love sharing stories. That’s what this blog and my other social media all about. My chat with friends mostly about me sharing my experiences, books I read, or places I visited. I love sharing my learnings, in the hope that it’ll inspire my friends as well. It feels like…..it completes me. But then what? Is it enough to make me happy?

To answer all of those questions above, it’s not to answer it at all. If you feel happy already, why do you have to question it? It’s there. Within yourself. You’ve found it. You just need to realize more of it.

Antara aku, temanku, dan Gandhi

Suatu waktu, saya sedang kalut hingga temanku berkata seperti ini :

” Lebih baik nangis, daripada dipendam jadi dendam”

Dan saya yang antipati sama yang namanya menangis pun menjawab :

“Daripada menangis dan terlihat lemah, lbh baik aku dendam tapi terlihat kuat”

Teman saya itu hanya tertawa.
Tapi saya langsung terngiang jawaban apa yg akan seorang Gandhi berikan (oh, jangan tanya kenapa Gandhi bisa muncul) :

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”

Sial.

Tapi lalu saya pun teringat, dan mencoba mendebat orang bijak itu :

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, huh? But, We loved each other…oh , and you know, love IS blind. We’re already blind.”