Happiness..

Happiness. The single-most talked about and most expansive word I guess. One of the very few words on which you can write thousands of pages endlessly. One of the very few words on which almost everyone on this Earth has an opinion, can speak about it ceaselessly, but no person in this world can define it.

Well, one of the few reasons why people cannot define happiness is because of the fact that it is relative. Yeah, you maybe happy with a certain thing, but another person cannot. Some might find solace in money, some might find happiness in a spiritual life. Which takes us to the next level of happiness: Material or worldly happiness and Spiritual Happiness. Another set of thoughts that encircles our mind is the fact that we do not realize happiness when we are happy, but we notice it when we are depressed, suicidal(:P) and too thoughtful. So its all a myriad of thoughts that torment our mind when we think about happiness.

Well happiness is relative but in what sense? Its hard to believe that two people having the same emotional, physical or financial (yeah Finance is the most important!) can have opposing views on their condition. I mean, a financially backward person can't be happy. Yes, you may argue that he can be happy with what he has. However, that isn't happiness right? Its called settling down to what life gives you. Its accepting what you have, accepting the fact that you cannot have more, and trying to be happy. So that maybe, means that money is important for happiness. It is a prerequisite. However, it isn't the only thing needed for happiness.

Then there are the types of happiness. Worldly happiness and Spiritual happiness. Now worldly happiness is short-lived, no doubt about that. You can buy all the things that you love, but some day that excitement will wear off. You won't find it making you happy anymore. Talking about spiritual happiness, I am not in a position to comment about it. Its like someone telling Sachin how to bat (though people keep on doing that) or me trying to run the Finance System of the country. Its unknown territory. However, according to what I have read, spiritual happiness is something that lasts with you. Now spiritual happiness doesn't mean just praying to God and all that stuff. Its also giving back to others, helping the needy etcetera.

However, the biggest question that remains unanswered till this day is- why can't we feel happiness when it is with us. Why can't we know at that moment- Yeah I am happy now, I can feel it. Its nothing to do with the part that is a feeling right? I mean, depression or sadness, is also a feeling but we can feel sadness and depression. We can point out at that moment that- Yes, I am sad now. I am depressed. I have suicidal tendencies (:P). Then why not with happiness.

If you ask, I have had that too. I never realized that I was happy at a point of time, but when faced with trying circumstances I realized that was happiness. Take for instance my vacations after the board exams. Now I used to hang around with my friends, drinking soft drinks, just talking to them. It was normal at that time. However, when I started my classes, my hanging out got rare and now I feel that it was the best part of my life.

One of the possible answers for not knowing when happiness comes, is that maybe happiness can never be attained. Whenever, I think about happiness, I always go back to the movie "The Pursuit Of Happyness" in which Will Smith points out that maybe, happiness can never be attained. Maybe its a thing that can only be pursued but never achieved. Maybe that's why Thomas Jefferson, while framing the Constitution For America mentioned the phrase ' The Pursuit Of Happiness ' . Maybe that is why we can never know we're happy. However, that is hard to digest right? I mean, we may not know at that point of time, but we do realize that we were happy after a certain time.

So what I want to point out is the fact that the best moments of our life our passed with us not even knowing that they are the best we are going to have. That is why there is always a regret- Why did we not have more fun??!! And you know what? You can never get that happiness back, with the same circumstances. Having a Coke with my friends, while catching up is not as fun as I had imagined it would.

So the conclusion is, the irony of life that stares at us. We never get to know we're happy, but we always get to know we're sad and depressed. DAMN!!!

P.S- Conclusion is the place where you get tired of thinking. You know now why I concluded

P.P.S- Too many thoughts!! Brrrrrr

P.P.P.S- Want to know your thoughts about happiness too. :D